Copenhagen rally urges 'real deal'
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Inside the conference center, the call was also becoming increasingly loud for rich nations to deliver on their pledges.
The call for funding was partly answered on Friday with European Union leaders pledging 2.4 billion euros (3.5 billion US dollars) annually from 2010 to 2012 to help developing countries tackle global warming.
Developing nations still view the pledge as a far cry from their needs. Lumumba Di-Aping, the Sudanese chairman of Group of 77 and China, a group of developing countries, described it as "insignificant."
Ministers in Copenhagen have a week to work for agreement on two draft texts that were prepared by the chairs of two major working groups of the conference before 110 heads of state and government convene here.
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China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei speaks during a news conference about China's stand on global climate change, in Copenhagen, capital of Denmark, Dec. 11, 2009. [Shang Jun/Xinhua] |
China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said Friday: "The final document we're going to adopt needs to be taking into account the needs and aspirations of all countries," particularly the most vulnerable ones, he said.
Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, developed nations are committed to quantified emission reduction targets and provision of support in financing, technology and capacity building to developing nations. The Chinese minister said climate change is "a matter of survival" for developing nations.
Developing nations are asking the rich nations to raise their emissions reduction targets and fufil their financial pledges.
The issue of financial support is "extremely important" as developing nations are "worst hit" by climate change, he said.
He lamented the lack of mid-term and long-term funding commitments from developed nations as only short-term funding, such as a three-year target, was being proposed.
The key to the success of the Copenhagen talks is for developed countries to keep their promises, he said.
"I would urge all leaders from developed countries to keep their promises, to have the future of humanity in their minds, especially the large population out there in the developing world," he said.
He also said China has "a responsible and pragmatic vision" for tackling climate change and will do its share in the global combat against climate change.
China last month announced it would reduce the intensity of carbon emissions per unit of its GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent against 2005 levels.
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