PARIS, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2009 France said Wednesday a US offer to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 is "extremely encouraging" in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate conference."To have a figure put on an American undertaking, announced by the White House, is worthwhile progress," said environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo as he set off for Beijing for talks with Chinese officials.World leaders will meet in the Danish capital for 12 days from December 7 to try to agree a global pact to reduce manmade emissions of the gases that are blamed for climate change.
"To have a figure put on an American undertaking, announced by the White House, is worthwhile progress," said environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo as he set off for Beijing for talks with Chinese officials.
World leaders will meet in the Danish capital for 12 days from December 7 to try to agree a global pact to reduce manmade emissions of the gases that are blamed for climate change.
BEIJING -- China's top climate envoy lashed out at Europe for failing to meet its previous greenhouse-gas commitments, and said reaching an agreement at the global warming summit in Copenhagen next month is essential. "Europe made a lot of commitments. But if you compare those commitments to actions, there is a big disparity," China's special envoy on climate change, Yu Qingtai, told reporters Wednesday. He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to cut greenhouse gases and deliver on technology transfer and aid to poor countries. Mr. Yu's comments reinforce China's tough negotiating stance less than two weeks ahead of the Dec. 7 global climate summit in the Danish capital. China has repeatedly called for a global agreement on carbon emissions, but has been unwilling to commit to the kind of difficult sacrifices needed to reach one, saying the burden lies on wealthier nations.
"Europe made a lot of commitments. But if you compare those commitments to actions, there is a big disparity," China's special envoy on climate change, Yu Qingtai, told reporters Wednesday. He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to cut greenhouse gases and deliver on technology transfer and aid to poor countries.
Mr. Yu's comments reinforce China's tough negotiating stance less than two weeks ahead of the Dec. 7 global climate summit in the Danish capital. China has repeatedly called for a global agreement on carbon emissions, but has been unwilling to commit to the kind of difficult sacrifices needed to reach one, saying the burden lies on wealthier nations.
He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to... deliver on technology transfer...
Excuse me? China's entire wind industry commercially is due to Eurozone technology transfer. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to cut greenhouse gases
Europe is currently nicely below its emissions commitment under the Kyoto treaty, the only one of the signatories in that case. Sure, some individual countries have failed in their goals, but the overall target for the EU is being met. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
