China refuses compulsory climate change cuts

China refused to accept mandatory cuts on greenhouse gases today saying the West should lead the climate change battle by being less extravagant.

It complained that although it is the world’s second-largest producer of the gases it has only been pumping them into the atmosphere for a few decades, whereas the West has done so for hundreds of years.

“China is in the process of industrialisation and there is a need for economic growth to meet the basic needs of the people and fight against poverty,” said Su Wei, one of its delegation at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali.

“I just wonder whether it’s fair to ask developing countries like China to take on binding targets,” Su said. “I think there is much room for the United States to think whether it’s possible to change (its) lifestyle and consumption patterns in order to contribute to the protection of the global climate.”

Delegates from nearly 190 nations are attending the gathering intended to launch negotiations that will lead to an international agreement to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

Kyoto, which was rejected by the United States, commits three dozen industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gases an average of 5% below 1990 levels between next year and 2012, when it expires.

One of the factors that led President Bush to reject Kyoto was complaints that fast-developing countries like China, India and Brazil were not required to cut their emissions under the pact.

After years of dodging the issue and appearing defensive on global warming, diplomats and activists say China is playing a constructive and positive role at the Bali conference.

“I think China is taking climate change seriously and that’s a good sign that there will be a good outcome here in Bali,” said Artur Runge-Metzger, head of the European Commission delegation.

China has expressed support for a post-Kyoto agreement and used the conference to spread the message that it is addressing climate change.

China relies heavily on dirty, outdated coal burning power stations, has 20 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities and some of the most polluted rivers.

Politicians and activists said China’s previous defensive stance has given way to constructive discussions at the Bali conference.

Beijing has also taken the lead among developing countries in calling for wealthier nations to speed up the transfer of cleaner technologies to emerging economies to help shift away from fossil fuels.