The exact wording of the announcement, released by China's state media, is that the country vows "to reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit" of gross domestic product in 2020 by 40 percent to 45 percent, compared with its 2005 level. That caveat of reducing CO2 emissions vs. its GDP should be noted and eyed, however.
By using the terminology of "intensity" vs. its GDP, China is given an out. As its economy continues to rise in output, it doesn't even mean that China's overall emissions will go down. In fact, given the expected increases in the Chinese economy over the next decade, its CO2 emissions should still increase. With this vow, however, it should increase at a much slower pace than if China made no changes.
India, which is the world's fifth-highest greenhouse gas emitter, has proposed a similar policy. It would similarly link emissions growth to growth in gross domestic product. GDP is defined as a broad measure of the value of a nation's total output of goods and services.
Both India and China have objected to overall CO2 emissions reduction in the past. China, in fact, has stated that western countries have had "their turn" at emissions and it is now the turn of developing nations. While selfish in respects, it is obvious why these statements are made. Both of these countries want economic development and see this as a politically correct statement to make.
Despite this, the Dec. 7-18 conference in Copenhagen is deemed unlikely to produce any sort of binding agreement. The original goal of the conference was to produce a new global climate change treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. It has become clear in recent weeks, however, that delegates would at best produce an outline for an agreement to be considered late in 2010.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
Posted November 27th, 2009 by Michael Santo
