Main navigation

Daily news

China urges US, Oz to lead on climate change

07 February 2008

China has asked the US and Australia to take more a lead in tackling climate change.

China's foreign minister Yang Jiechi told The Age newspaper in Canberra that developed nations were more responsible for climate change.

He said China¿s gas emissions were only a third the level of emissions caused by developed countries, adding Beijing was keen to extend its help in developing alternative energy.

After talks with prime minister Kevin Rudd and foreign minister Stephen Smith, Mr Yang said he wanted to expedite the transfer of technologies from developed countries to developing countries.

"In China's view they (climate change problems) are primarily caused by the high level of emissions by the developed countries over a long, long period of time and the high per capita emissions in the developed countries," he was quoted as saying.

"We will do our utmost for combating climate change," he added.

China is the world¿s biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Energy Agency.

China has set a target of cutting per unit GDP energy consumption by a fifth between 2005 and 2010, with a corresponding fall of ten per cent in emissions.

Mr Rudd made the ratification of the Kyoto protocol his first priority after winning elections in November.

Find out how the Energy Saving Trust can help you