Low expectations from China
Lu Xedu, the deputy director-general of China’s Office of Global Environmental Affairs responded to the UK’s draft climate change bill with hesitation to agree, according to the BBC.
Everyone can recognise that it is unfair to impose serious cuts in emissions in a country with so many resposabilities to its people. China is focussing on its economy, and that’s what Lu Xedu had to say. For the moment they want to leave the bill with developed countries.
He did stress however that unlike some developed countries, when the Chinese chose their targets they will commit to them.
I’m sure he feels he is being very reassuring, although with improved economy and with millions of poor people finally being able to buy new fridges and plasma TVs, production and subsequent emissions would skyrocket. How could it ever be slowed down?
“When we say we are going to do something, we will do that…we will make every effort to meet our commitments.
“In many other countries the government makes these commitments then tomorrow the government will change and say ‘this is no longer our responsibility’. This happens in many countries, even many developed countries.
“But for us, no, we are very serious.”