China calls for equal per capita emissions

Extract from Speech by Dr Song Jian

(State Councillor with Responsibility for Climate Change and Population)
at the closing ceremony of the China Council for International Co-operation on Environment and Development
(October 5th 1997)

We fully understand the worldwide campaign to battle the climate change spearheaded by the European Union and Nordic Countries. The voice of small island states also brooks no ignorance. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Berlin Mandate, China bears no responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When we ask the opinions of people from all circles, many people, in particular the scientists think that the emissions control standard should be formulated on a per capita basis. According to the UN Charter, everybody is born equal, and has inalienable rights to enjoy modern technological civilization. Today the per capita consumption is just one tenth of that of the developed countries, one eighth of that of medium developed countries. It is estimated 30-40 years would be needed for China to catch up with the level of medium developed countries. No one is entitled to prohibit families from using refrigerators or those who live or work in such a high temperature of 40 degrees Celsius from enjoying air-conditioning. However the Chinese people and government do have realized their due responsibilities for the global climate change and committed to make efforts to lower down the increase rate of greenhouse gas emissions in the following way: -
 

• To control the growth of population and stop China's population from growing within thirty years. This is the decisive guarantee of protecting climate and the environment.
• To put the exploitation of hydroelectric power resources on the top priority, and to explore other renewable energy sources, develop clean coal technologies and reduce the emissions of unit energy consumption.
• To continue the campaign of afforestations, plant more trees, attend pasture lands, develop ecological agriculture, protect ecological environment and preserve and strengthen the ability of sinks for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The forest coverage is planned to be doubled to exceed thirty percent of the total territory of the country in the 30-40 years to come.
• To raise extensively the efficiency of energy utilisation, develop new and less energy-consuming industries and reduce the consumption for per unit of GDP.

In all these fields, the scientific and industrial communities of China shall try the best to make their own contributions, and at the same time, we need international co-operation. I hope that all the members and the experts of the working groups could put forward opinions and creative suggestions.