Accusing China of not cooperating in the global debate on climate change is too simplistic and of little help in getting the country involved in mitigating climate change.

Given the country's global impact on this issue, China is obviously the most important partner. In this sense, how to actively involve the country is no less important than the issue itself. To do so it is necessary to understand the Chinese position.

What is at the top of the agenda of the Chinese government? Effective sources to identify the priorities are the government work report at the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) and, maybe even more important, the statements made by Premier Wen Jiabao during his meeting with the press after the session.

Environmental issues were a subject of Wen's meeting with the press in 2006 and more so in 2007. His focus rapidly gained the attention of the Chinese decision-makers.

Despite fast economic growth, according to Wen, the Chinese economy still has deep structural problems - it is unstable, unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable. It is unsustainable because, in Wen's words, "China has failed to adequately address the issues related to energy saving, emission reduction and environmental protection."

In pointing out the solutions, Wen delivered one clear key message: To resolve these issues "we need to consistently and unswervingly press ahead with reform and opening-up."

The questions are what to reform and how to press ahead with it.

Although there are no clear answers to these questions yet, the Chinese government has started its efforts at a breakthrough. It has made the strategic decision to change the model of growth toward sustainable development. If well implemented, it will obviously have an impact on climate change.

China's 30 years of economic reform have featured opening-up policies, export orientation, cheap labor, cheap production materials and resources, low taxes and lower fiscal deficits. Entering the 21st century, this growth model resulted in China's facing a series of challenges - increasing pressure of the land scarcity in the country's eastern coastal zones; price increases for energy, water and other resources; pressure for currency appreciation; rising labor costs as well as the huge environmental cost. These problems send a clear signal that this 30-year pattern of growth is not sustainable.

"Changing the model of growth" was emphasized strongly at the last session of the National People's Congress in March. It was also the theme of the China High Level Development Forum 2007. Excessive energy and resource consumption, environment pollution/degradation and social disparity and vulnerability have been recognized as the main reasons for the policy change.

Every item on this list is a hot topic in today's climate change discussion. It is not difficult to see the link between the top agenda items of the Chinese government, climate change and the initiatives made by China to mitigate climate change.

Even in OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, discussion of climate change has been linked to the major challenges facing each country. In China, these challenges are poverty, employment and social welfare, which are priorities in most developing countries.

For developing countries, economic growth is a solution realized in the industrialized countries over 20 decades. What the developing countries are doing is just to bridge the historical gap. Economic growth is perceived as non-negotiable.

However, what is worth discussing is whether there are alternative paths of development which benefit the economy, society and the environment. If yes, what are the alternatives for a sustainable pattern of growth?

Searching for the answers is what sustainable development is about, challenging all countries, rich or poor. It is on this issue where a breakthrough - technology-wise and/or or policy-institution-wise - and international collaboration are needed not only in China but globally.

Therefore, the question is not whether China takes the position for or against mitigating climate change. The question is how China can shift its growth pattern to achieve sustainable development, in which mitigating climate change is embedded. This is the goal that China itself has established.

Accusing China of not taking a more assertive role to mitigate climate change will not help the dialogue. In fact, it may lead to the end of the partnership with this important global environment player.

Proactive climate change mitigation and adaptation are the strategies taken to benefit human beings and all the countries challenged by climate change. China is definitely one of them.

This was made very clear by the country's first National Assessment Report on Climate Change published early this year. Dialogues, debates and negotiations are being conducted to reach a consensus for early action in the long-term fundamental interests of human beings.

It is encouraging that progress has been made and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" has laid the foundation for international dialogue and cooperation on various scales at different levels.

However, the tendency to politicize climate change discussion is also emerging, which would jeopardize the negotiation process.

Such tendencies could force the issue into an ideological debate, for example, over national sovereignty. It could draw a political line between the "Western countries who are blaming" and China "holding a firm stand against the blame."

If this does not stop, it will not only create and build confrontation but also inhibit proactive initiatives on climate change mitigation and adaptation inside and outside China.

China would not have achieved its outstanding economic success if the ideological argument of "pro-socialism" vs "pro-capitalism" had not been removed from the debate over reform in the late 1970s and early 80s. This is a good lesson for both China and the international communities to learn in pursuing effective dialogue and partnership on climate change.

Based on the current scientific conclusions, climate change is primarily caused by human activities, specifically the pattern of industrialization in the last 200 years.

The Chinese government's strategic decision to change China's growth pattern to correct its development path will have global implications and impact on climate change whether this effort fails or succeeds.

Instead of blaming China, the international community could take proactive efforts. It could work with China as a partner to fulfill a common commitment - exploring an alternative development path toward greater sustainability. This is where international cooperation is needed more than anywhere else.

Trying to change the pattern of growth toward sustainable development is a break from the conventional development path. Moving to a low carbon economy is one alternative advocated and tested in many European countries and at the city level worldwide.

International cooperation is urged by both experts and national governments to proactively deal with climate change.

Two important components of international cooperation are well recognized and highly applicable to China. They are technology innovation and dissemination plus financing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction. The two are obviously interrelated. A third dimension is equally important for China - international cooperation on moving toward a new model of growth.

Technological innovation and widespread dissemination are recognized by the Chinese as an effective solution to reduce the costs of mitigating climate change. With its energy structure dominated by coal and with rich resources of renewable energy, China has great market potential for innovation and dissemination of technology for emission reduction, currently driven by the private sector.

It is also well understood that wide application of technology won't be achieved without international cooperation. However, obstacles do exist, such as the issues of intellectual property rights and international trade.

These issues need to be analyzed in the framework of climate change and also in economic terms to remove the barriers to international cooperation.

As mentioned earlier, the Chinese government has made a strong commitment to moving toward a new pattern of growth. International cooperation in this area is badly needed. It requires an understanding of the Chinese situation, where almost 800 million people still live on less than $2 and 160 million live on less that $1 per day.

Shifting toward a low-carbon economy means a huge challenge. There is no doubt that China's success in this respect will provide a valuable lesson for all developing countries facing the same challenges.

China is acting to meet these challenges. In this context, international cooperation is needed for the action oriented explorations. Funding mechanisms are worth creating to support such cooperation.

Both the political will of the Chinese government and the global impact of China on environment and development make it necessary that the Chinese government play a more proactive role in mitigating climate change. China's outstanding economic achievements through the economic reforms of the last three decades best demonstrate the leadership potential of the Chinese government.

The author is deputy director of Stockholm Environment Institute

(China Daily 06/13/2007 page10)