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'No bailouts from Mother Nature'
By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-22 10:31 Nobel prize winner and former US vice president Al Gore was certainly clear about his passion for reducing greenhouse gases when he addressed global business leaders at the recent World Business Summit on Climate Change. "We have to do it this year. Not next year. This year," he said at the conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, between May 24 and 26. "The clock is ticking - Mother Nature does not do bailouts." He urged the more than 500 business leaders from around the world to push governments to reach a new agreement this year which will succeed the Kyoto climate treaty that expires in 2012. He was joined by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and many specialists.
The proposed new global warming pact is based on the Kyoto treaty's mixed success that required 37 industrialized nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. "Continuing to pour trillions of dollars into fossil-fuel subsidies is like investing in subprime real estate," Ban said. "Our carbon-based infrastructure is like a toxic asset that threatens the portfolio of global goods, from public health to food security." At the end of the three-day World Business Summit on Climate Change, business leaders issued a "Copenhagen Call" to action. "Business wants a global deal on climate change that is long, loud and legal. Climate policy must create clear long-term certainty on incentives, targets and timelines for unleashing private sector strategies and investments needed to make a low-carbon economy possible," said a statement issued by Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group. Chinese officials and business leaders at the gathering pledged to make an increasing effort in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Xie Zhenhua, vice minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission, said China will play "a positive and a constructive" role to reach a global climate treaty, and "already is putting in place its climate plan for 2015 and beyond". "During negotiations, developed countries always hope that a future China will do much better and make greater efforts on addressing climate change issues," he said. He was echoed by Li Xiaolin, chairwoman of China Power International Holding, who said the Chinese government has shown the great importance it places on environmental protection and global warming with its national programs dealing with climate change. She said China Power has also developed a core concept of clean energy development.
He said China has become one of the world's largest producers of both solar and wind power equipment in just five or six years. The Chinese government is serious about addressing climate change and its attitude toward emission reduction is "ahead of many other countries", he said. Head of one of the world's largest solar energy companies, which is based in eastern China, Shi said Suntech is working on cutting the price of solar power by half to 1 yuan per kWh in three to five years. "We are telling business leaders concerned about climate change that we cannot wait any longer," said Shi, who is also a member of the Copenhagen Climate Council. "Some countries fear that emission reduction will affect economic growth. But the fact is the longer you wait, the larger the impact on your economy will be." His statements were affirmed by foreign companies that are also taking measures to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in China. Scandinavian Airlines, the "greening partner" of the business summit, is seeking to introduce its "green approach" to China. The method is designed to significantly reduce the amount of fuel used by jets during arrival and approach compared to standard procedures. |
