By Wang Zhuoqiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-19 08:28

Former British prime minister Tony Blair arrived in Beijing yesterday and urged countries to take measures to substantially cut carbon emissions.

Former British Prime Minster talks at a forum in terms of carbon emission cut in Beijing on Tuesday. [asianewsphoto]

The trip is part of the "Breaking the Climate Deadlock" initiative, which takes Blair on a weeklong visit of Japan, China and India for talks with leading business and political figures to push the green initiative.

The initiative, by nonprofit organization Climate Group, will focus on global environmental deals for emissions reductions among countries including the United States and China.

There is a real risk that current governmental disagreements among developed and developing nations will delay achieving a comprehensive and effective long-term deal on climate change, the group stated in a press release.

Blair's visions include reaching a "fair deal" that could allow individual countries to accelerate the process of change.

He said countries like China and India face tremendous challenges.

"China has got to grow," he said. "Trying to solve problems by putting limits on China's growth is unfair and won't work."

Blair said the world is facing climate change because of the growth and industrialization of developed nations.

"If we want China to take action, you have to be prepared to generate financial and technological support, and share it," Blair said.

Green choice

People in emerging-market countries are more concerned about climate change than those in other countries, a recent study has found.

Nearly nine out of 10 consumers worldwide said they would switch to energy providers that offer products and services that help reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions, a study on climate change released recently by consulting group Accenture showed.

The study, based on a survey of more than 7,500 consumers in 17 countries in North America, Europe and Asia, found that 89 percent of all consumers surveyed would switch to energy providers that offer lower-carbon-emitting products and services.