China wants export countries to be responsible for CO2 of goods
March 23, 2009
Li Gao, China's principal climate change negotiator, has suggested that his country ought not be responsible for the costs of reducing emissions arising from the high demands of other countries. He proposed that importers of goods made in China should be responsible for the carbon dioxide emissions associated with their manufacture.
In addition to being one of the world's fastest growing economies, China has also recently overtaken the United States as the world's largest producer of greenhouse gases. Mr Li made his comments at preliminary talks in Washington, ahead of a major conference on Copenhagen. Envoys from Japan and the EU were also present. The objective of these preliminary discussions is to pave the way for agreements in Denmark.
Mr Li's proposal would see China's huge export sector gain exemptions from any new climate change treaty. The view taken by Beijing is that the rich countries who purchase Chinese-made products should bear the cost of the estimated 15–25% of carbon dioxide emissions in China generated through the production of these goods.
Print this page