November 30, 2009. Copyright 2009, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Copenhagen Climate conference -- China
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, November 30, Graphic News:  While many people know that China is currently the world's biggest producer of greenhouse gases, not so many realise the country is also particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As President Hu Jintao prepares to defend China's interests to the rest of the world in Copenhagen, few negotiators would like to be in his shoes.

Millions of Chinese farmers rely on the climate for their livelihoods. Droughts and typhoons have hit areas in the south, such as the Pearl River delta, and the north, including Hebei province, where rising temperatures and lack of rain have forced many to head to the cities for work. If in some countries, the science of global warming is still up for debate, in China the realisation has definitely sunk in.

Beijing's 11th hour announcement of a definite target on carbon emissions -- it says it is ready to cut these by 40-45 percent of 2005 levels -- certainly provides the climate talks with new steam, but its emissions are still growing as its economy expands, and it's far from clear how China will cooperate with any international agreement. One thing is sure: Beijing will be hoping to score points for emerging nations everywhere.
/ENDS