Climate Change

During the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, the Chinese delegate Xie Zhenhua called for the strengthening of the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. By that, he meant not that major developing countries would agree to hard emission reduction targets, an idea he expressly rejected, but that rich countries should take "concrete actions" in providing financial resources and technology transfer to developing countries. In environmental law terms, the idea is often known as the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". But Mr. Xie tried to reformulate it in terms that would conform perfectly with the most recent version of the Chinese Communist Party ideology -- that of a "harmonious world". Harmony is "key" to solving the climate change problem, to wit,

"Firstly, we shall keep the harmonious coexistence of man and the nature and strike the balance between economic development and environmental protection. Secondly, we shall keep the harmony among people and strike the balance between the rich and the poor. Thirdly, we shall keep the harmony among generations and strike the balance among the past, the present and the future. And fourthly, we shall keep the harmony among the countries and strike the balance among various interests."

The eloquent preaching of harmony did not seem to resonate too well at the Conference, as the Chinese delegation attacked the "impartiality" of the conference procedure towards the end of the Conference, because some participants dared to put to a vote (how outrageous!) a draft document that calls for "measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation actions" by developing countries to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences issued a report indicating that export of embodied energy from China has grown significantly in recent years. The finding seems to set the stage for China to argue that control of greenhouse gases should be based not on production, but consumption.