BEIJING - In a major departure from its earlier stance, China today unveiled its maiden climate change policy, but reiterate that fighting global warming would not be undertaken at the expense of its rapidly growing economy.
China's plan to fight climate change was revealed by the Head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Ma Kai. He said that China would deal with global warming under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
"Climate change is an environmental issue, but also a development issue. It's a result of human development and therefore must be tackled in the course of development," he added. Kai also said that the main economic issues that affected developing countries were more important than the adverse effects of climate change.
"China will not commit to any quantified emissions reduction targets, but that does not mean we will not assume responsibilities in responding to climate change," he said at a news conference. China is looking to tackle global warming by saving energy, agricultural adaptation and forest planting.
The new plan comes just days before Chinese President Hu Jintao is due to attend a Group of Eight meeting. This plan is being seen as a way to ward off unnecessary criticism for Chinese methods ahead of the meet.
On Monday China said it welcomed the recent comments made by President Bush as regards global warming. However the country stressed that there was a need for a single approach on climate change.
"The international community should respect the developing countries' right to develop," Ma Kai concluded. "We must reconcile the need for development with the need for environmental protection."
