China's efforts to promote worldwide cooperation in addressing
environmental problems related to climate change have been
acclaimed by participants at an international forum on the issue.
China is one of the countries that has been involved in the World
Meteorological Organization's (WMO) urban research
projects which aim to fight pollution, WMO Secretary-General Godwin
Obasi said Monday at the International Symposium on Climate
Change.
"I
am delighted to see China's leadership role and commitment to
promoting world cooperation in environmental issues, especially
those related to climate," Obasi said.
The global warming trend will continue in the next five to 10
decades. It is linked to the growth of greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to meteorologists with
the China Meteorological Bureau.
As
a result of warming, the global average sea level has risen by as
much as 20 centimeters since the beginning of the 20th century,
they said.
The Chinese Government always attaches great importance to the
issue of climate change and has been participating actively in
international efforts under the United Nations (UN) and other
international organizations, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said Monday
at the opening ceremony for the three-day symposium.
China signed the UN Convention on Climate Change in 1992 and drew
the country's Agenda 21 towards sustainable development. It
approved the Kyoto Protocol last year and has established the
National Coordinating Group on Climate Change and National Climate
Committee.
To
highlight the negative influence of climate change, the National
Climate Committee organized the forum. It has attracted more than
400 meteorological experts from 61 countries.
(China Daily April 1, 2003)