At the 15th Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held in Sydney last month,
President Hu Jintao made proposals for tackling climate change,
including ways to strengthen cooperation, pursue sustainable
development and promote scientific and technological innovation. He
stressed that "climate change is ultimately a development issue and
it can only be addressed in the course of sustainable
development".
Hu's speech was echoed and supported by developing countries in
Southeast Asia.
The international community has long recognized the right of
developing countries to development with regard to climate change.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
1992 pointed out clearly that developed countries have contributed
the biggest proportion of greenhouse gas emission historically and
at present, the per capita emission of developing countries is
still relatively low, the developing countries' emission quotas
will be increased to meet the demand for their economic and social
development.
As post-Kyoto Protocol negotiations continue, the right of
development is being widely emphasized by developing countries,
especially large developing countries like China and India. The
Chinese government published its National Climate Change Program in
June, which made it clear that climate change is ultimately a
development issue.
Development is a necessary and irreversible process in human
history. To a certain degree, climate change is irreversible too.
This requires the international community to have a common
understanding on emission reduction and development. Latest
scientific research shows that global warming started as early as
500 years ago and human factors are not alone to blame. In such a
situation, it is unreasonable to stress emission reduction while
ignoring the right to development.
The fragility of developing countries shows the urgency to adapt
to climate change and realize their right to development. Generally
speaking, developing countries with underdeveloped economies are
more vulnerable to the influence and damage of climate change. Take
China for example, climate change has already caused obvious
impacts on its agriculture, forests, water resources and coast
areas. And the least-developed countries and small island countries
are the most fragile ones.
The disparities and complementary relations between developing
and developed countries have provided feasible and extensive
prospects for cooperation in realizing the right of developing
countries to development. Developed countries can cooperate with
developing countries by helping the latter to reduce emissions.
Such cooperation will help ease the contradiction between emission
reduction and economic development. The Clean Development Mechanism
advocated by the Kyoto Protocol has provided such a mode of
cooperation.
The mechanism can help developed countries to fulfill their
obligation in emission reduction and developing countries to
realize their right to development. The trade in emission quotas
can help realize both goals - emission reduction and development
rights.
Another climate change issue which has emerged in recent years
is how to guarantee the energy security of developing countries.
Increased demand has led to high oil prices and developing
countries have to depend more on coal, which leads to even bigger
greenhouse gas emission. Past experience tell us that we cannot
afford to pollute first and improve later. The most effective
method to cope with climate change while guaranteeing the energy
security of developing countries is to improve their energy
utilization rate through technology.
One of the focuses of current negotiations is whether developing
countries, especially large countries like China, India and Brazil,
should shoulder the same responsibilities for emission reduction
like the developed countries. This concerns the issue of giving
priority to emission reduction or development.
The UNFCCC makes it clear that, on the bases of fairness, all
signatory countries according to their common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities, should protect the
climate system in the interests of all human beings, and developed
countries should take the lead in reducing emissions and helping
developing countries. Developing countries should also make,
implement, publicize and regularly update their national programs
to address climate change. This is the well-known UNFCCC principle
of "common but differentiated responsibilities", which sets out the
major responsibilities of developed countries. The Kyoto Protocol
has set the obligation of compulsory emission reduction according
to this principle and has thus displeased some developed
countries.
What is more, the UNFCCC said: "The extent to which developing
country parties will effectively implement their commitments under
the convention will depend on the effective implementation by
developed country parties of their commitments under the convention
related to financial resources and transfer of technology and will
take fully into account that economic and social development and
poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the
developing country parties." This spells out the developed
countries' responsibilities in promoting the rights of developing
countries to development.
It is a pity that developed countries have shown insufficient
sincerity and made inadequate efforts to fulfill the above
obligations. The United States and Australia have rejected the
Kyoto Protocol with the excuse that compulsory emission reduction
will obstruct economic development and research conclusions about
climate change still lack credence. So far developed countries have
only committed $182 million to the adaptation fund for all poor
countries. The emergency programs of the least-developed countries
alone will need $1 billion to $1.2 billion.
The author is an official with the Liaison Office of the Central
People's Government in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(China Daily October 31, 2007)
