US climate bill sparks new hope
4:00AM Sunday Jun 28, 2009
China's chief climate change official says a major United States bill calling for nationwide limits on greenhouse gases is a key step forward but much more action is needed to reach agreement during talks on global warming this year.
The US House of Representatives voted to approve the landmark bill yesterday, which introduces sweeping legislation that would impose the first mandatory cap on US greenhouse gas emissions.
It still has to pass the US Senate before becoming law.
Xie Zhenhua, vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission in charge of China's climate policy, said the bill marked a positive break from Washington's former stance on global warming.
"The legislation is a positive change from the attitude of the Bush Administration on climate change, and it is a big step forward," he said.
At the same time, it still fell short of international expectations of US action, he added.
China and the US have each long demanded that the other take steps to control greenhouse emissions.
China has said that global warming is largely the responsibility of rich nations, which have historically contributed more to the build-up of greenhouse gases. Global climate change talks have been stalled over the reluctance of both nations to commit to emission reductions.
China and the United States - the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases - account for an estimated 40 per cent of the world's total emissions. Observers have noted that without the co-operation of the two countries, no global framework for climate change will be possible.
The Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012, was deemed largely ineffective because it made no demands on developing nations and the US refused to sign it.
"We hope the US Government could do more and better," Xie said. "If the US Government takes more positive and stronger action on the issue of dealing with climate change, especially emissions reduction, there will be a bigger push to the meeting in Copenhagen at the end of this year."
This December, United Nations-led talks in Denmark will seek to forge a framework for a global treaty on climate change.
- AP
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