U.S., China try to reach accord on reducing greenhouse gas emissions

[Coventina]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Washington and Beijing -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke are in Beijing this week to talk about climate change with Chinese leaders. The hope is to open the nation's market to American clean technology products while nudging China toward committing to hard targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

They have their work cut out for them.

Although China is rapidly expanding its use of alternative energy to curb dependence on fossil fuels, it's favoring its own wind and solar manufacturers over foreign suppliers. And despite recently surpassing the United States as the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, China has stated repeatedly that the U.S. and other industrial powers must take the lead on cutting emissions.

The issue is pitting industrial countries against the developing world over what role each should play in slowing potentially devastating global warming. At the Group of 8 summit meeting in Italy last week, China and other emerging powers declined to commit to specific goals for slashing heat-trapping gases by 2050. They said their rise from poverty shouldn't be derailed by the rich nations responsible for most of the damage.

The participation of the U.S. and China is essential to building a global consensus heading into next year's United Nations conference on climate change. Any accord that doesn't include these two polluting superpowers would largely be considered a failure. But carbon caps are proving a point of friction between the trading partners.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-china-climate15-2009jul15,0,5639620.story

[AndyTiedye]

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