On July 9, 2009, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, on behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao, attended the Leaders Meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF), which was held in L'Aquila, Italy.
In his speech, Dai expressed the hope that the meeting would help build mutual trust, reach consensus and promote cooperation in tackling climate change. All countries should show political sincerity and spirit of cooperation in international negotiations on climate change. The international community should take positive actions in line with the "Bali Road Map" and push for the success of the upcoming Copenhagen Conference.
He pointed out that climate change is a global challenge that not only concerns national welfare and people's livelihood of all countries, but also affects the economic development of the world and mankind's survival. The international financial crisis is still spreading and deepening, and the world economy has slipped into recession. Nevertheless, no matter what changes take place in international situation, we should never falter in our determination, slack off in our actions, and weaken our efforts in tackling climate change. We should follow a path of clean, harmonious and sustainable development within the framework of promoting common development of all countries, make greater efforts to tackle climate change, and work together to protect the earth, the only home we rely on for existence.
First, the right principle should be upheld in tackling climate change. The cooperation among countries is indispensable for the fight against climate change. The cooperation should reflect impartiality and fairness, and take into account development stages, national conditions, and national capabilities of different countries. All parties should unswervingly implement the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for it is the guideline for international cooperation to deal with climate change. Developed countries should take the lead in reducing emissions to honor their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol for the first commitment period. They should also take the lead in quantifying emission reduction and set a medium-term emission reduction target after 2012. Developed countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol should also make comparable contributions. Developing countries, within the framework of sustainable development, should also take active measures and make due contributions. Requiring developing countries to undertake compulsory quantified emission reduction obligations is neither realistic nor fair.
Second, technology dissemination should be reinforced. We need to strive to build an environment-friendly and energy-saving society, spread technological progress, optimize energy mix and strengthen ecological protection. We should provide a technical platform for countries to achieve green development, explore the establishment of a technology-dissemination mechanism based upon government guidance, enterprise participation and market operation, promote the development, transfer, and share of climate-friendly technologies, and ensure that all countries, especially developing countries, can afford and have access to related technologies. The "Group of 77 plus China" propose the establishment of a mechanism for the transfer of fund and technology within the framework of the "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change". We hope all the parties concerned, especially developed countries show the spirit of partnership and strongly support the initiative. At the same time, no countries should resort to any forms of protectionism under the excuse of tackling climate change and developing low-carbon economy.
Third, the material foundation should be strengthened. Economic development is the key to the fight against climate change. The efforts to tackle the challenge would be in vain without economic development of developing countries. The UNFCCC clearly stipulates that economic and social development and poverty elimination are primary tasks of the developing countries that have signed the convention. Therefore, actions to deal with climate change should promote rather than hinder economic development of developing countries, and should maintain rather than undermine the space for developing countries to develop policies. For the time being, the top priority of developed countries is proceed from a long-term perspective, provide measurable, reportable and verifiable support for developing countries, help developing countries embark on the road of sustainable development and do well on this road, and inject new vigor into pragmatic cooperation of the international community.
Dai pointed out that China, as the world's largest developing country, is faced with arduous tasks of developing economy, eliminating poverty and improving people's livelihood. Nevertheless, China has always attached great importance to climate change and participated in international cooperation with an active, responsible and constructive attitude.
China is the first developing country that has formulated the National Plan for Coping with Climate Change. China has set the targets of cutting energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by about 20% from 2005 to 2010 and emissions of main pollutants by 10% in the same period and raising the forest coverage rate to 20% from 18% and the proportion of renewable energies in primary energy resources from 7.5% to 10%. In order to ensure the fulfillment of the targets set in the national plan, we have set up a national leading group on climate change and adopted a series of policies and measures in adjusting economic structure, developing circular economy, saving energy, improving energy efficiency, eliminating backward production capacity, developing renewable energy, and optimizing energy mix. Of the 4 trillion yuan stimulus package announced by the Chinese government last year, 580 billion yuan (USD84.9 billion) would be used on projects relating to climate change.
China's efforts in energy saving and emission reduction have yielded fruits in recent years. According to incomplete statistics, energy consumption per unit of the GDP has decreased by 10.1% in the past three years, saving energy equivalent of about 300 million tons of standard coal and emitting some 750 million tons less of carbon dioxide cumulatively. In 2007 alone, the total amount of renewable energies used had reached an equivalent of some 220 million tons of standard coal, equaling emissions of some 500 million tons less of carbon dioxide. From 2000 to 2008, the installed capacity of China's wind power increased from 340,000 kilowatts to12.17 million kilowatts, the installed capacity of hydropower rose from 79.35 million kilowatts to 163 million kilowatts, and the installed capacity of nuclear power went up from 2.1 million kilowatts to 9.1 million kilowatts.
China supports the United Nations to play a leading role in the international cooperation for coping with climate change, actively participates in talks on implementing "the Bali Road Map" and constructively works for the success of the forthcoming Copenhagen Conference. China will, based on the principles of openness, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results, continue to work along with the international community to make unremitting efforts to cope with the global climate change and realize sustainable development.
On the same day, Dai Bingguo also attended the luncheon meeting between the leaders of the Group of Either (G8) and developing countries and the session related to trade issues.