Is China reversing its stance on global warming?

In recent months, China has shown up the rest of the world by making large strides to significantly increase the proportion of energy that comes from renewable sources in the country.

However, the superpower could simply be making the changes to reduce its dependence on its coal-fired power stations rather then stopping global warming as China's lead climate change negotiator has said he was keeping an "open attitude" as to whether global warming was man-made or due to natural cycles.

Speaking in Delhi at a meeting of envoys from Brazil, China, India and South Africa, where the countries were submitting their plans to cut emissions by the end of January, Xie Zhenhua said there was no doubt that warming was taking place, but more and better scientific research was needed to establish the causes.

His comments will be a major blow to environmental campaigners who have argued that global warming and climate change are due to the high level of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions from industrialised countries around the world.

The Basic Group

At the conference, Brazil, China, India and South Africa, known as The Basic Group, called on rich nations to ensure that $10 billion was pledged to combat climate change. In an act that was essentially throwing down the gauntlet at the US, South Africa's environment minister said the country had an obligation to take lead on the issue, especially considering the failure of the Copenhagen Conference.

However it was Xie's comments that generated the most interest, with the other countries attempting to play down any ideas of disagreement.

When asked about the melting of the Himalayan glaciers, and the fresh doubts cast on the link between global warming and extreme weather events, Xie said there were still "disputes" in the scientific community over the causes.

"Now the mainstream view is according to the review reports by the IPCC," he said.

"There is one starkly different view, that the climate change or climate warming issues is caused by the cyclical element of nature itself. I think we need to adopt an open attitude to the scientific research, that we need to have as inclusive as possible all kinds of views concerning this aspect, because we want our views to be more scientific and to be more consistent."

Combating climate change

When asked to clarify his remarks, he said: "It is already a solid fact that the climate is already warming. The scientists have already shown that the global climate is warming.

"Due to the climate change influences, the countries that have been actively impacted most are those developing countries, in particular those small island countries. And the major reason of this climate change issue is the unconstrained emissions produced by developed countries in the process of their industrialisation.

"That is the mainstream view and we need to make responses concerning these views. There are some uncertain views but our attitude is open, that we need to have more studies. But this shall not impede our efforts in combating the climate change."

Whatever China's motives for switching to renewable resources, as one of the fastest-growing economies on the planet, it is key that the country attempts to reduce their emissions whatever the reason.

 

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