China follows US decision on emission targets
China has set a target to slow the growth of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, a day after the US did the same. Nice to see the two superpowers working in tandem on the world’s most pressing issue. But the Chinese are focusing on energy efficiency, rather than reducing total emissions, and have resisted demands from American and European negotiators to adopt binding limits on pollutants, saying environmental concerns must be balanced with economic growth. It also says developed countries must first show significant commitment to reducing their own emissions. As the engine-room of global economic growth, China overtook the US two years ago as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, so expect lots more manoeuvring ahead of Copenhagen. Read more: The New York Times
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