Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao elaborated China's stance on the fight against climate change Friday when addressing the opening session of the final summit segment of the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen.
The following are quotable quotes of Wen on climate change:
ON PRINCIPLE OF "COMMON BUT DIFFERENTIATED RESPONSIBILITIES:"
"It is totally unjustified to ask them (developing countries) to undertake emission reduction targets beyond their due obligations and capabilities in disregard of historical responsibilities, per capita emissions and different levels of development."
"If we all agree that carbon dioxide emissions are the direct cause for climate change, then it is all too clear who should take the primary responsibility."
ON CHINA'S EMISSION REDUCTION EFFORTS:
"Bearing in mind the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and mankind's long-term development, we have exerted unremitting effort and made a positive contribution to the fight against climate change."
"We have improved the taxation system and advanced the pricing reform of resource products with a view to putting in place at an early date a pricing mechanism that is responsive to market supply and demand, resource scarcity level and the cost of environmental damage."
"By the end of the first half of this year, China's energy consumption per unit of GDP (gross domestic product) had dropped by 13 percent from the 2005 level, equivalent to reducing 800 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions."
ON CHINA'S MITIGATION ACTION:
"This is a voluntary action China has taken in light of its national circumstances."
"We have not attached any condition to the target, nor have we linked it to the target of any other country. We will honor our word with real action. Whatever outcome this conference may produce, we will be fully committed to achieving and even exceeding the target."
"To reduce carbon dioxide emissions on such a large scale and over such an extended period of time will require tremendous efforts on our part. Our target will be incorporated into China's mid- and long-term plan for national economic and social development as a mandatory one to ensure that its implementation is subject to supervision by the law and public opinion."
ON UNFCCC, KYOTO PROTOCOL
"The UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol are the outcomes of long and hard work by all countries. So they must be highly valued and further
strengthened and developed."
"It should lock up rather than deny the consensus and progress already achieved in the negotiations."