China Proposes Importing Nations Should Be Responsible for CO2 Emissions
18th March 2009 by Alex Briggs
In this BBC online article, China’s top climate change negotiator, Li Gao, said his country should not pay for cutting emissions caused by the high demands of other countries.
China’s latest suggestion would see its own huge export sector be exempted from any new treaty.
Beijing argues that rich nations buying Chinese goods bear responsibility for the estimated 15-25% of China’s carbon emissions that are created by its production of exports.
Mr Li also criticised proposals by the US to place carbon tariffs on goods imported from countries that do not limit those gases blamed for a rises in global temperatures.
“If developed countries set a barrier in the name of climate change for trade, I think it is a disaster,” Mr Li said.