Global Legislators Applaud China's Efforts to Combat Climate Change

Legislators from around the world have spoken highly of China's recent efforts in combating climate change at the recently concluded Global Legislators Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He Fei has more.

120 lawmakers from 16 major economies including the US, Britain and Japan recently joined the Global Legislators Forum to seek consensus on a raft of climate-related policies ahead of talks in Copenhagen in December.

At the forum, Wang Guangtao, the chairman of the Resources Protection Committee of China's National People's Congress noted that China will not shrug its due responsibilities in combating global climate change.

Participants hailed China's efforts in dealing with climate change.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said China is playing a leading role globally in tackling the problem.

"I must say that I am very encouraged by what's going on in China right now. The strong statement made by the Chinese President in the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's summit meeting in New York was very important and shows the real commitment from China. And I think it will encourage other world leaders and other nations to follow the good example from China."

At the UN Climate Summit in New York in September, Chinese president Hu Jintao made China's first commitment to climate change targets, vowing to cut carbon output per GDP by a "notable" margin by 2020.

In the meantime, participants also praised China's efforts in strengthening its environmental legislation.

Michael Jay is the former head of the UK Foreign Office.

"Many of us have already implemented policy measures to tackle climate change. The Chinese National People's Congress inspired by Congressman Wang Guangtao passed a comprehensive climate change resolution in August to put climate change at the heart of China's development planning."

The National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, approved its first climate change resolution in August and announced plans to draw up new laws to combat global warming.

He Fei, CRI News.