Developing Nations' Emissions Reduction Pledges Praised at Copenhagen Conference

China, together with other major developing countries, announced ambitious green house gas emissions reduction targets ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Their resolve in fighting global warming has been hailed by UN climate officials and NGOs from around the world at the ongoing Copenhagen Summit.

CRI European correspondent Li Ningjing reports.

Just last month, China took the lead in announcing its carbon intensity targets, committing itself to reducing the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent of 2005 levels. Following China's example, India and South Africa also announced their emissions reduction targets ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

These voluntary actions taken by developing countries have been widely acclaimed at the Copenhagen Conference. At the press conference following the first day's discussion, United Nations Climate Chief and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Yvo de Boer hailed China and other developing countries' moves as setting an example for developed nations.

"If you look at the announcement that was made by China alone, that accounts for about 25 percent of emission reductions that we need to see in order to avoid more than a 2 degree temperature increases. So very significant commitments made by developing countries. That puts a huge amount of, I wouldn't say pressure, but encouragement on industrialized nations to increase their level of ambition."

Connie Hedegarrd, incoming president of the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, says the latest emissions reduction moves from China and other developing countries will help the conference deliver on its goals.

"I must say that it is rather significant how many major economies from the developing group that has sort of come forward recently with sustantial commitments to action. That is very good news for this conference. It has been extremely encouraging what have seen coming out of different developing countries within these past few months. It is increasing the pressure for developed country to deliver."

Many NGOs and observers at the Copenhagen Conference felt the same about the actions taken by developing countries. Wang Xiaojun from Greenpeace says,

"It shows China's resolve in dealing with climate China, it means, as a developing nation, China is going to develop its economy while reducing its impact on climate change. Another message is China's responsiveness and commitment to climate change. This has a good impact on the Climate Copenhagen summit. Following China, India also made its announcement on greenhouse gas emissions targets."

The two-week Copenhagen Climate Conference will continue until the 18th, and is intended to conclude with an ambitious agreement on greenhouse emissions reduction, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and financing climate change policy.

Li Ningjing, CRI News, Copenhagen.