China committed to fighting climate change, but not yet to quantitative targets, says EP delegation

Summarizing the delegation's findings, committee Chairman Guido Sacconi, who led the delegation, said "First of all, China is very committed in the fight against climate change and ready to engage in the area of emissions reductions, energy-saving, and energy-efficiency. At the same time, it acknowledges the importance of co-operating with industrialised countries on technology and technology transfer, as well as the need for financial assistance in this field. These are certainly extremely positive messages. One critical issue remains, however: the fact that, at this stage, China still considers that the current structure of the Kyoto Protocol should be maintained and developing countries, including emerging economies, should have no quantitative commitments."

"Having listened and seen what our Chinese counterparts have done", added rapporteur Karl-Heinz Florenz, "I got the impression that the Chinese authorities are adopting and implementing legislation to successfully start the fight against climate change". "2007 and 2008 are the decisive years for the post-2012 process. In view of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali next December, I was happy to learn that for China the United Nations is the forum for the international negotiations on climate change. I am also convinced that China will be a close and key partner of the EU in the negotiations for a post-2012 agreement. It is in our mutual interest to succeed in the fight against climate change".

This was the first in a series visits by Climate Change Committee delegations to non-EU countries, in order to develop contacts among parliamentarians and forge a strong alliance to address climate change issues. During their visit to China, MEPs met with - among others - Mr Mao Rubai, Chairman of the Environmental and Resources Protection Committee of the National People's Congress, and Ambassador Yu Qingtai, Special representative of the Foreign Affairs Minister in charge of international negotiations on climate change.

The committee members who travelled to China were:

Mr Guido Sacconi (PES, IT)
Mr Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP-ED, DE)
Ms Romana Jordan Cizelj (EPP-ED, SI)
Mr Aldis Kuskis (EPP-ED, LV)
Mr Dieter-Lebrecht Koch (EPP-ED, DE)
Mr Giulietto Chiesa (PES, IT)
Mr Vincenzo Lavarra (PES, IT)
Mr Alessandro Foglietta (UEN, IT)
Ms Barbara De Brun (GUE-NGL, UK)
Ms Anne Laperrouze (ALDE, FR)



EP Temporary Committee on Climate Change delegation visit to China
05/11/2007
Temporary Committee on Climate Change
Chair : Guido SACCONI (PES, IT)

Contact:
Piotr Zalewski, European Parliament Press service
E-mail address : piotr.zalewski@europarl.europa.eu, Telephone number in Brussels : (32-2) 28 32232 (BXL), Telephone number in Strasbourg : (33-3) 881 74151 (STR), Mobile number : (32) 498 98 32 57

William Fingleton (RELEX), European Commission delegation to China
Telephone number : + 86 10 84548000, Fax: + 86 10 84548011