China is willing to join the international community in tackling climate
change, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi reaffirmed yesterday, saying that
it is "unfair and unscientific" to blame China for greenhouse gas emissions and
climate change.
"If one person from developed countries could eat three slices of bread for
breakfast while those from developing countries could only have one slice, who
do you think should be on diet if we look at greenhouse gas emission from the
perspective that all men are born equal?" he said.
"I don't think it's justifiable for some people to take the moral high ground
and speak plausibly about the overall amount of China's greenhouse gas
emission," Yang said.
The foreign minister noted that when the issue of climate change was being
discussed, people should look at not only the aggregate but also per capita
figures, not only the present but also the history, not only production but also
consumption.
"As a good part of China's high quality products were exported, I hope
overseas consumers realize the rising pressure China is facing for emission cuts
that should have taken place in their own countries," he said. Yang said climate
change should mainly be attributed to the emissions of developed countries.