Hu calls on major economies to combat climate change

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-09 16:25

"The international community should work together to ensure progress in international negotiations on climate change," he said. "In this process, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should be observed."

Developed countries should make explicit commitments to continue to take the lead in emissions reduction, Hu said, adding that the "dual-track" negotiations should be pushed forward in a balanced way and concluded on schedule, and equal attention should be given to the four aspects of mitigation, adaptation, technology and financing.

The UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol should serve as the main channel for international negotiations and cooperation on climate change, with other initiatives and mechanisms as useful supplements, he said.

"We should demonstrate the political will and show flexibility to ensure the success of the negotiations," Hu said.

The Chinese president said that thirdly, the world's major economies should take the lead in carrying out practical cooperation.

Financing and technology are crucial but weak links in cooperation on climate change, he said.

"There is now a huge funding gap in international cooperation on climate change. We should work to improve the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other existing financing mechanisms and promptly implement the projects under the Adaptation Fund to provide new and additional financial support for developing countries as they endeavor to adapt to climate change," Hu said.

Scientific and technological progress and innovation, as an effective means to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance adaptation capabilities, play a pace-setting role and buttress the efforts to tackle climate change, he said.

Hu urged the international community to establish effective technology transfer and dissemination mechanisms and realize technology sharing to ensure that developing countries can get affordable technologies that are both climate-friendly and environment-friendly.

"Given the strong complementarities that our countries have, we are fully capable of taking the lead in carrying out technological cooperation in this regard," he said.

The Chinese president arrived in Japan Monday and is scheduled to return home later Wednesday.

Prior to the major economies' meeting, he also attended an outreach session of the summit of G8 nations, including Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

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