China plays an important role at Lima climate talks

World Today

Over the next 72 hours, world top officials will join their delegations, jumping in on U.N. climate change conference that have been underway for more than a week in Lima. CCTV America’s Stephen Gibbs reported this story.

China has one of the largest delegations at this conference, and its own pavilion, hosting events and talks.

The importance of China’s policy regarding climate change cannot be understated.

With its huge population, and developing economy, it is currently the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. But also the biggest investor in renewable energy technology.

Ahead of the conference, a landmark deal was agreed between China and the U.S., which some saw as a template of how the developed and the developing world can work together to find a fair solution to a common threat.

The U.S. pledged to cut its carbon emissions by up to 28 percent from 2005 levels, by 2025. China said its emissions will peak by 2030.

The head of the Chinese delegation told CCTV America that he believed this conference can succeed if all parties listen to one another.

“It is necessary to insist multilateral mechanisms make the agenda open and transparent. Different perspectives should be genuinely represented, in order to reflect the inclusivity of the conference. If we can do these two things, I think the draft text of this year’s conference will be accepted. However, acceptance from everyone is still far off,” head of Chinese delegation Xie Zhenhua said.


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