Durban (CNS) -- China laid out five preconditions for an international legal framework that will underpin the common mission to reduce carbon emissions, at the ongoing Durban Global Climate Change Conference, Monday.
The five points cover an extension of the Kyoto Protocol, actions by developed countries to help developing countries adapt to climate change, a consensus on technology and project cooperation, a scientific evaluation of the progress made by all countries to be completed by 2015, and a mutual agreement to work out a compliance model that can be used by each country according to its capacity.
Based on the current legally-binding international treaties – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, a new agreement must be reached on the premise that the goals of the previous two documents are valid and can be gradually realized, and that the five enabling conditions mentioned are met, said Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation.
So far, China has set a goal for 2020 and supported it with domestic laws and regulations: the carbon emission per GDP unit will fall by 40 to 45 percent compared to its 2005 levels.
More specific solutions for the years after 2020, Xie stressed, should be determined based on the scientific assessment expected by 2015, a contribution by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
