Game, set, match.
China will not accept binding cuts in its greenhouse gas emissions, an official said Thursday, after the United States said it made progress with Beijing in talks here on a global climate pact. The comments came after a visit by US climate change envoy Todd Stern aimed at pressing the Asian giant to commit to hard numbers on emissions reductions ahead of December talks in Copenhagen on a new global warming treaty.
"China is still a developing country and the present task confronting China is to develop its economy and alleviate poverty, as well as raise the living standard of its people," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters. "Given that, it is natural for China to have some increase in its emissions, so it is not possible for China in that context to accept a binding or compulsory target."
China and the United States are the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Earlier, the United States issued a statement describing the meetings as "a step in the right direction on the road to Copenhagen and to charting a global path to a clean energy future."
"We deepened our dialogue with our Chinese counterparts through a candid discussion of the challenges we must overcome and the opportunities we must seize if we and the world are to reach an international climate agreement," it said.
EDIT
http://www.terradaily.com/2007/090611101911.hphr2k5z.htmlGood thing they "deepened their dialogue", huh?
:eyes: