China promises action on climate change

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- China, for the first time, pledged a serious commitment to tackling the issue of climate change.

Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, speaking to the United Nations Climate Change Summit in New York Tuesday, said China's atmospheric emission level, the highest in the world, would soon peak, and that his country would make its economy more carbon-efficient by 2020.

His address came after U.S. President Barack Obama challenged both China and his own country to make changes, saying, "As the two largest economies and emitters in the world, we have a special responsibility to lead. That's what big nations have to do."

Zhang pledged that "China is ready to work with other countries to shoulder responsibilities" and reduce emissions "as early as possible. As a responsible major country, a major developing country, China will make even greater effort to address climate change. All countries need to follow the path of green and low carbon development that suits their national conditions."

The statements were seen as hope that an ambitious, global agreement on climate change can be reached at a conference convening next year in Paris. In the case of China, it was the first formal pronouncement it would take action to reduce carbon emissions.

The summit, which concluded Wednesday, was attended by representatives of 120 nations, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that "never before have so many leaders gathered to commit to action on climate change."