China Outlines Cuts in Carbon Emissions

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Source: NYT

With global climate talks set to begin next week, China on Tuesday issued the most comprehensive document yet on its plans and negotiating positions on emissions.

The white paper details the country’s successes in reducing carbon emissions and lays out new goals. Although much of the information has been released before, it is the first time it has been presented comprehensively — part of China’s strategy to make its accomplishments better known ahead of the talks, which begin on Monday in Durban, South Africa.

“In the past they have had a hard time getting the word out,” said Deborah Seligsohn, a Beijing-based fellow with the World Resources Institute. “This is a significant collection of information and data.”

In an interesting nuance, the report also gives a rare nod to nongovernmental organizations, which usually are frowned upon by China’s authorities. The report mentions favorably “Earth Hour,” a project by the World Wildlife Fund, and praises the work of another private organization, the Energy Foundation. The report also indicates that China will follow its previous position of pressuring developing countries to do more.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/world/asia/china-outlines-cuts-in-carbon-emissions.html

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So Michele Bachmann, who once said she'd like the US to be more like China because China doesn't have much in public benefits, now might want to reconsider. China actually wants to regulate its environment? (brain explodes)