CHINA is insisting it should not be required to undertake legally binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets in the global race to stave off the ill effects of climate change.

Chinese ambassador to Jamaica Chen Jinghua insists it is the developed world – which has historical responsibility for the pickle in which the planet now finds itself — that should submit to such targets while the developing world, of which it forms apart, be allowed to realise its full development potential.

“You have to respect the historical responsibilities and then we could see how best we can cope with it. You cannot say ‘well… everybody why can’t we cut in half?’ That is the not fair to China. China currently is going for a modernisation phase of its economy. With 1.3 billion people, we need development,” the ambassador said.

He was speaking to reporters and editors during the Observer Press Club meeting on September 30.

“We need development to improve our livelihood; that is no question. It’s the responsibility of the Chinese Government to do that. However, we are aware of the need to deal with the climate change (in a) more effective way. We are not shut off (from) our responsibilities in that regard. However, we cannot undertake the same amount of responsibilities as the developed countries because theirs, in terms of economy, has already developed,” Chen noted.

“They enjoy much higher living standards when compared to people elsewhere. They need to shoulder more responsibilities on coping with the climate change. But it seems they are reluctant or even refuse to show us our due share of responsibilities… That is unfair,” he added.

Still, the ambassador said China was not averse to setting its own emission targets and meeting them locally, noting that they had in fact already began to do so.

“We have committed ourselves to do a certain amount of work to try to curb the increase of the emissions of the greenhouse (gas) emissions and to improve energy efficiency,” he said. “China (has) very rigid (greenhouse gas emission) targets to be met by local governments, by industries year by year… But we cannot commit to the world by setting up certain specific figures. That’s different. So we adhere to the UN climate change protocol, and the Kyoto protocol in which the principle is common but differentiated responsibilities,” he said.

China’s position could stymie any significant progress toward getting developed nations to agree to legally binding greenhouse gas emission targets at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, scheduled for Cancun, Mexico next month.

The move toward legally binding targets, certainly by developed countries, which has been advocated by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), of which Jamaica is a member, was resisted at the meeting of the parties in Copenhagen, Denmark last year. The United States, for example, refused to agree to legally binding targets while hinting that perhaps the Chinese were to blame given their refusal to do away with the Kyoto Protocol. Had the Chinese and other developing country parties agreed, it would effectively do away with any requirement for the US to itself commit to binding targets or otherwise leave the way clear for a new agreement that would require fast developing countries, notably China, India and Brazil, to commit to such legally binding targets.

As it is now, the 1997 protocol makes a legal distinction between developed and developing countries concerning their obligations given the realities of climate change which threatens, among other things, increased incidents of hurricanes and droughts, warmer temperatures, and rising sea levels.

“So other countries want to change it (the difference in the obligations); we think is inappropriate… On average we are below the world’s average (in terms of greenhouse gas emissions); that is for sure… If we go along with the developed countries as they suggest then simply put, we will stop development. (In other words) let the poor be poor forever,” Chen said.

“You cannot cut off your historical responsibilities by talking about common responsibilities… Do you have the capacity, the resources to do the same thing as the developed countries do? They are well off societies. They can afford it. They have already developed. Can we? Can developing countries as a whole do the same? We see it as the equivalent to saying we would rather be a poor country. Can you accept that? If all developing countries can accept that then we have no quarrel, no debate,” the ambassador added.

But while the issue continues to be debated among members of the developed world and fast developing economies, the ill effects of climate change are being felt in small island states.

It is what led the scientific adviser to AOSIS to predict that island inhabitants will soon have to swim for it.

“We need to improve our boat-building art (and) teach our kids to swim because sooner or later we are going to have to swim for it,” Dr Albert Binger told the Observer during the climate change talks last year.

And his prediction now appears spot on. Pacific island nations like Tokelau and Tuvalu are two examples of how detrimental sea level rise associated with climate change can be. Their governments are currently contemplating policies that could see entire communities relocated.

Meanwhile, though sympathetic to the plight of island states, China is insisting that it is unreasonable to ask them to make a legally binding commitment.

“We share your concerns, however, on the other side we have to pressure the developed countries to commit themselves, otherwise it is unlikely there will be a quick solution or a quick agreement on climate change. Everybody knows it affects everybody, every country. What we need is concerted effort in finding a proper solution to that,” he said.

“And the UN Convention on Climate Change is there. The Kyoto Protocol is there. Why don’t we just follow the principles and work in a detailed way to implement it? Why do we want to change the convention? Why do we want to change the principles? That is the question,” the ambassador added.

At the same time, Chen said that other ambitious targets, such as limiting global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, was not realistic.

“I know (the peril of the Caribbean and other island states). Some of these less fortunate countries like small island countries formed a union in the negotiations on climate change. We know your position; you set up certain goals for everybody to meet — that temperature in the next couple decades should not be over 1.5 degrees and things like that. But let’s be realistic that is not a realistic target to be met worldwide. So we can set no more than two degree centigrade to rise (instead),” he said.

“That is attainable perhaps by common efforts made by all countries. And we would suggest that these efforts should be concentrated on mitigation. We have to cope with the negative effects while trying to negotiate a better solution. We have to prepare for the worse. In other words, you have to strengthen your measures to cope with the disasters as a result of the climate change. And we are doing the same to tell you the truth. Some low-lying areas of china are no better than some countries in the world. So it affects everybody, including China,” he added.