China nod to conditional emission cuts

China, the biggest carbon dioxide emitter, agreed on Monday to accept a legally binding climate deal post-2020 but with five pre-conditions, including review of the steps taken by the rich countries so far to address the issue of climate change.

China, the biggest carbon dioxide emitter, agreed on Monday to accept a legally binding climate deal post-2020 but with five pre-conditions, including review of the steps taken by the rich countries so far to address the issue of climate change.

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China’s chief negotiator Xie Zhenhua said: “We accept a legally binding arrangement with five pre-conditions post-2020. As long as principles of common but differentiated responsibility and equity are ensured, individual capability is guaranteed, we would like to take the legally binding emission.”

The conditions also include a renewal of emission-cut pledges by rich nations under the Kyoto Protocol, along with transparency on climate funding and operationalisation of Cancun agreements.

He said China under its National Action Plan has already pledged to bring down carbon emissions by 17% in the next five years.