Pelosi ends China visit, “hopeful” on climate change issues
- Source: The Global Times
- [00:10 May 29 2009]
- Comments
By Zuo Xuan
Photo: Zuo Xuan
The US House speaker Nancy Pelosi said in Beijing today that she is “hopeful” about the Copenhagen negotiation on climate change despite her delegation has ended up with both “optimistic” and “pessimistic” conclusions after a week-long visit to China.
The United States House delegation told a press conference in Beijing before ending their visit that they had drawn different conclusions after talks with the Chinese counterparts.
Edward Martin, chair of the House Selected Committee of Energy, Independence and Global Warming, said their goal of the trip is to show that they are serious about the climate change. “We leave here, encouraged that progress can be made in Copenhagen,” he added.
James Sensenbrenner, Republic Congressman of Wisconsin, was discouraged with the conversation with the Chinese counterparts. He said, “It is business as usual for China is going to do their way the rest of the world negotiates in Copenhagen.”
“The Chinese tell us they reduced the carbon dioxide emission per unit of GDP by 20 percent from 2005-2010, since the Chinese GDP is going up dramatically, that still resulted in significant increase.” Sensenbrenner said.
The US House delegation started a week-long China tour on Sunday at the invitation of Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the top legislature, the National People's Congress.
The US delegation had met with top Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao yesterday. And the two sides agreed on the achievements China has made on climate change and will solve differences through dialogue and consultation.
China is the world's second largest energy consumer following the United States. It has pledged to improve energy efficiency and boost the clean energy sector so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A new protocol was expected to be born in Copenhagen by the end of this year to replace the Kyoto Protocol to prevent global warming and climate change.
During the press conference, Pelosi showed her concerns about the North Korea nuclear test, saying the move is unacceptable.