China moves to meet US demand for transparency on carbon emissions

Jonathan Watts in Copenhagen
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 December 2009 20.33 GMT
China rebuffed efforts to prod it towards major climate concessions today, but nudged closer to meeting US demands that it open its carbon accounts to the world.
As talks moved into the final day, China pledged more flexibility on the vexed issue of how its pledges to curb pollution will be internationally verified. The world's biggest carbon emitter also confirmed it wants to set a 2C rise as the maximum temperature target.
But it accused developed nations of failing to set sufficiently ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gases. A UN document leaked to the Guardian showed existing pledges would lead to a catastrophic 3C rise. "What they have committed has not met the expectations of the international community, but they say developing countries have not done enough. They are linking the two. This is not the way to go forward," said He Yafei, the Chinese vice-foreign minister. He was speaking on behalf of premier Wen Jiabao, who met leaders from developing nations during the day.
Hope for progress had risen earlier when Hillary Clinton announced the US would sign up to a $100bn-a-year international climate fund, and the Indonesian president, Susilo Yudhoyono, said his country was willing to accept monitoring of its emissions.
China indicated it would be more responsive in providing information upon request.
"Prime minister Wen Jiabao said we are willing to enhance and improve national communication. The purpose is to improve transparency. We are also willing in voluntary fashion to explain and clarify, if need be. We can also consider international exchange, dialogue and co-operation that is not intrusive, that does not infringe upon China's sovereignty," said He. Earlier, Senator John Kerry accused China of being the main source of inertia in Copenhagen. "The announcement [by Clinton] isolates China rather than the Chinese blurring lines to isolate us. China needs to rejoin the effort and start playing a constructive role," he said.
In Copenhagen, China has been viewed as intransigent by developed nations. But developing countries see China as having expertly safeguarded their interests, in particular in seeing off attempts to kill the Kyoto protocol.
Environmental groups said they expected more in the final hours. "I am still hopeful that we'll see more flexibility from China," said Yang Ailun, of Greenpeace. Others said the ball was now in China's court. "Secretary Clinton's financing announcement was a game changer. We think China will view it as a constructive step forward in helping developing nations of the world, and respond with important proposals of its own," said Alex Wang, of the Natural Resources Defence Council.
Analysts said the two biggest emitters appeared to be drawing closer on the subject of transparency, which is a primary concern of the US.
"I think there is some movement there. I'm much more confident now than before," said Mark Kenber, policy director of the Climate Group.
China has built a strong alliance with three other major emerging economies, Brazil, South Africa and India. This group (known by the acronym BASIC) has put out joint statements of opposition to claims by richer nations.