Dialogue with Alex Wang, senior attoney of NRDC

• Source: Global Times
• [15:31 December 03 2009]
• Comments

What ways should developing countries like China and India take in reducing emissions? These countries are still developing. Shouldn't they be allowed to develop further before cutting emissions?

China and India still have substantial room to use energy more efficiently, to develop renewable energy sources and to adjust their industrial structures. The prerequisite is improving the lives of their people, but this does not mean that China and India should delay action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. What China, India and other developing countries need is energy to develop, and to help deal with climate change they will need these energy services to come from low-carbon sources. China and India have clearly acknowledged the harm that climate change will cause their people and resources, and both countries can contribute substantially to global climate change action in a relatively cost-effective way. China and India deserve help in terms of resources, technology and capacity building from developed countries. This will clearly be an area of much discussion in Copenhagen.

How can carbon emissions be monitored? Only monitoring factories or also the population?

A robust system for monitoring carbon emissions will need to be developed in the US, China and other countries. This will serve as a basis for the international financing, technology transfer and capacity building assistance that will be part of any agreement. It is also an area that the US and China are both now trying to develop. It is an excellent area for joint collaboration and the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the US EPA and China's NDRC will serve as an important foundation.

Can carbon emissions be offset by planting more trees? What can be done to offset emissions?

Preventing deforestation will be an important part of any climate change solution. China's target in this regard is very important, as will be any efforts to prevent deforestation in other countries.

Do you think cap-and-trade is an efficient way to solve the problem? Is it effective? Some mention that the measure is like paying poor people to clear up the mess left by the rich who can continue to pollute. What do you think of it?

Cap-and-trade can be an effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Buying offsets can be a cost-effective way to reduce emissions, while bringing much needed financing, technology and capacity to developing countries. However, offsets should only be a part of the solution. The core of effective action on climate change will still need to be for major emitters to build effective domestic systems for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Do you think Copenhagen will be successful? Why or why not?

This remains to be seen. It's up to the countries to make Copenhagen a success. The US and China have both stepped up with constructive first bids in the negotiations with their greenhouse gas reduction and carbon intensity targets. A great deal of work will need to be done to effectively reach these targets though.

What are you most concerned about with the upcoming summit? 

The greatest risk is that we leave the summit without either an effective global deal or significant progress that will allow for a deal next year.

I think the timing is quite positive. It's coming a week before Copenhagen. And it sets stage for the negotiation.