Blame climate change on China?

There is a worrying and much-loved trend of laying the blame for climate change firmly at China’s door step, so much so there is a very real danger at the Bali conference of the talks breaking down in a pointless blame game. If this is to be avoided, rich countries like the UK must recognise their responsibility for fuelling climate change, not only with emissions created on our shores but also with our massive consumption of goods produced overseas.

The World Development Movement has released a new report called Blame it on China? The international politics of climate change. The report clearly shows that the consumption of Chinese imports in the UK is so great that when included in our carbon emissions, the average UK citizen’s carbon footprint increases by 10%. The report recognises that larger developing countries have become significant contributors to climate change and need to be brought within a globally agreed framework for curbing emissions. But, it highlights the difference between current emissions and historical emissions; the difference between emissions per country and emissions per person; the UK’s recent patchy history in reducing emissions and a comparison between these talks and the infamous trade talks.

Using the mass media to point the finger at China will not help get the global deal we need to avert climate change disaster. Not only have rich countries historically caused the problem; they are also ‘importing’ emissions from the developing world. The UK and other industrialised nations must provide major technology transfer and aid if a deal is to be struck that brings the larger developing countries on board. The consequences of failure are unthinkable for the world’s poor - disease, drought, flooding and death on a truly catastrophic scale.

Download the report at www.wdm.org.uk/blameitonchina