Backed by funding from more developed industrialized nations, Asian nations have vowed to reduce greenhouse gasses during the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held during the first two weeks in December and attended by 10,000 delegates from 192 countries in Poznan, western Poland. Major Asian nations came to the environment conclave determined to combat pollution while maintaining current levels of growth. The western developed nations and Asian developing nations who represent half of humanity and a large and rapidly growing share of the greenhouse gas pollution which leads to global warming have been debating growth versus pollution control measures for sometime now. The following are ideals the major Asian nations want in the pact that will replace the Kyoto Protocol from 2013.
CHINA:The top producer of greenhouse gasses worldwide China is already under pressure to reduce pollution, while focusing on growth. The nation defends its stand by valuing per-person emissions and cumulative historic output data which is far below western richer nations. While the country is taking steps to reduce pollution and create a greener environment for its citizens it wants more developed nations to help them by transferring green technology and financially aiding environmental projects to help clean up the environment.
INDIA:Believed to have already surpassed Russia as the no. 3 greenhouse gas emitter, India too hides behind the curtain of low per-person emissions. The country also feels that industrialized nations have a greater historic responsibility towards curbing pollution and should therefore first cut their emissions. India wants the developed world to contribute the equivalent of 0.5 percent of total GDP annually to pay for the costs of adaptation and mitigation. It has also called for the creation of a venture capital fund for emerging green energy technologies. In addition it wants rich nations to agree to mid-term emissions cuts of more than 25-40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels.
JAPAN:Relying on voluntary emissions trading, forestry and buying carbon credits, Japan the world’s no. 5 emitter is far above its Kyoto target to cut emissions. During these two weeks in Poland, Japan plans to garner international consensus on halving world emissions by 2050 and has on its part being financially assisting several developing nations.
AUSTRALIA:the world’s top coal exporter has agreed to cut emissions by 60 percent by 2050 from 2000 levels and believed western richer nations need to adopt mid term targets as well. While it is pushing for more countries to enforce and abide by emission cutting targets, Australia’s mainly plans to cut pollution levels by saving rain forests in developing nations in return for trade able carbon credits.
