China asks for some ‘development space’ while world seeks to curb global warming

BEIJING – China said Tuesday it was working hard to increase its use of renewable energy, but needs to be given some leeway in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gases.

China’s contribution over time to climate change has been relatively small, an economic planning official said when asked about China’s attitude toward the focus on the issue at a meeting of Pacific Rim nations in Australia this week.
[…]

“I hope the international media will give us some development rights, some development space and not overly blame us,” said Chen Deming, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top planning agency.

China’s soaring economy has produced an ever-greater amount of gases blamed for contributing to global warming, with one Dutch study saying it has overtaken the U.S. as the leading producer of carbon dioxide.

However, Chen said China shouldn’t be held overly accountable because its has only recently become a major producer, contributing only 9 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions between 1950-2000. China’s per-capita rate of carbon dioxide production also remains low given its population of 1.3 billion, he said.

MSNBC