Targeting air pollution, poor nations aid climate

BONN, Germany (Reuters) – China’s car efficiency standards are tougher than those of many industrial states — a somewhat surprising fact that reveals how efforts by developing nations to limit pollution may also help brake global warming.

Many poorer nations argue that, for them, development must take precedence over saving the planet. But they also want to tackle pollution that is choking their densely populated cities, and are keen to curb energy waste as oil prices soar.

The measures developing countries are taking to cut down fossil fuel use may limit a surge in emissions of heat-trapping gases from power plants, factories and cars.

“Automobile efficiency standards are more stringent in China than in many industrialized countries,” said Richard Kinley, officer-in-charge of the
United Nations Climate Secretariat in Bonn.

Reuters