A three-day United Nations climate change meeting attended by negotiators from more than 180 countries was concluded in Bonn, Germany over the weekend, kicking off a fresh start for this year's international negotiations on a calendar for future climate change talks.
The UN climate talks will pave the way for the UN Climate Change Conference scheduled from Nov 29 to Dec 10 in Cancun, Mexico. Participating countries should demonstrate their utmost sincerity and quicken negotiations if the Mexico conference is to generate more results than last year's Copenhagen summit.
China has been actively pushing for international efforts in tackling climate change. It has also set its own goals in emission cuts toward 2012, winning the country much acclaim in the international arena.
The Chinese delegation has identified three major tasks to be fulfilled in the Mexico conference: Quantified post-2012 emission targets for developed countries bound by the Kyoto Protocol should be confirmed; Developed countries that have not endorsed the protocol should determine comparable emission goals; Developed countries should provide practical support to developing countries in climate funds and technology transfer.
These are the core issues in this year's international negotiations on climate change. Apparently, more rounds of negotiations are needed as developing and developed countries hold different views on these issues.
To expand international consensus, developed countries should not back off from their responsibilities. They should extend more help in funding and technology to the developing world, which is most vulnerable to global warming.
Climate change is a common challenge faced by all countries as it concerns the safety of our planet. While every country has a role to play in tackling climate change, concerted international efforts hold the key for effective response to this global scourge.
With another round of talks within the UN framework scheduled next month, more concrete efforts will be needed for a successful Mexico conference.