What are the Chinese expectations of emissions limits on industrialised countries in the new post-Kyoto treaty?
China has stated that these should be 40% below 1990 levels, while the EU is offering 30% maximum and the US is currently negotiating along the lines of 17% below 2005 figures. Can a deal be reached given these differences? From the professional and legal point of view, post-Kyoto is not a precise or accurate term in the context of international negotiations on climate change. The Kyoto Protocol remains valid for long time or sine die, which is not terminated by the expiry of its first commitment period. At present, the Parties are holding negotiations to implement the Bali Roadmap and to enable the comprehensive, effective and sustained implementation of the UNFCCC convention and the Kyoto Protocol. China’s position is that based on the historical responsibility, the principle of fairness and considering the stages of development, the developed countries as a whole should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below their 1990 level by 2020, and that they should take co
