When a few days ago I spent a week in China on Foreign and European Affairs Committee business I was pleasantly surprised to learn during official talks that in spite of various other almost insurmountable problems, for the Chinese authorities the global financial crisis and climate change are considered to be top priority items.
This is interesting to note, particularly when no topic has risen more quickly on the US policy agenda in recent years than has climate change.
What many fail to realise is that this is not a purely environmental issue but rather a multi dimensional one. For countries like China and the USA apart from the domestic side, there is also a foreign policy dimension.
The question will ultimately remain as to what they can and should effectively do to reduce carbon emissions on their own home front.
As far as the USA is concerned the ability of the US to be effective at home in this area will largely shape its ability to be persuasive abroad.
One of the many aspects of the global debate about climate change in which the US is involved concerns many emerging or developing countries. But in my opinion none is more central to this debate than China because without China there can be no global agreement in Copenhagen this December.
Given China’s rising carbon emissions and the projections of more to come, one nevertheless has to realise two things:
• that on a per capita basis it fares much better than other western countries including the USA itself; and
• that its participation will be essential to any efforts to combat climate change around the world.
When we talk of climate change in China we need to address the issue from two vital perspectives:
• the Chinese energy and climate strategy; and
• energy technology in China itself.
I must confess in all honesty that although the Chinese will continue to engage in diplomatic negotiations until some accord is or rather may be reached, it is becoming increasingly evident that the Chinese leadership has come to understand that the country will face a steep price if climate change continues unabated. And by price I do not merely mean political but also definitely economic.
It is no mean task for the Chinese to grapple on the home front with how best to balance continuing and maintaining their economic growth with developing and implementing an effective climate change response.
My personal wish is that the USA and China will manage to work together most effectively to transform the way that China, and indeed even the USA, do business.
In my visit I was favourably impressed about the great importance the Chinese attach to energy efficiency improvement for years to come.
Its major objective will not only be that of reducing carbon emissions but rather of trying to rebalance its economic growth in a much less energy intensive direction.
80 per cent
On many occasions the PN try to rubbish the PL as an obstructionist party that will clutch to any straw to undermine or destabilise government. How untrue this is was confirmed by none other Deputy PM Tonio Borg when during the closing address before the summer recess he confirmed that contrary to public belief, in 80 per cent of the bills parliament has in front of it, both sides take a consensual approach. This message is worth conveying to other segments of public opinion.
MSC Splendida
I felt a sense of pride when the impressive mega cruise liner MSC Splendida made its maiden call in our ports last week. The presentation was something that filled us with pride and appreciation. While showing my admiration for the MSC senior management for having always put Malta on the map – quite successfully I must say thanks to Hamilton Travel – I must also admit – as I had occasion to remark on board – that it was indeed impressive to see such a mega cruise liner give as much priority attention to eco friendliness, recycling, waste management and energy efficiency as much as a nation must or should do.
Email: brincat.leo@gmail.com
www: leobrincat.com
Leo Brincat is the Main Opposition Spokesperson for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change.
