A world Development Movement (WDM) report issued on Wednesday
said UK has responsibility for climate change by accounting for the
carbon emissions caused by the country's massive consumption of
products from overseas.
The report said UK is a major importer of Chinese goods, and so
must bear some responsibility for emissions produced during their
manufacture.
Founded in 1970, WDM is a politically independent organization
with 15,000 supporters and 70 local groups across the UK.
"Using the mass media to point the finger at China will not help
get the global deal we need to avert climate change disaster, "
said Pete Hardstaff, head of policy at the World Development
Movement, who is here attending the two-week U.N. climate change
conference.
According to the report, the average UK citizen is responsible
for four times the carbon emissions of an average person in
China.
The UK and other industrialized nations must provide major
technology transfer and aid to the developing countries, said the
WDM official.
"The very real danger at the Bali conference is the talks
breaking down in a pointless blame game. If this is to be avoided,
rich countries like the UK must recognize their responsibility for
fueling climate change, not only with emissions created on our
shores but also with our massive consumption of goods produced
overseas," he added.
The report warns that fear of losing international
competitiveness could block international co-operation and
agreement, just as it has done in the World Trade Organization.
The WDM is calling on rich countries to overcome their fear of
being the 'first to move', warning that, otherwise, "we face a much
more frightening prospect: dangerous, irreversible and runaway
climate change."
A two-week U.N. climate change conference kicked off here on
Monday. The conference is aimed at drumming up support for setting
up a "roadmap" for negotiations on a new deal before the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol expires in 2012.
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(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2007)
