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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Climate change 'affecting' China | Climate change 'affecting' China |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| At least 300,000 people in north-west China are short of drinking water because of unseasonably warm weather, which officials link to climate change. | At least 300,000 people in north-west China are short of drinking water because of unseasonably warm weather, which officials link to climate change. |
| Parts of Shaanxi province face drought after January saw as little as 10% of average rainfall, state media say. | Parts of Shaanxi province face drought after January saw as little as 10% of average rainfall, state media say. |
| Frozen lakes are melting and trees are blossoming in the capital Beijing as it experiences its warmest winter for 30 years, the China Daily reported. | Frozen lakes are melting and trees are blossoming in the capital Beijing as it experiences its warmest winter for 30 years, the China Daily reported. |
| China is the world's biggest producer of greenhouse gases, after the US. | China is the world's biggest producer of greenhouse gases, after the US. |
| The country's top meteorologist, Qin Dahe, said the recent dry and warm weather in northern China was related to global warming. | The country's top meteorologist, Qin Dahe, said the recent dry and warm weather in northern China was related to global warming. |
| But he told reporters that China was committed to improving energy efficiency, and planned to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions by 20% in the next five years. | But he told reporters that China was committed to improving energy efficiency, and planned to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions by 20% in the next five years. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY While the West has been experiencing warmer weather, in Asia the beginning of the year seems to have grown cooler Norman Ng, Singapore class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4872&edition=1&ttl=20061201181704">Send us your comments Mr Qin was China's representative on an inter-governmental panel on climate change, which last week released a report saying mankind was very likely the cause of global climate change. | |
| His comments, at a press conference in Beijing, mark the Chinese government's first official response to the report's findings. | His comments, at a press conference in Beijing, mark the Chinese government's first official response to the report's findings. |
| No cheap fix | No cheap fix |
| "The Chinese government is taking climate change extremely seriously," he said. "President Hu Jintao has said that climate change is not just an environmental issue but also a development issue." | "The Chinese government is taking climate change extremely seriously," he said. "President Hu Jintao has said that climate change is not just an environmental issue but also a development issue." |
| Developed countries bear an unshirkable responsibility Jiang Yu Foreign ministry spokesperson | Developed countries bear an unshirkable responsibility Jiang Yu Foreign ministry spokesperson |
| But he warned that for China, as a rapidly developing nation, to completely transform its energy structure and use clean energy "would need a lot of money". | But he warned that for China, as a rapidly developing nation, to completely transform its energy structure and use clean energy "would need a lot of money". |
| China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Jiang Yu, reiterated the government's commitment to curbing greenhouse bases. | China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Jiang Yu, reiterated the government's commitment to curbing greenhouse bases. |
| But, at her regular briefing, she also attacked wealthy nations as being the most of the blame for the current crisis. | But, at her regular briefing, she also attacked wealthy nations as being the most of the blame for the current crisis. |
| "Developed countries bear an unshirkable responsibility," she said, adding that they should "lead the way in assuming responsibility for emissions cuts". | "Developed countries bear an unshirkable responsibility," she said, adding that they should "lead the way in assuming responsibility for emissions cuts". |
| Although China is trying to develop alternative energy sources, it is still the world's biggest consumer and producer of coal. | Although China is trying to develop alternative energy sources, it is still the world's biggest consumer and producer of coal. |
| It is expected to surpass the US as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the next decade. | It is expected to surpass the US as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the next decade. |