Rich countries urged to help in climate battle

Watchdog hopes "concrete" support for developing nations given at UN summit

China looks forward to seeing "concrete" and "positive" outcomes on strengthening support for developing ones from rich counties during a United Nations summit on climate change in September, the country's top environmental watchdog said on Friday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling on all leaders to come to New York on Sept 23 with concrete, realistic plans to enhance post 2020 climate actions.

"The world is going to enter a new era for comprehensive implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2020.

"Against this backdrop, it's of great significance for the UN secretary-general to convene the UN climate action summit," said Li Gao, director-general of climate change at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Coming into force on Nov 4, 2016, the Paris Agreement aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and setting a global target of keeping the average temperature increase to no higher than 2 C above preindustrial levels.

Among a series of expectations on the summit, Li has emphasized support for developing countries to enhance their capability in tacking climate change.

In addition to strong political signals on upholding multilateralism, promoting global low carbon development and strengthening the capability for climate adaptation, China expects "especially concrete and positive results on support for developing countries", Li noted.

China also expects the summit to "extensively listen to opinions of different countries, especially those from developing nations" and "encourage developed countries to offer support in funding, technology and capacity building to developing ones", he added.

Li noted that the support from developed countries is needed not only because of the reality in developing countries, but also because it is a requirement from international treaties.

Many developing countries are confronting huge funding gaps to achieve their goals, Li said.

Regarding China's plan to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030, Li said: "Surely, the goal cannot be realized many years ahead of scheduled and it cannot be achieved smoothly as well", considering the heavy tasks China faces in developing its economy, improving its livelihood, eradicating poverty and controlling pollution.

He also emphasized, however, China's determination to honor its commitments, promote sustainable high-quality development and ecological progress, and its resolution to tackle climate change should not be underestimated.

"We will roll out strong and resolute policy measures to ensure that the targets China has promised could be achieved by 2030," he said.