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China to become leader in green tech: experts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-11 05:31

ROME: China is set to become a global leader in the implementation of environmental-friendly policies and green technologies to tackle climate change, an Italian expert told Xinhua in a recent interview.

For Stefano Pogutz, an environmental management professor at Bocconi University in Milan, China's green-policies investment plans are greater than those carried-out in the United States and in many other industrialized countries.

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"What China is doing to tackle global warming is impressive considering the density of Chinese population and the rapid economic growth model China is following," Pogutz said.

Climate change is at the core of the G8 summit held in L'Aquila from Wednesday to Friday. Talks had focused on the need to forge a new post-Kyoto agreement and to increase research and investments in the green economy.

The results of the G8 summit on climate change should pave the way to the United Nations meeting in Copenhagen in December, which aims at sealing a global deal to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the UN climate change framework agreement and the Kyoto protocol, China is not subject to mandatory emission cuts of CO2.

However, on its own China is already contributing to the fight against climate change through a series of initiatives aimed at curbing carbon emissions, such as lowering internal energy consumption levels and launching traffic and transportation monitoring schemes.

"I don't agree with those who believe that China is responsible for global pollution," Pogutz said. "China is doing a lot, there's a direct public intervention on measures aimed at fighting climate change. The Chinese government has increased investments in technologies and infrastructures to boost energetic efficiency and cut CO2 emissions."

Luca Labella, a China analyst with Rome's International Studies Center (Cesi), remembered the numerous local green projects implemented in China such as Shanghai's LPG buses and the rural towns' biomass-fueled.

"China is open to climate change issues and solutions. However, in China climate change is not considered under a political perspective but a scientific one, focused on progress and research, " he added.

According to Pogutz, China is set to have a role of leadership in the use of renewable energies and other green technologies.

"Today China is one of the greatest producer of solar panels and in the near future it could lead in the export of alternative energy technologies."

But it's not only a matter of strategic investments in green technologies. China's contribution to the global fight against climate change largely depends as well on its human resources. " Almost all PhD students in the U.S. come from China," he added.