Scholars from US, China discuss climate change issues in Chicago

CHICAGO - Scholars and officials from China and the United States met in Chicago University on Tuesday and discussed climate change issues at the US-China Forum: Spotlight on Climate Change.

Fu Ying, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 12th Chinese National People's Congress, said as a developing country, China upheld that international cooperation on climate change should abide by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and implement the consensus already reached.

In her speech, Fu also introduced the facts that China has made unremitting efforts to cope with climate change in recent years.

At the ond-day forum, scholars from the United States and China discussed such issues as environment and human health, climate change and social security, and how the two countries can work together to build lasting relationship to address climate change.

Elisabeth Moyer, associate professor of the Department of Geophysical Sciences of Chicago University, focused on the special impact of sea level rise to China in her thesis.

Moyer said China is one of the victims of climate warming. Some coastal cities of China may disappear following the sea level rise if no efforts are made.

Zou Ji, deputy director general of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation of China, told Xinhua that through the discussion, better environmental policies and solutions could be found and a sustainable path for the future be forged.

The forum, sponsored by the China-US Exchange Foundation and Chicago University, aims to bring together top experts to discuss issues facing China and the United States and to forge long-term research collaborations between researchers from both sides.

China and the United States issued a joint statement on climate change in November last year, announcing their goals and efforts to tackle climate change in the next 15 years.

China intends to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20 percent by 2030, when carbon dioxide emissions would peak. The United States intends to reduce its carbon emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent.