BEIJING (Reuters) - China will make "controlling greenhouse gas emissions" an important part of its development plans, the government said, blaming global warming for increasing droughts and floods and melting glaciers.
China is now widely considered to be the world's biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases from human activity stoking global warming, and it has faced continued pleas from other governments to set firm goals to limit emissions.
The broad intentions were spelt out at a government meeting on climate change on Wednesday chaired by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Chinese newspapers reported on Thursday, and they appeared while Beijing is at the heart of negotiations seeking a new global pact to fight climate change.
"Make controlling greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change an important basis for setting the medium- and long-term development strategies and plans of government at every level," said the summary of the meeting issued by the official Xinhua news agency.
"Nurture new points of economic growth that feature low carbon emissions and accelerate development of a low-carbon emissions systems for industry, construction and transport sectors."
The report did not specify targets for restricting the country's emissions. But the meeting of the State Council Standing Committee, or cabinet, stressed China wants to be seen as a constructive player in negotiations aiming to agree on a new climate change pact in Copenhagen at the end of this year.
Negotiators from over 180 nations have been meeting in Bonn, Germany, seeking to make headway in those talks.
China has repeatedly said it and other developing countries should not be expected to shoulder strict targets anytime soon to cap and cut greenhouse gas emissions from industry, transport, farming and changes in land-use.
Instead, Beijing has said, wealthy countries must lead the way with big cuts in their emissions, while poor countries are given more time to grow -- and increase emissions.
But the Chinese government's latest statement adds to signs that some emissions goals may be included in the country's next five-year development plan starting from 2011.
Beijing may seek to use those domestic goals to show other nations it is serious about fighting global warming, even if the goals are not directly included in an international pact.
The meeting chaired by Premier Wen also used unusually blunt language to warn of dire consequences from continued global warming, apparently referring to droughts, floods and other weather disasters.
"Without any doubt, the frequent occurrence of extreme climate events is related to human activities," said the summary of the meeting.
"The large amount of greenhouse gases emitted through human activities is the main reason for global warming leading to extreme weather events."
The meeting also said global warming was melting glaciers, lifting sea levels, and "threatening the security of water supplies."
(Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Ken Wills)
