- Title: China looks to take the lead on climate change after Trump election victory
- Date: 12th November 2016
- Summary: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO (NOVEMBER 12, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINESE PAVILION AT CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN MARRAKESH, MOROCCO SIGN READING IN ENGLISH: "MARRAKECH 2016, COP22" INSIDE CHINESE PAVILION SIGN READING IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: "CHINA" CHINESE FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF THE CHINESE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, LIU QIANG, SAYING: "We're also involved in the international negotiations very actively. So I think from this perspective, China will take the lead, especially actively participating in all kinds of activities in drastic climate change. And also I think that China will totally, totally deal with climate change seriously. We think that climate change is a very important issue." LECTURE BEING GIVEN INSIDE CHINESE PAVILION TV SCREEN WITH PRESENTATION READING IN ENGLISH: "CHINA CITY EMISSION PEAKING ACTIONS" AUDIENCE LISTENING TO A PRESENTATION WOMAN GIVING LECTURE INSIDE CHINESE PAVILION BACKDROP READING IN ENGLISH: "CHINA PAVILION" BACKDROP READING IN ENGLISH: "MARRAKECH COP" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENIOR GLOBAL POLICY ADVISOR AT GREENPEACE CHINA, LI SHUO, SAYING: "There's definitely a lot of uncertainties, and potentially a leadership vacuum ahead of us after the U.S. election. I think what China has made very clear yesterday is that they will continue their action, regardless of the political situation in the U.S. So we think that's very reassuring and I think it is very important to emphasise the point that the Paris agreement, reached last year, was by almost 200 countries." MORE OF INSIDE CHINESE PAVILION AUDIENCE MEMBER LOOKING AT GRAPH ON TABLET VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING TO CLIMATE CHANGE LECTURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENIOR GLOBAL POLICY ADVISOR AT GREENPEACE CHINA, LI SHUO, SAYING: "The science and the reality of climate change does not get changed by the outcome of the U.S. election. So we call on all of the countries here, in Marrakesh, to work very closely together especially in the second week to reach a successful outcome for the COP22." VARIOUS OF CHINESE FLAG INSIDE PAVILION
- Embargoed: 27th November 2016 18:29
- Keywords: China US climate change Trump Morocco
- Location: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO
- City: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO
- Country: Morocco
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00158521C7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China is set to position itself as the world leader on tackling climate change following the election of sceptic Donald Trump as U.S. President.
Trump's presidency is likely to end America's key involvement in the international fight against global warming.
China worked closely with the administration of outgoing President Barack Obama to build momentum ahead of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
The partnership of the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters helped get nearly 200 countries to support the pact at the historic meeting in France's capital.
The Director at the Chinese National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, Liu Qiang, said China sees climate change as a very important issue.
"We're also involved in the international negotiations very actively. So I think from this perspective, China will take the lead, especially actively participating in all kinds of activities in drastic climate change. And also I think that China will totally, totally deal with climate change seriously. We think that climate change is a very important issue," said Qiang.
By contrast, Trump has called global warming a hoax created by China to give it an economic advantage and said he plans to remove the U.S. from the historic Paris climate agreement, as well as reverse many of Obama's measures to combat climate change.
He has appointed noted climate change sceptic Myron Ebell to help lead transition planning for the Environmental Protection Agency, which has crafted the administration's major environmental regulations such as the Clean Power Plan and efficiency standards for cars and trucks.
Beijing is poised to cash in on the goodwill it could earn by taking on the leadership mantle and dealing with what, for many other governments, is one of the most urgent issues on their agenda.
However, speaking at the Morocco conference senior policy advisor at Greenpeace China, Li Shuo, said China's commitment was reassuring.
"There is definitely a lot of uncertainties and the potential leadership vacuum ahead of us after the U.S. election. I think what China has made very clear yesterday (November 11) is that they will continue their action regardless of the political situation in the U.S. So we think that is very reassuring and I think it is very important to emphasize the point that the Paris agreement reached last year was by almost 200 countries."
Shuo insisted that the science behind the climate change fight will not be altered, no matter who is U.S. President.
"The science and the reality of climate change does not get changed by the outcome of the U.S. election. So we call on all of the countries here, in Marrakesh, to work very closely together," said Shuo.
For years, Beijing fought attempts by foreign governments to limit carbon emissions, claiming it should be allowed the same space to develop and pollute that industrialized nations had.
But with its capital often choked by smog and its people angry about the environmental devastation that rapid development has wrought across the country, Beijing has become a proponent of efforts to halt global warming rather than a hindrance.
China also sees a perceived role as global climate leader as a way to bolster its aspiration to become a "clean energy superpower" by leading in renewable energy technology such as wind and solar power and asserting itself as a key geopolitical power. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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