house gas emissions, is winning praise at an international climate conference for its efforts to clean up and support anti-global warming moves. Some experts believe China has surpassed the United States as the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases, yet it has made strides in enhancing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy, environmentalists and officials said Friday.
"I think China is taking climate change seriously and that's a good sign that there will be a good outcome here in Bali," said Artur Runge-Metzger, head of the European Commission delegation at the conference on the Indonesian island.
Even hard-to-please environmental groups who relish lambasting industrialized countries for pollution are praising Beijing, though it's clear China - which relies heavily on dirty, outdated coal burning techniques - has a lot more to do.
China's ranking on Germanwatch's 40th annual index, which ranks 56 industrialized and emerging countries, was an improvement of four places over last year, the group said Friday.
The United States and Saudi Arabia were the worst on the list, at 55th and 56th places, respectively.
Environmental watchdog Germanwatch noted the Chinese government has enacted policies promoting renewable energy, including mandates that solar, wind, hydroelectric and other forms of renewable energy provide 10 percent of the nation's power by 2010. It also has ordered key industries to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent.
Politicians and activists said China's defensive posture of the past has given way to constructive discussions at the Bali climate change conference. Beijing has also taken the lead among developing countries in calling for wealthier nations to speed up the transfer of cleaner technologies to emerging economies to help shift away from fossil fuels.
Hans Verolme, director of WWF International's Global Climate Change Program, attributed China's position to concerns over energy security and a recognition that climate change is already having a severe impact on the country, with worsening drought, water shortages and floods.
"China has made up its mind about a year ago that it was going to get serious," Verolme said. "They want to show to the world it understands and it wants to do what is necessary to stop dangerous climate change."
