The US stepped up yesterday with the $100 billion pledge which had to increase pressure on China. (Whether the US can follow through with that money in Congress is a big question market.) China has repeatedly negotiated well in recent years and may not feel inclined to sign onto anything that is not going forward. Who wants to negotiate from a weaker position. Well, besides the Democrats during most critical debates, that is. It may not be right but China is more concerned with China and continuing growth than with appeasing the West.
All eyes are now on China to see if it will allow itself to be cast in the role of the villain who prevented a new international climate deal and deprived the world's poorest people of the chance to get substantial new aid to tackle the effects of global warming which are now inevitable.What doesn't help the overall process today is the leaked UN report that is not complimentary to what has been negotiated. At the current rate, global temperatures would still increase substantially.
The initial reaction of the Chinese at Copenhagen last night was defensive and appeared to show no real movement. He Yafei, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that his country would increase reporting on emissions under domestic law, but would not accept verification that was "intrusive" or infringed on Chinese sovereignty.
