The Carbon Dioxide Emissions Issue: China Says They Shouldn't Have To Pay For It!

China says that Western nations are responsible for the carbon emissions issue.Even though they currently emit the most carbon dioxide in the world.But,they say that has not always been the case.Historically,wealthy nations have put more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than China has.As a producing nation,they feel that the consuming nations are the one that should bear the cost.That stance could pose another serious problem for the Obama administration.As if they really needed anymore!Here's more on this story from The Guardian:

"China wants consumer countries to take responsibility for the carbon emissions generated in the manufacture of goods, not the producer countries that export them, according to its top climate change negotiator.


The tough bargaining position set out by Li Gao, whose country is now the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, looks set to be a major hurdle for the Obama administration and other developed nations as they seek to find common ground ahead of a crucial UN climate change meeting in Copenhagen in December.


Since taking power, President Barack Obama has signalled his readiness to enter into an international agreement on reducing emissions, to be negotiated in Copenhagen. This is in contrast with his predecessor George Bush who dropped out of the Kyoto protocol because it did not set binding targets for big developing nations China.


A deal between the two countries is widely seen as critical in reaching an international agreement. China overtook the United States as the biggest emitter in 2006 and its dependence on coal-fired power looks likely to ensure that it will remain in this position for decades to come. Li, who was in Washington for a preliminary meeting of the major emitting nations, set out China's position that western consumers were largely to blame.


"As one of the developing countries, we are at the low end of the production line for the global economy. We produce products and these products are consumed by other countries... This share of emissions should be taken by the consumers, not the producers," said Li, who serves in China's powerful National Development and Reform Commission. He added that between 15% and 25% of all the country's global warming emissions resulted from manufacturing exports."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here.