China, Indonesia welcome Copenhagen deal

London, Dec 21: China and Indonesia have hailed the outcome of the Copenhagen UN climate summit, with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi describing it as a new beginning, and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono saying he was pleased with the result.

The non-binding pact, called the Copenhagen Accord, was not adopted by consensus at the summit in the Danish capital. Instead, after two weeks of frantic negotiations, the 193-nation conference ended on Saturday, Dec 19, with delegates merely taking note of the deal. The BBC quoted Jiechi, as saying: "Developing and developed countries are very different in their historical emissions responsibilities and current emissions levels, and in their basic national characteristics and development stages. Therefore, they should shoulder different responsibilities and obligations in fighting climate change."

The Copenhagen conference is not a destination but a new beginning," he added.

His upbeat note was echoed by Indonesia, ranked the world's third-largest polluter after the US and China, if the effects of deforestation are taken into account.

President Yudhoyono said in a statement on his website, "Indonesia is pleased, as [we have] taken a wholehearted stance to save our Earth, to save the children in our country."

The accord looks unlikely to contain temperature rises to within the 2C (3.6F) threshold that UN scientists say is needed to avert serious climate change. It also includes a promise to deliver 30 billion dollars of aid for developing nations over the next three years.he agreement also outlines a goal of providing 100 billion dollars a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.

A method for verifying industrialised nations' reduction of emissions is in the pipeline as well.

However, environmental campaigners and aid agencies have branded the deal a toothless failure.

ANI