No time for delay on climate change, says Clinton

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jan 14 (PTI) Insisting that time wasrunning out on climate change, US Secretary Hillary Clintontoday asked countries like India, China and the EU to showurgency in implementing agreements on transparency, fundingand clean energy technology.

Clinton noted that China and the US are the world''slargest emitters of greenhouse gases and their cooperation atthe UN climate conference in Mexico was critical to theconclusion of the Cancun agreement.

"Now, we must build on that progress by implementingthe agreements on transparency, funding and clean energytechnology," she said delivering the first Holbrooke Memoriallecture in Washington.

"We would ask that China embrace internationallyrecognised standards and policies that ensure transparency andsustainability," Clinton said in her speech that focused onUS-China relationship.

The Secretary of State said there is no time to delayand the US and China, working with other partners, includingthe EU, Japan and India, will set the pace and direction forthe world to move rapidly toward a clean energy future.

"On international development, we could make asignificant impact by aligning our investments andcoordinating projects," she said.

"I often in my discussions with China''s leaders hearthem say that their country speaks to the developing worldbecause of their extraordinary progress. But their developmentpractices in Africa and elsewhere have raised seriousconcerns.

"And we welcome the commitment to development, but wewould like to work more closely together to have commonstandards and approaches," she noted.