23 April 2007
China sees climate impacts ahead
(BBC) Global warming could melt large areas of glaciers in the Himalayas and surrounding high-altitude regions and bring major impacts to several regions of the PRC, according to a major report from a government body. The National Climate Change Assessment Report sees higher temperatures causing droughts, spreading deserts and reducing water supplies. But the report says China should not risk slowing its economic growth by curbing greenhouse gas production. It recommends taking measures to protect water supplies and safeguard agricultural output. China is set to become the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases within the next few years, though per-capita emissions remain well below those in developed western countries. The report's findings tally with global projections released at the beginning of the month by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).