Greenhouse gas issue studied
( 2001-12-28 00:44 ) (1 )

Chinese scientists continue to study ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide that alter normal global climate norms and harm economic and social development.

The chief method they've uncovered is to cut coal and petroleum consumption, experts said at a national forum Thursday in Beijing.

Those carbon-based fuel sources comprise most of how the nation's industries are powered, said Gao Feng, deputy-director of the Law and Treaty Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Gao said his ministry will work with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State Development Planning Commission to add wind, solar energy and other clean and renewable power resources to the nation's menu.

Climate changes can prompt disasters that threaten lives and alarm the world, said Wang Jie, deputy-director of the National Committee for the Funds of Natural Sciences.

His committee views global warming study as a top concern for the coming years and will invest more to see such research through, Wang said. No dollar figures were given.

The United Nations implemented a Framework Convention on Climate Change in March 1994 to curb global warming.

China has worked to uphold its end of that international quest, said Lu Xuedu, an official with the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Chinese and Canadian scientists, for example, have studied ways to lower gas emissions in Beijing. That research will improve the capital's air quality in the coming few years, Lu said.

"Global warming may affect agricultural production in different areas of the planet,'' said Lin Erda, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science. "It will cause little impacts in North America and the Europe, but big fluctuations for Africa.''

Science magazine has listed "the recognition that human's activities have led to climate change'' as one of the top 10 world scientific achievements this year, Lin said.

(China Daily by Cui Ning)