UN Climate Change Conference

UN climate change chief praises efforts by China and US

By Zhang Yuwei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-03 11:03

CANCUN, Mexico – The flexibility China and the United States have each exhibited in the climate

change negotiations in the past few days demonstrates important progress, said UN climate change chief

Christiana Figueres.

“China and the US have been very vocal in the past days, and they are approaching areas of common

understanding, particularly around MRV (Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable mechanism),” Figueres told China Daily.

China and the US have narrowed differences on this key issue during the climate talks, specifically regarding how to monitor greenhouse gas emissions. Experts say that this is a crucial step that will help break through the

deadlock on reducing pollutants.

Su Wei, China's chief negotiator, said in a recent press conference that the differences between the two countries over

MRV "are not that huge."

Earlier in the week, US negotiator Jonathan Pershing said the US and China had "spent a lot of energy in

the past month working on those issues where we disagree and trying to resolve them."

“My sense is we have made progress,” he said.

“It is always important to see countries that demonstrate flexibility. What it demonstrated exactly is a

spirit that is necessary here across all issues -- which is flexibility, and going beyond your hard national

positions so that there can be a common agreement,” Figueres said.