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Call to reduce emissions

ROME: Developing countries with booming economies and a growing contribution to climate change must accept flexible and fair commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said the European Commission President on Monday.

While countries like China and India cannot be asked to make the same commitments as developed nations, they must still pitch in to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, said Jose Manuel Barroso in a speech at the World Energy Conference in Rome.

The fight against climate change requires “new, flexible and fair commitments from developing countries, to reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity of their economic development,” said Mr. Barroso, President of the European Union’s executive body.

China is about to overtake the United States as the world’s top greenhouse-gas producer and Beijing has indicated it will reject binding caps on gas emissions.

“We want the economic rise of China to be seen as an opportunity, not a challenge for the rest of the world,” he said at a news conference. “Is China, and we could say the same for India, going to be seen as really committed partners in terms of global responsibility, including in energy and climate protection?” Mr. Barroso said the threat of climate change and the rising oil prices should push governments to reduce their dependence on oil and seek alternatives. — AP

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