This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-40118690

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
China commits to Paris climate deal as Trump decision looms Trump urged to retain Paris climate deal by UN chief
(35 minutes later)
China will honour its commitments on climate change, its premier has said, as the US appears poised to pull out of a key deal. The US has been urged to remain committed to the 2015 Paris climate agreement ahead of an announcement by President Donald Trump on the issue.
Speaking on a visit to Germany, Premier Li Keqiang said fighting climate change was in China's own interest. Reports in the US suggest Mr Trump will withdraw the US from the deal.
China was counting on other countries to follow its example, Mr Li said. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that as the world's largest economy, US support was crucial.
US President Donald Trump is due to announce his decision on the 2015 Paris agreement later. Some reports in the US suggest he will withdraw. Meanwhile, Chinese and EU leaders are set to agree a joint statement backing the Paris agreement, saying it is "an imperative more important than ever".
"China will continue to implement the promises made in the Paris accord. But of course we also hope to do this with the co-operation of others," Mr Li said. The statement - a draft of which has been seen by the BBC - says rising temperatures affect national security and increase "social and political fragility", while the transition to clean energy creates jobs and economic growth.
As a big developing country, China had an "international responsibility" to try to prevent climate change, he added. Mr Guterres told the BBC: "It is obviously a very important decision as the United States is the biggest economy in the world.
Chinese and EU leaders are set to agree a joint statement on the Paris climate agreement, saying it is "an imperative more important than ever".
The joint statement - a draft of which has been seen by the BBC - says rising temperatures affect national security and increase "social and political fragility", while the transition to clean energy creates jobs and economic growth.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the US to remain committed to the Paris agreement.
"It is obviously a very important decision as the United States is the biggest economy in the world," he told the BBC.
"But independently of the decision of the American government, it's important that all other governments stay the course."But independently of the decision of the American government, it's important that all other governments stay the course.
"The Paris agreement is essential for our collective future and it's also important that American society - like all other societies, the business community - mobilise themselves in order to preserve the Paris agreement as a central piece to guarantee the future of our children and grandchildren.""The Paris agreement is essential for our collective future and it's also important that American society - like all other societies, the business community - mobilise themselves in order to preserve the Paris agreement as a central piece to guarantee the future of our children and grandchildren."
'Selfish and irresponsible' - Chinese media reaction, by BBC Monitoring Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said his country will honour its commitments on climate change.
Chinese media are critical of Mr Trump's hint that the US will leave the Paris agreement. Speaking on a visit to Germany, he said fighting climate change was in China's own interests.
Nationalist newspaper Global Times said it would "set a bad example", reveal the US as "selfish and irresponsible" and "weaken US leadership". "China will continue to implement the promises made in the Paris accord. But of course we also hope to do this with the co-operation of others," Mr Li said.
However, state TV channels played down the significance, with Shanghai-based Dragon TV saying Mr Trump "absolutely wasn't speaking formally". As a big developing country, China had an "international responsibility" to try to prevent climate change, he added.
China overtook the US as the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2007.
Russia also said it would stick to its climate commitments, but said the Paris agreement would be affected by a US pullout.Russia also said it would stick to its climate commitments, but said the Paris agreement would be affected by a US pullout.
"It goes without saying that the effectiveness of this convention is likely to be reduced without its key participants," a Kremlin spokesman said."It goes without saying that the effectiveness of this convention is likely to be reduced without its key participants," a Kremlin spokesman said.
Meanwhile British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was "anxious" at the prospect of a US withdrawal but said he believed Mr Trump was "genuinely thinking about the issue".
Some of the biggest gains in tackling carbon emissions in the US had been made at state level rather than federal level, he added.
Mr Trump's refusal to commit to the Paris agreement caused frustration at a G7 meeting last week, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the discussion as "difficult, not to say dissatisfying".Mr Trump's refusal to commit to the Paris agreement caused frustration at a G7 meeting last week, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the discussion as "difficult, not to say dissatisfying".
China overtook the US as the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2007. What would US withdrawal do? Analysis by BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath
There's no doubt that if the US pulls out, it will make it more difficult for the world to reach the goals that it set for itself in the Paris agreement. The US contributes about 15% of global emissions of carbon, but it is also a significant source of finance and technology for developing countries in their efforts to fight rising temperatures.
There's also a question of moral leadership, which the US will be giving up, which may have consequences for other diplomatic efforts.
Michael Brune, from US environmentalist organisation the Sierra Club, said the expected withdrawal was a "historic mistake which our grandchildren will look back on with stunned dismay at how a world leader could be so divorced from reality and morality".
More on this from Matt
What was agreed in Paris?What was agreed in Paris?
Climate change, or global warming, refers to the damaging effect of gases, or emissions, released from industry and agriculture on the atmosphere.Climate change, or global warming, refers to the damaging effect of gases, or emissions, released from industry and agriculture on the atmosphere.
The Paris accord is meant to limit the global rise in temperature attributed to emissions.The Paris accord is meant to limit the global rise in temperature attributed to emissions.
Countries agreed to:Countries agreed to:
To date, 147 out of 197 countries have ratified the accord, including the US, where it entered into force last November.To date, 147 out of 197 countries have ratified the accord, including the US, where it entered into force last November.