International meteorological experts and government representatives from nearly 130 countries began a four-day conference Wednesday in Shanghai to discuss changes in the global climate.

By 2100, the average global surface temperature will have risen by between 1.5 and 6 degrees centigrade, and the average sea level will have risen by 0.14-0.84 meters, said Wang Bangzhong, director of the Division of Climate with the China Meteorological Administration, one of eight Chinese experts present at the session. Both of these trends threaten the whole world.

Since the mid 19th century, when the Western world saw the industrial revolution, the average temperature has increased by about 0.6 degrees centigrade.

Satellite data shows there is less snow and ice covering the world now. As a result, agriculture, water resources and the ecological system have been disturbed.

Snow and ice are important fresh water resources, the lifeline of agriculture. Global warming causes more evaporation than precipitation leading to a shortage of fresh water. This hinders the growth of the national economy, as agriculture is affected, and many modern industrial cities are along the coast.
"Coastal cities have to think more about their future as parts of them could end up being under the sea," Wang said.

To try to get the situation under control, several countries have agreed to work together. Developed countries such as the United States are to shoulder a larger share of responsibility. For example, they are being urged to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases and aerosols by another 5.2 percent between 2008 to 2012.

China, as a developing country which still has 30 million people living in poverty, willingly made its own well-known environmentally friendly contribution to the rest of the world.

"The family planning policy reduces population growth and consumption, so lowers pollution," said Sun Cuihua from the State Development Planning Commission. Now, the emission of greenhouse gases is just one 11th of that of the United States.

China has also adjusted its energy structure. Coal accounted for more than 75 percent of the energy used in the 80s but went down to 69 percent last year.

The government also attaches great importance to exploring new and cleaner energy, such as hydraulic power and nuclear power.
While protecting existing greenland and plants, more trees and grass will be planted to increase the current coverage of 16 percent of the national land area.

"The Chinese Government will draw enlightening ideas from the proposals like any other country," Sun said.

(China Daily 01/18/01)