A world Development Movement (WDM) report issued on Wednesday said UK has responsibility for climate change by accounting for the carbon emissions caused by the country's massive consumption of products from overseas.

The report said UK is a major importer of Chinese goods, and so must bear some responsibility for emissions produced during their manufacture.

Founded in 1970, WDM is a politically independent organization with 15,000 supporters and 70 local groups across the UK.

"Using the mass media to point the finger at China will not help get the global deal we need to avert climate change disaster, " said Pete Hardstaff, head of policy at the World Development Movement, who is here attending the two-week U.N. climate change conference.

According to the report, the average UK citizen is responsible for four times the carbon emissions of an average person in China.

The UK and other industrialized nations must provide major technology transfer and aid to the developing countries, said the WDM official.

"The very real danger at the Bali conference is the talks breaking down in a pointless blame game. If this is to be avoided, rich countries like the UK must recognize their responsibility for fueling climate change, not only with emissions created on our shores but also with our massive consumption of goods produced overseas," he added.

The report warns that fear of losing international competitiveness could block international co-operation and agreement, just as it has done in the World Trade Organization.

The WDM is calling on rich countries to overcome their fear of being the 'first to move', warning that, otherwise, "we face a much more frightening prospect: dangerous, irreversible and runaway climate change."

A two-week U.N. climate change conference kicked off here on Monday. The conference is aimed at drumming up support for setting up a "roadmap" for negotiations on a new deal before the 1997 Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
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(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2007)