This year Beijingers had to shed their warm winter woollies and switch to skirts and short-sleeved T-shirts in early April. 

Statistics show Beijing's average temperature from April 7 to April 16 was 18.8 C, 5.2 degrees higher than the figure for the same period last year and the highest since 1951. Although meteorologists have given reasonable explanations for the occurrence of such high temperatures, climatic change is becoming more and more a matter of public concern.

"Climatic changes, which are mainly seen in the gradual warming of the earth's atmosphere, have a bearing on the lives of all of us," said Qin Dahe, head of the Chinese National Meteorological Administration, at a forum held by Foreign Affairs College. "Industrialization is a direct cause of the greenhouse effect," he said.

Industrial production is now a global phenomenon, with fossil fuels being exploited and burned on a massive scale. Industrial waste products are not being properly treated before release. And even the large-scale development of agriculture can contribute to the exacerbation of the greenhouse effect.

A lot of greenhouse gases are still being released into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide alone accounts for 63 percent of factors contributing to the rise in temperature of the earth's atmosphere.

According to Qin, the volume of greenhouse gases has doubled since the start of industrialization, resulting in a 1.2 C rise in temperature. Especially over the past 50 years, there has been an upsurge in atmospheric temperature, mainly caused by human activities.

In 2001, China experienced its 16th abnormally warm winter. In China's northeastern, northwestern and northern areas, temperatures have generally risen. And at the same time, precipitation in the country's northern areas has decreased. Hence, Beijing's record-high temperatures this spring are not altogether a surprise.

Atmospheric warming is also having a deleterious effect on the earth's ecological systems. Patterns of vegetation have been changing, and biodiversity is decreasing. Glaciers have generally shrunk and lake levels fallen. On the other hand, the levels of the world's oceans are rising. And extreme weather patterns have begun to pose serious challenges to human life.

In addition to the ecological system, social and economic systems have also been hurt.

With agriculture, output levels, distribution and costs have all been affected. And supplies of water have continued to decrease since precipitation has been negatively affected. The annual runoff volume has declined by 3 percent.

The issue of atmospheric warming is attracting attention worldwide. And the international community is now making efforts to control the emission of greenhouse gases.

In 1992, the United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted. It was the first international convention, aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the world's climate system.

The convention also requires developed countries to pay all developing countries' costs in cutting emissions and adapting to climate changes; and developed countries should support the strengthening of developing countries' ability to deal with environmental problems, including the transfer of related technology.

In 1997, more than 160 countries met in Japan to negotiate binding limitations on greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries. The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto Protocol, in which developed countries agreed to cut back their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. But because of the refusal of the United States to sign, the protocol is still not in effect.

With a full realization of its environmental problems, China has also done a lot of work to improve its environment and avoid repeating the western countries' perversion of priorities, expressed in the phrase, "pollution first and then control."

China actively participated in the discussion and signing of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, committing itself to the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

However, as a developing country with a rapidly growing economy, China is facing a tough challenge in controlling its emission of greenhouse gases.

Currently, although its emission per capita is lower than the world average, China's release of carbon dioxide ranks second in the world. And the warning is out that the country will become the number one emitter of carbon dioxide by the year 2030.

In addition, China's urbanization level still stands at 31 per cent, far below the world average of 46 per cent. Pushing forward the country's urbanization level will require the consumption of more fossil fuels, given that not enough effort is being made to develop new types of clean energy.

Despite difficulties, China should have some success in limiting its emission of greenhouse gases.

As clean forms of energy are not yet widely used in the country, the government should work out a strategy to optimize the energy structure. At present, coal accounts for 70 percent of China's energy production.

Research and development should be carried on to develop more kinds of recycled energy and to develop hydropower or nuclear energy, which do less damage to the environment.

It is also important for the government to seek a balance between emissions control and poverty alleviation, while developing the economy.

On the other hand, the public should be made more environmentally aware. More effort should also be made to teach the public ways to protect the environment in the course of their daily lives.

(China Daily May 11, 2004)