INDONESIA:Beijing seems to have stopped blaming the developed world for climate change and adopted a new and positive role, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Editor, in Bali
Year after year at UN climate change summits, China's position was very straightforward. Despite accelerating greenhouse gas emissions as a consequence of spectacular economic growth, its representatives insisted the developed countries must bear the brunt of reducing emissions because they caused the problem in the first place.
In Bali, however, the positive approach being taken by the Chinese delegation has taken almost everyone by surprise. Beijing's representatives talk about the need for deep cuts in emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change, and say China is prepared to assume its "fair share" of what will, after all, be a global burden.
"China is being really positive here" said Hans Verolme, Dutch director of the World Wildlife Fund's climate change campaign. "They [ the Chinese] have really creative ideas about what to do with technology and funding as well as being far more open and flexible than in earlier negotiations. They've even started to use the word 'commitment'."
The change in China's position is due to a number of factors - serious air pollution, energy security fears and the need to find a more sustainable path.
"They're also seeing the effects of climate change and decided to do something about it," Mr Verolme added. "Now they've come here to show the world that they care and will do their fair share."
India, by contrast, has been relatively quiet so far, as if it's hesitating about making any commitments.
Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are still questioning the scientific evidence for global warming, despite having assented to the authoritative assessment produced earlier this year by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
"Japan and Canada are playing into the hands of the US, whose vision is one of doing nothing or making it voluntary," Mr Verolme said.
Australia also had to "make up its mind" where it stood, having first accepted the EU's call for 25 to 40 per cent cuts by 2020 only to have this kicked to touch a day later by its new prime minister, Kevin Rudd.
As for the US, its delegation at the climate talks - all loyal to President George Bush - won't be around much longer, though the current round is expected to go on until 2009.
"Our advice is to stop listening to people on the way out, and start listening to the people on the way in," said Peter Goldmark, of US lobby group Environmental Defense.
"There are now two voices from the US - an old voice and a new voice. The old one avoided any talk about timetables and targets and now has very limited business support.
"The new voice is bipartisan and has very active and broad-based business support, which is pushing for progress on this issue in a changed political landscape," Mr Godmark said.
Referring to moves in Congress to impose mandatory limits on emissions, he added: "The message to China is that the day is soon coming when there's going to be serious negotiations with the US over carbon limits . . . Indeed, this Bali meeting may be seen as the time when the world as a whole turned towards a low-carbon economy."
One of the thorniest issues delegates have to deal with is deforestation, which is responsible for some 20 per cent of global CO2 emissions.
Although the worldwide public understands the need to protect tropical rain forests, the complexities involved in agreeing on a plan of action may take several years to resolve.
"The forests are hostages in this situation. Any delay for five years, we could end up with no forests to save," said Marcelo Fortado, campaign director of Greenpeace Brazil.
"What we have is a potential crime scene. Next week, when ministers arrive, instead of getting this issue into the 'Bali Mandate' we'll have a dead body in the room."
Yesterday, the UN-sponsored Global Environmental Facility announced a new initiative aimed at preserving intact rain forests and preventing deforestation in the Amazon, Congo Basin, New Guinea and Borneo. What countries with rain forests want, however, is to be given substantial carbon credits for ensuring their long-term survival.