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China predict 'climate phenomena' from global warming

China correspondent Stephen McDonell, Wednesday October 29, 2008 - 22:12 EDT

China has already experienced serious flooding in the last year. - Reuters

The Chinese Government has made dire predictions of increased disasters due to global warming.

In releasing a major policy document on climate change, the Chinese Government has warned that global warming has already had massive adverse effects on China.

A major policy paper on climate change has warned of the difficulty of reducing the country's reliance on coal and the potential devastation that this could cause

According to the so-called White Paper, "Extreme climate phenomena, such as high temperatures, heavy precipitation and severe droughts have increased in frequency and intensity".

Xie Zhenhua, a deputy chief of the National Development and Reform Commission, said China's emissions have caught up with the United States and will not fall soon.

The paper also warns that China's coal-dominated energy mix can not be quickly changed making control of greenhouse gasses "rather difficult".

The paper follows China calling on wealthy nations like Australia to contribute 1 per cent of their wealth to fix global warming.

- ABC

© ABC 2008