"Some people in America are saying if they are going to cut emissions in their country, then China will get the benefit by increasing their import to America," said Blair. "If they understand how radical China's targets and commitment are, that will make a big difference."

He praised China's moves to curb emissions and improve energy efficiency, saying the country is "in many ways on the forefront of action on this issue today."

China last year announced a plan to increase the share of renewable energy to 15 percent of the total energy consumption by 2020 from 7.5 percent in 2005.

For the past three years combined, total energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 10.08 percent, while chemical oxygen demand fall 6.61 percent and sulfur dioxide emissions down 8.95 percent.

China aims to cut energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan (US$1,298) of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 percent from 2006 to 2010, with emissions to drop 10 percent.

Climate deal deadline

The former British leader called on countries to hasten efforts for reaching a new climate deal at the end of this year to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

A new UN deal, which is expected to be inked by officials from about 190 countries at the Danish capital Copenhagen in December, should focus more on practical measures rather than simply on the obligations and emission reduction targets, said Blair.

"We should do our best to get an agreement and I think an agreement is possible," he said. "The agreement should set the path for a radically new direction towards low carbon growth, but it should also be realistic and practical."

For example, he said there is a lot to do in fighting deforestation, harnessing solar energy, and developing carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce global warming impact.

He acknowledged the biggest challenge of meeting the deadline would be how to deal with different understandings of parts involved.

The new agreement should ask countries to do the maximum of what they can instead of "forcing them to do the impossible," which include demanding a U.S. emission reduction of 25 percent or 40 percent by 2020, or getting China under the carbon emission reduction targets, said Blair.

As the most populous nation on the planet with world's fastest growing economy, China has become one of the major emitters of greenhouse gases.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in February it's difficult for China to take quantified emission reduction quotas at the Copenhagen conference as the country is still at an early stage of development compared with industrialized nations and its per capita greenhouse gas emission is limited.

Blair also called for a right incentive framework to encourage businesses and industries to promote low-carbon projects and better education to individuals to make their daily lives friendly to the environment.

On behalf of the TCG, he signed here Wednesday a partnership deal with the One Foundation, a non-governmental charity fund launched by the Chinese Kungfu star Jet Li, to promote low carbon campaign at the grassroots level.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2009)