ABSTRACT
The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the core of the many climate agreements arrived at so far, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Plan of Action. The differentiated responsibilities aim to meet the special needs of developing countries for accelerated and equitable economic development. China has already built strong defences against the adverse impact of climate change. In 2010, China produced over 500 million tonnes of foodgrains in a cultivated area similar to that of India. Chinese farmland is however mostly irrigated unlike in India where 60 per cent of the area still remains rain-fed. The largest opportunity in the area of mitigation lies in increasing soil carbon sequestration and building up soil carbon banks. A biogas plant and a farm pond in every farm will make a substantial contribution to both reducing greenhouse gases emission and ensuring energy and water security.
