China's population policy slows global warming

China's family planning policy has helped the country reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The remark was made by a senior Chinese official on the sidelines of the Copenhagen conference.

Vice minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, Zhao Baige says there is a strong correlation between population growth and climate change. China introduced its family planning policy in the 1970s. Since then it has effectively slowed excessive population growth. Zhao says this represents a reduction of over 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year at present.

Zhao Baige, Vice Minister of Nat'l Pop. & Family Planning Commiss., said, "Regarding family planning, we have taken comprehensive policies and measures over the past 30 years. These include education, technological assistance, and administrative measures. As a result, the average number of children each couple produces has dropped from 5.8 to 1.8. And China's current population is not 1.7 billion but 1.3 billion. The 400 million fewer people are not only a contribution to China but also to the world."

Zhao Baige has also stressed that climate change is more than an issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also involves politics, economy, and culture. She points out that an integrated approach to addressing the issue is a must.