http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...united-nations

The world inched closer to an elusive deal to combat climate change yesterday, when China, the world's biggest polluter, made its most substantial commitment yet to curb its carbon emissions and invest in clean energy.

The proposals, delivered by Hu ­Jintao, the Chinese president, on the first day of the UN general assembly meeting, included the promise of a "notable" decrease in the carbon intensity of China's economy, the amount of emissions for each unit of economic output, by 2020.

"At stake in the fight against climate change are the common interests of the entire world," Hu said. "Out of a sense of responsibility to its own people and people across the world, China fully appreciates the importance and urgency of addressing climate change."

Hu's words about a common cause resonated with leaders of the industrialised world who described a new sense of a "grand bargain" on climate change.

Hu's speech fell short of expectations that he would name the target for China's carbon intensity, and observers suggested China was keeping its cards close to its chest until the climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.

But the speech, coming soon after a change of rhetoric by India's government, raised hopes that a meaningful agreement can still be secured in Copenhagen.

Last night, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said the day-long meeting had rescued the Copenhagen negotiations from near certain disaster.

"One thing I am absolutely sure of, without today's summit the world would not have crossed over the finish line in Copenhagen," he said.

"Finally, we are seeing a fall in some of the frozen positions that have prevented governments from moving forward."

John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace, said: "This is the first time China has said publicly that it will intensify efforts to reduce emissions, but without firm targets or a detailed action plan today's announcement is too vague to be the major breakthrough we hoped for."

Hu said yesterday that his country would plant forests across an area the size of Norway, and generate 15% of its energy needs from renewables within a decade.

Ed Miliband, the climate change ­secretary, said China deserved praise for announcing any change, despite the lack of specifics. "I think it's still a tough ­battle, but for a Chinese president to come to the UN to announce a change in domestic policy in terms of targeting ­carbon ­intensity is quite a big deal" he said. The official US reaction was more muted. Todd Stern, Barack Obama's ­special envoy for climate change, said that Hu's pledge was welcome, but added: "It depends on what the number is."

Another potentially important step forward yesterday came from Japan's prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, who pledged more financial and ­technical aid for poor countries to adapt to climate change.

Like Hu, the Japanese leader gave no further details on how much cash his country would provide.

Obama also delivered strong rhetoric at the general assembly yesterday: "No nation … can escape the impact of climate change.

"The security and stability of each nation and all peoples – our prosperity, our health, and our safety – are in jeopardy. And the time we have to reverse this tide is running out."

Gordon Brown will echo Obama's words in his speech to the general assembly today. "This is the moment now to limit and reverse climate change we are inflicting on future generations," he will say. "Not later at another conference, in another decade, after we have lost 10 years to delay and inaction."

Brown will also this week try to persuade other leaders to agree to go to the Copenhagen negotiations. The Danish prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said a number of leaders had signalled they would go to Copenhagen.

"It is obvious this issue is so complex it can't be solved by environment ministers alone or ministers of finance," he said. "In order to come to agreement, we must have heads of government."

Environmental groups criticised Obama for failing to make any new concrete proposals in yesterday's speech. "Obama's speech … was a huge missed opportunity which does nothing to break the logjam in international climate negotiations," said Friends of the Earth's Asad Rehman.

I know stuff like this doesn't interest a lot of you, but I think it's very encouraging personally. The fact that China have pledged to make cuts is pretty impressive...they may have a total carbon footprint greater than anyone else, but per capita they are something like 4 tonnes a person. That's less than half of the average person in the UK and a quarter of someone in the US or Australia. Japan also claimed it would help pledge to help developing nations cut their emissions while not halting their economy and technology, which I think is just as if not more important than developed nations cutting their emissions. The idea behind it is a Developed nation helps instal renewable technology into that Developing Nation, providing they stick to a target.

One bit that made me lol was poor old Obama getting attacked by Environmental Groups this time on not actually saying anything other than urging countries to make a concrete effort to cut emissions. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's the next Hitler or the Great Socialist that so many love to label him with, but I would like to see something out of this guy other than "Yes we can!"

However one thing I'd like to leave some of you on, Obama has been given the hand of having to deal with, the two wars, the economic crisis, the health care crisis and the climate crisis. Could anyone do anything different, let alone better?

Yes they could?