The Chinese President announced today that he was prepared to take action on climate change. President Hu Jintao told the UN summit that the country is prepared to make a carbon reduction promise through the introduction of a 2020 target.

Jintao said that notable reductions in emission levels would be made by 2020 from the 2005 levels, a in a move that was welcomed by Chinese green groups.

Although no specific target has been set and there much work to be done, China has for the first time indicated that decisions about the energy future of the country will not be entirely driven by short term economic goals. The announcement demonstrates that pressure from other countries leading the way on carbon reduction can make a difference.

I attended a public consultation exercise for a new wind farm at Spaldington Airfield, in Yorkshire, England at the weekend. Many people were supportive of the proposals and felt strongly that every small move counts in the fight against climate change.

However some anti-wind energy campaigners claimed that it is not worth us in the UK “trying to do our bit” about climate change because countries like China will not do theirs. Many of the objectors still refuse to believe human activity is responsible for climate change. We still have much work to do to persuade people that even small wind farms like Spaldington wind farm (6 turbines) make a meaningful contribution towards our fight against the effects of climate change and even if they don’t believe that - they will help lead us to a secure energy future.