China could soon overtake the US as the world's biggest polluter

In the UK, three more headline-worthy climate change "initiatives" have been unveiled. But are these kinds of measures enough?

Charity Global Cool has launched My CO2, a celebrity-endorsed campaign which offers a "Carbon Coach" who will give your lifestyle a "workout" and help you make simple everyday changes to cut greenhouse gases emissions.

The government-funded Carbon Trust has produced a map comparing emissions in towns and cities across the UK, and low-cost airline Flybe is to introduce "eco-labels" for their flights detailing their noise, fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

It will also allow passengers to "offset" the pollution produced by paying money to fund renewable energy projects.

Given China's tough stance, what are the implications be for UK climate change policy and do we need something more radical than a carbon "workout"?

'Right signals'

Friends of the Earth say carbon offsetting is a "distraction" from the real challenge of tackling emissions at source.

But the charity PURE, which will oversee the Flybe scheme, insists it can make a difference.

Head of fundraising Phil Wolski says it removes industrial "licences to pollute" from developing countries like China by buying up so-called "carbon credits" and taking them off the market.

China is saying what we have long said - the rich industrialised countries must go first

Tony Juniper

Friends of the Earth

It also funds green energy projects in these countries - and in the UK - to cut emissions and help "migrate" cleaner technology to the developing world.

Mr Wolski said: "For the last 200 years, the West has been burning fossil fuels, so we can't now go to places like China and tell them they can't.

"Instead, it's about sending the right signals to China through our actions - and we can make a serious difference there with our projects."

PURE insist they offer a way for people in the UK to contribute to reducing pollution in developing countries even where overall national policy is not environmentally friendly.

For example, in India, another major polluter, a PURE scheme in Malavali has provided renewable energy to 10,000 people and reduced CO2 emissions by 20,000 tonnes using money from UK carbon offsetters.

Global Cool also have their sights set on India as part of their mission to sign up one billion people to their lifestyle campaign.

They plan to use Bollywood stars to try to inspire ordinary Indians to tackle climate change.

Campaign director Fanny Calder said: "We believe that if we can be successful with individuals, we can then create the political space for governments to take more action."

Green leadership

Beyond the level of the individual citizen, many believe China's attitude should prompt - or even shame - us into a much more strategic national change.

Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth, believes China's position is "morally justified" and the UK must set a better example.

"The thing we are lacking now is leadership," he said.

If anyone says China is not taking climate change seriously because it is putting economic growth first, I would ask, 'How that is different from many other countries?'

Prof Mike Hulme

"In a way, China is saying what we have long said - the rich industrialised countries must go first.

"The reality is that in most industrialised countries emissions are going up, not down, so we need to improve our own credibility before calling on nations like China to sign up to international agreements.

"We need some real-world examples of countries going low carbon and still maintaining economic growth and quality of life for its people.

"For example, if we can get carbon capture and storage technology going here, we can then offer it to China at preferential rates. That will show them that we are serious about our own emissions and that we want to help them develop as well."

Shared ambitions

Professor Mike Hulme, director of the Tyndall Centre for climate change research, says he sees China's announcement as a positive step.

"For the first time there is a public and very visible recognition that climate change is a factor in thinking about long term national goals in China. That would have been unthinkable 10 years ago."

Prof Hulme also believes we in the UK should remember that China's priorities are, at heart, no different from our own.

Carbon offset charities say they support renewable energy projects

"If anyone says China is not taking climate change seriously because it is putting economic growth first, I would ask, 'How that is different from many other countries?'

"The language and rhetoric may be different, but the concern about growth is the same in the UK, US and Europe.

"The political project which all parties agree here on is first and foremost about securing growth. You can critique that, but most of the population definitely buys into it."

Ultimately, many believe that economic growth and reduced emissions go hand in hand, so industry here and in China must simply be encouraged to develop "greenly".

That is the justification behind the Carbon Trust's map, says its solutions project director, Hugh Jones.

"Now is the time for businesses worldwide to grasp the idea that it cutting emissions is key to being competitive internationally.

"If UK businesses don't, they will be outflexed by others in places like China that do."