Reuters first with breakthrough China climate change report

Reuters notched up big scoop on China’s climate change policy options, a hot issue for many clients ahead of negotiations for a new international pact on global warming in Copenhagen. The report from top Chinese think tanks proposed caps on the country’s greenhouse gas emissions so they begin to fall about 2030. Beijing has so far resisted specifying when its emissions may peak, but this report from leading advisers to the government spelt out the country’s options, giving rare insight into the ideas shaping Chinese policy. The August 17 story was followed the next day by the China Daily (crediting Reuters), AFP, AP and many newspapers, while websites and climate change-focused blogs featured discussions of the Reuters story. A Chinese climate expert gave Beijing reporter Chris Buckley notice that the report had been published, giving Reuters a dominating headstart with the story. Once again Reuters is setting the agenda on climate change policy in China.