A unattributed August 18th Associated Press story titled China Mulls Climate Resolution (printed in the Wall Street Journal), reports that China might vow that it will, or at least should, begin reducing its greenhouse gas emissions possibly around 2050. Early in the piece is a one-sentence paragraph, sandwiched between two others:

China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases and has not set a cap on its emissions, believing it needs to continue to expand its economy and lift millions out of poverty. The country’s stance is expected to be key to a successful December U.N. conference in Copenhagen, which will try to reach agreement on a treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol for limiting greenhouse gases, which expires in 2012.

Most scientists agree that even a slight increase (sic) in global temperatures will wreak havoc as seasons shift, crops fail and storms and droughts ravage fields.

Xinhua gave few details of the legislation but said the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress would consider a climate change resolution and a draft amendment to its renewable energy law at its bimonthly session starting Aug. 24.

The article offers no substantiation for this facially odd statement tucked into reportage on the possible hortatory development. That is, “most scientists” have never been asked such a question, neither have most scientists in potentially relevant fields, which the UN’s practices have indicated include climatologists, meteorologists, economists, chemists, engineers, physicists of various stripes and so on. No such band, however defined, has ever registered an opinion on the topic. There is simply nothing to support the AP’s statement.