China targets 40-per-cent cut in carbon intensity by 2020 (Roundup)

Nov 26, 2009, 10:52 GMT

China on Thursday set a target of reducing its carbon intensity by at least 40 per cent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels, drawing praise from two environmental groups. EPA/MARK

   Beijing - China on Thursday set a target of reducing its carbon intensity by at least 40 per cent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels, drawing praise from two environmental groups.

   The State Council, or cabinet, announced on its website and through state media that it aimed to cut the nation's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by between 40 per cent and 45 per cent by 2020.

   'This is a voluntary action taken by the Chinese government based on its own national conditions and is a major contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change,' the State Council said.

   The cabinet agreed on the target in a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, who is scheduled to attend United Nations-led global talks on reductions of carbon emissions in Copenhagen early next month.

   'The announcement that Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the Copenhagen summit next month is a major contribution to reaching an ambitious global climate deal,' said Hou Yanli, the China director for the global climate initiative of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).

   'The world needs a legally binding agreement, and China is showing it has the political will to take a leading role,' Hou said, referring to China's target for reducing carbon intensity.

   Greenpeace also welcomed China's announcement, calling it 'another challenge to the industrialized world' ahead of the Copenhagen talks, but it said the Chinese government 'could do more'.

   'Given the urgency and magnitude of the climate change crisis, China needs stronger measures to tackle climate change,' said Yang Ailun, head of the Climate and Energy Campaign for Greenpeace China.

   'This is a significant announcement at a very important point in time. But China could do more,' Yang said.

   Yang said the Chinese announcement was 'another challenge to the industrialized world, particularly the US, which has just announced an inadequate emissions reduction target of only 4 per cent to 5 per cent by 2020.'

   The Chinese government said it wanted to pursue 'pragmatic and effective international cooperation' with other nations under the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which uses the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' for developed and developing nations in reducing carbon emissions.

   The UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol should be 'carried out in a comprehensive, effective and lasting way,' the State Council statement said.

   Emissions reduction, technology transfer and financial support should be 'coordinated in a comprehensive way to help bring out positive results' in Copenhagen, it said.

   'Appropriate handling of the climate change issue is of vital interest to China's social and economic development and people's benefits, as well as the interests of all the people in the world and the world's long-term development,' it said.

   China's target for reducing carbon intensity was widely expected and reflects its existing policies to increase energy efficiency and raise the share of non-fossil sources to 15 per cent of its total energy consumption by 2020.