China has the potential to reduce its CO2 emissions if it adopts latest technologies like smart grid and traffic flow optimization solutions, according to research firm IDC.

The company said yesterday that the nation could eliminate 1,445.5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually by 2020 through the use of ICT-based solutions.

The power sector, in which technologies like smart grid and energy management systems can be applied, represents the biggest opportunity, and accounts for 36 percent of the total emission savings projected.

Intelligent motor controllers, which increase the motor inefficiency, also provide a significant CO2 emission reduction opportunity, accounting for 15 percent of China's overall carbon emission reduction, IDC said.

IDC's report comes at a time when China and the United States, the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters, are in talks at the global climate change conference in Copenhagen.

The United States wants China to take more concrete steps to reduce emissions. The nation, however, has asked for special treatment due to its status as a developing country and said it requires Western funding to nurture clean-energy technologies.

Philip Carter, associate research director of IDC's Green IT & Sustainability Research, said in an online press conference yesterday that China has significant opportunities to save carbon dioxide emissions by utilizing technology.

He said China's recent efforts to close some old and small thermal coal power plants are expected to promote the use of new technology.

In the same report, IDC said a total of 5.8 billion tons of CO2 emissions could be eliminated by 2020 in G20 countries by using more advanced technology solutions.