China will achieve its goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by about 20 percent during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-10) by the end of 2010, said Xie Zhenhua, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) at a press conference on November 23, 2010.

At the press conference, held at the State Council Information Office, the NDRC also issued an annual report on China’s policies and actions for addressing climate change. The report elaborated the country’s policies and actions for mitigating and adapting to climate change in 2009, as well as its position on international climate change negotiations.

Released shortly before the 2010 UN climate change conference opened in Cancun, Mexico in late November, the report covered topics such as mitigation and adaptation policies and actions, capacity building, public awareness, and industry action.

All-round progress

Since 2009, China has continued to push for policies and actions to address climate change, said the report. It has made great efforts to mitigate climate change by giving equal importance to saving energy and enhancing energy efficiency. It has boosted the development of environmentally friendly energy with low carbon dioxide emissions while increasing forest carbon sinks. It has also launched pilot programs for building "state-level low-carbon provinces and cities" in an effort to shape an industrial system and consumption pattern characterized by low carbon emissions.

China is actively adapting to climate change, the report said. It has adopted a series of policies in areas such as agriculture, water resources, marine resources, health and meteorology. The government has helped improve agriculture infrastructure to increase the productivity of the sector. It has also constructed a number of flood-control projects in major river systems. At the same time, China has strengthened marine climate monitoring and early warning systems and the protection and rehabilitation of ecosystems, while addressing the impact of climate change on health within the framework of its public health system.

In terms of capacity building, China has continued improving its laws, regulations and administrative mechanisms for addressing climate change. It has strengthened efforts to ameliorate infrastructure and information systems by underlining the role of science and technology. It has also called for public participation in climate change mitigation efforts. Various social sectors, regions and industries have also all taken action, action that has promoted overall progress in addressing climate change.

Emissions reduction efforts

Before the Copenhagen climate change conference in 2009, China said it would cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. It also vowed to raise the share of no-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 15 percent, expand forest area by 40 million hectares and increase forest stock volume by 1.3 billion cubic meters. It released an action plan at the same time.

Painstaking efforts are required to realize these goals, Xie said. As a developing country obligated to develop its economy while cutting emissions, China has but one approach to reaching the goals: seeking green, low-carbon development.

Based on effective planning and pilot projects, the government would adopt economic policies to spur green development, Xie said. It will use the market mechanism and economic means, coupled with legal and administrative means, to promote and ensure the realization of the goals. In addition to policies, technological innovation is also crucial. While the government and business and academic communities play important roles, the whole society should participate as well. In this respect, China will raise the awareness of the general public about climate change to hasten changes in lifestyles and consumption patterns.

China will not emit carbon dioxide in an unbridled manner during its industrialization and urbanization, as developed countries did in the past, Xie said. It will do its best to slow down the growth of its greenhouse gas emissions and peak emissions as soon as possible.