Environment     

China maps blueprint for emission control

China.org.cn, December 7, 2011

• China?charted out a?detailed plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the coming five years, as part?of its intensified efforts to honor its pledge for carbon intensity reduction by 2020.

  According to the blueprint, China will cut? its carbon emissions for each unit of GDP by 17 percent by 2015 from 2010 levels.

  The blueprint has been approved by the State Council and will be released in the coming days.

  In 2009, China pledged to?reduce carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.

  The 17 percent national goal has been allocated?among provincial governments, which will be held responsible if they fail to meet the targets, the blueprint says.

  Guangdong province has been given the most challenging task - cutting its carbon intensity by 19.5 percent - while Tianjin and Shanghai, together with Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, have to realize 19 percent cut in the next five years.

  Qinghai province and the Tibet autonomous region only need to reduce carbon emission by 10%.

  "The accomplishment of carbon intensity targets will be included in the appraisal system for local officials," the blueprint says.

  This is the first time China has released carbon intensity goals for each provincial-level region, experts said. It is an?obvious attempt to make greenhouse gas control part of social and economic growth.

  The blueprint also laid out plans to establish statistical and verification systems for greenhouse gas emissions at both national and provincial levels and for individual enterprises.

  China will also establish voluntary carbon emission offset mechanisms and pilot carbon cap-and-trade programs, the blueprint said.

  The blueprint also urged industries including iron and steel, electricity generation, coal, petrochemical, transportation and construction to curb greenhouse gas emissions.?Major enterprises will be requested to report and verify their carbon emissions.

  (China Daily contributed to this story)

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