China pledges to reduce intensity of its carbon emissions

People wearing respirators are seen on a pedestrian bridge in downtown Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2014 [Xinhua]

China on Tuesday made fresh pledges on fighting climate change, while reiterating its earlier position that developed countries need to take the lead in cutting emissions to address climate change leading into global talks later this year in Paris.

Beijing has set out ambitious targets beyond 2020 in what it calls its “utmost efforts” in tackling the global challenge.

The world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 60-65 per cent from the 2005 level by 2030, according to China’s intended nationally determined contributions (INDC), an action plan submitted to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made the announcement in Paris and the target has been submitted to the UN on Tuesday.

“China is fully committed to playing an even greater part in global governance and in advancing common development of mankind,” said Li.

In 2014, carbon emissions per unit of GDP was 33.8 per cent lower than the 2005 level.

The enhanced actions “represent its (China’s) utmost efforts in addressing climate change,” the INDC proposal said.

All parties are expected to submit their INDCs before the Paris meeting. 39 countries of the 196 parties to the convention had submitted their INDCs by Monday, says the UNFCCC website.

In a detailed submission to the UN on Tuesday, China called on developed countries to “undertake ambitious economy-wide absolute quantified emission reduction targets by 2030″ in accordance with their historical responsibilities.

Moreover, the Paris agreement should set quantified targets and a roadmap for developed countries’ financial support to developing countries in the fight against climate change, according to the document.

Apart from the emission target, China also laid out plans to expand the share of non-fossil fuels in its primary energy consumption to around 20 per cent by 2030 from the 11.2-per cent ratio in 2014, and increase the forest stock volume by 4.5 billion cubic meters from the 2005 level.

 

Source: Agencies