China issues first greenhouse gas bulletin

As one of the world's largest emitters and its second-largest economy, China is playing a constructive role in pushing forward global climate negotiations while doing its bit to keep emissions within targets.

Bi Deli, head of the Low Carbon Development Research Center under the Liaoning Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, described the bulletin as a scientifically composed warning to Chinese governments at all levels on the importance of sustainable low-carbon development.

He said Chinese authorities have realized a green and low-carbon path will be the only choice for the nation's sustainable development, given its large population, limited resources and vulnerable environment.

Although China's emissions are rising and may continue to rise until its urbanization peaks, the country has policies in place to limit emissions and is taking steps to boost its renewable energy industries, force power generators to clean up their coal plants and use more clean energy.

China has made a commitment to cut its carbon intensity -- the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of GDP -- by 40 to 45 percent from the level of 2005 by 2020.

Last year, China more than doubled its solar power generating capacity and increased wind and hydropower capacities. Its current five-year plan includes ambitions to increase the proportion of energy from non-fossil fuels to 11.4 percent by 2015.

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