Review: China's efforts to fight climate change

The attention China pays to the fight against climate change is clear from what has been achieved in this area over the last few years.

In June 2007, China took the lead among developing countries to map out a plan to cope with climate change. The guideline specified basic direction, principles, and concrete measures. As of the end of November this year, all provincial governments had worked out their own plans, and have been putting them into practice.

Sun Cuihua, Deputy Director of Department of Climate Change, NDRC said "We have done a lot of work to promote a low-carbon economy. First, we stepped up industrial and economic restructuring, expanded the service industry, and upgraded our economic and industrial structures. In recent years we have also put a great deal of effort into eliminating obsolete production capacity."

From 2006 to 2008, China eliminated 60 million tons of iron, 43 million tons of steel, and 140 million tons of cement in obsolete production capacity. Energy consumption per capita of GDP had been cut by nearly 13 and half percent from 2005 levels by the first half this year, and is expected to be further reduced by 20 percent by 2010. China has also emerged as a world leader in alternative energy. Developments in water, solar, and nuclear power are surging ahead, with the country's wind power capacity now ranked number 4 in the world.

Sun Cuihua said "Fighting climate change and developing a low carbon economy are essential to achieving sustainable development. The National Development and Reform Commission is determined to achieve this. We will step up economic and industrial restructuring, adjust our economic growth model, to ensure that the economy and society develops with relatively low carbon emissions."

Meanwhile, China has been working on its 12th five year plan. Energy saving and fighting climate change are important elements. The country has also mapped out medium and long-term strategies to develop alternative energy. It will also continue to promote low-carbon economy awareness and call for low-carbon living styles and consumption patterns. In addition to cutting carbon emission per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, the country will also increase forestry areas to 40 million hectares, and expand the proportion of renewable energy to 15 percent of all energy consumption.