China's east coast 'should lead way' with carbon caps
More extreme weather conditions affecting stability of schemes such as Three Gorges Dam, according to the head of the nation's meteorological deparment
China's top meteorologist has said well-off provinces in the east should set mandatory targets for carbon emissions as soon as possible, while western regions should avoid high emissions in pursuing growth.
The comments by Zheng Guoguang in the Study Times, a publication of the Central Party School, shed light on official thinking about how China will meet its pledge to ensure emissions peak in 2030, as part of a climate pact with the United States signed in November last year.
It is also the first time China has said it might set binding targets for some parts of the country.
"Eastern regions should take the lead in setting caps for their [carbon] emissions, which should also become mandatory goals and a part of evaluation indicators for reviewing local officials," Zheng said, without giving a more detailed timeline. And western provinces should keep their carbon emissions relatively low while undergoing economic development, so that they won't be faced with pressure to bring them down at a later stage.
Dealing with climate change was necessary for China to put its economy on a more sustainable growth path, something the country's leadership had been aiming for, said Zheng.
He added that the external pressure could also encourage the transition.
United Nations negotiations are under way to forge a new global deal on tackling climate change, due to be agreed in Paris in December.
