China’s climate envoy bullish on hitting reduction goal for 2020
Nation could cut carbon intensity by up to 10pc more than currently planned if Beijing achieves its energy targets in five-year blueprint, Xie Zhenhua says
China’s top climate negotiator said the mainland’s carbon intensity could be cut by about 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020, a more ambitious outlook than the previous target set by Beijing.
Xie Zhenhua, China’s special representative for climate change, said the reduction of carbon emission per unit of GDP by 2020 could “far surpass” the current goal of 40 to 45 per cent, if the targets on energy saving and emission reduction set by the 13th five-year plan were reached.
Xie made the remarks in Hong Kong yesterday at the “Global Climate Change and China’s Response” seminar organised by the Our Hong Kong Foundation’s Chinese Culture Institute.
The current goal for carbon intensity reduction was brought forward before the Copenhagen climate talks in 2009 – when the Chinese economy was still growing at 8.7 per cent and energy-intensive industries were booming.
READ MORE: Hong Kong must prepare for the inevitable impact of climate change on its food security
The emissions target for the 13th five-year plan is to be announced during the national legislative sessions next month.
China has pledged to peak its greenhouse gas emissions and cut carbon intensity by 60-65 per cent compared with 2005 levels by 2030, as well as reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
