China inching towards green energy target
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
TIANJIN, Oct 5 (Commodity Online): Inching towards to its target of a five-per cent cut on energy consumption per GDP by this year, China said the goal is within reach.
According to China's top climate official, NDRC deputy director Xie Zhenhua, China only achieved a cut of 15.6 per cent by the end of 2009 and has to cut the remaining five per cent this year to reach the target.
As part of Beijing's efforts to tackle climate change, the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) set the goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 per cent in 2010 compared to 2005.
Talking on the sidelines of United Nations Climate Change Conference here, he said "It's very challenging to further cut energy use and reach the set goal".
Eighteen municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions are on track to meet the target, while six to seven other provincial-level administrative areas have encountered obstacles, he said.
"It's a legally binding target. To meet it, we have to adopt active measures, including phasing out obsolete equipment and upgrading facilities," he added.
China will adopt further policies to make its contribution to the fight against global climate change.
China will achieve its goal by restructuring the economy, conserving energy and improving the efficiency of its use. He also pledged that the country will develop renewable energy and increase carbon sinks in forests.
In November 2009, China announced that it would reduce carbon intensity - carbon emissions per unit of GDP - by 40 to 45 per cent by 2020 from its level in 2005.
Apart from energy consumption per unit of GDP, China has already met or exceeded targets set in its 11th Five-Year Plan to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption along with increased forest coverage.
According to China's top climate official, NDRC deputy director Xie Zhenhua, China only achieved a cut of 15.6 per cent by the end of 2009 and has to cut the remaining five per cent this year to reach the target.
As part of Beijing's efforts to tackle climate change, the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) set the goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 per cent in 2010 compared to 2005.
Talking on the sidelines of United Nations Climate Change Conference here, he said "It's very challenging to further cut energy use and reach the set goal".
Eighteen municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions are on track to meet the target, while six to seven other provincial-level administrative areas have encountered obstacles, he said.
"It's a legally binding target. To meet it, we have to adopt active measures, including phasing out obsolete equipment and upgrading facilities," he added.
China will adopt further policies to make its contribution to the fight against global climate change.
China will achieve its goal by restructuring the economy, conserving energy and improving the efficiency of its use. He also pledged that the country will develop renewable energy and increase carbon sinks in forests.
In November 2009, China announced that it would reduce carbon intensity - carbon emissions per unit of GDP - by 40 to 45 per cent by 2020 from its level in 2005.
Apart from energy consumption per unit of GDP, China has already met or exceeded targets set in its 11th Five-Year Plan to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption along with increased forest coverage.