China tells firms to start reporting carbon emissions

BEIJING, Mar 18 (Reuters): Thousands of companies across China must start reporting their greenhouse gas emissions under a government plan to build a nationwide emissions database ahead of launching a national carbon market.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planning agency, said in a note on its website that all companies that emitted more than 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2010 must report their future annual emissions of all six major greenhouse gases.

"The reporting is to tighten the control over major emitters, provide statistics for capping greenhouse gas emissions and launch a carbon trading scheme," the note said.