China - climate

China to set first-ever limits on carbon emissions

Article published on the 2009-11-26 Latest update 2009-11-26 13:25 TU

China sets limits on carbon emissions
(Photo: Reuters)

Beijing will cut the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product in 2020 by 40 to 45 per cent from 2005 levels. Both Premier Wen Jiabao, and US President Barack Obama, are to attend next month's high-stakes climate summit in Copenhagen.

The announcement is the first time China has put specific numbers on reducing carbon emissions as a percentage of economic growth. The targets refer only to "carbon intensity", which is the amount of carbon dioxide emitted for each unit of gross domestic product. This means that overall carbon emissions will still continue to grow.

Both China and the US have come under increasing pressure to agree substantive deals to limit carbon emissions. The two countries are the world's top two producers of carbon dioxide.

A statement issued by the Chinese State Council said "this a voluntary action taken by the Chinese government based on its own national conditions ... it is a major contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change."

The US wants China to take more agressive steps to limit carbon emissions, but Beijing argues that the damage to the environment was carried out by rich nations and they should take responsibility for making signficant cuts.

The US has offered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020. Compared to the 1990 benchmarch used by almost every other country, the US target only amounts to a 4 per cent reduction from that year's levels.

The European Union has said it will reduce emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels before 2020.

The US was the world biggest producer of carbon dioxide emissions before it was overtaken by China in 2006, according to the Global Carbon Project, a consortium of leading climate scientists.