China considers introducing carbon emission targets

The Chinese government could set targets for reducing carbon emissions starting from 2011, in a move that could spur an international consensus on combating climate change.

By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai Last Updated: 1:06PM BST 20 Apr 2009

The news that China is considering a firm target for carbon emissions comes ahead of a United Nations conference later this year in Copenhagen which will attempt to come up with a successor to the Kyoto treaty.
Publicly, Beijing's negotiation position on climate change is that China will not accept any carbon emission caps or reductions because the country is still in an early stage of development.

China is the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter, but only uses a fraction of the energy per head as the United States.
However, Su Wei, one of China's senior negotiators on climate change, said officials could introduce a national target that would limit emissions relative to economic growth. The move could be implemented in the next five-year plan from 2011.
Mr Su told the Guardian newspaper: "It is an option. We can very easily translate our [existing] energy reduction targets to carbon dioxide limitation. China hasn't reached the stage where we can reduce overall emissions, but we can reduce energy intensity and carbon intensity."
Yang Ailun, a spokesman for Greenpeace in Beijing, also said the introduction of carbon emissions targets was "not unlikely".
He added: "Targets are likely to be set on specific industries, like power and steel, rather than all the industries nationwide. China has been playing quite an active role in the negotiations as a big carbon emission country."
However, he expressed doubts the government would move quickly enough to have an impact on the negotiations in Copenhagen.
"There has been a plan to reduce our energy use which has gone on for some time, but we only saw a notable effect last year because the economy slowed," he said.
However, the debate within China on climate change is widening and last month the Chinese Academy of Science called for a 50 per cent cut in carbon dioxide emissions relative to GDP.
The Chinese State Council has also ordered all local governments to buy "more energy-efficient products", including certified refrigerators, air conditioners, computers and televisions.