Beijing - China on Thursday set a target of reducing its carbon intensity by at least 40 per cent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels. The State Council, or cabinet, announced on its website and through state media that it aimed to cut the nation's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by between 40 per cent and 45 per cent by 2020.
"This is a voluntary action taken by the Chinese government based on its own national conditions and is a major contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change," the State Council said.
The cabinet agreed on the target in a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, who is scheduled to attend United Nations-led global talks on reductions of carbon emissions in Copenhagen early next month.
China wanted to pursue "pragmatic and effective international cooperation" with other nations under the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which uses the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" for developed and developing nations in reducing carbon emissions.
The UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol should be "carried out in a comprehensive, effective and lasting way," the statement said.
Emissions reduction, technology transfer and financial support should be "coordinated in a comprehensive way to help bring out positive results" in Copenhagen, it said.
"Appropriate handling of the climate change issue is of vital interest to China's social and economic development and people's benefits, as well as the interests of all the people in the world and the world's long-term development," it said.
China's target for reducing carbon intensity was widely expected and reflects its existing policies to increase energy efficiency and raise the share of non-fossil sources to 15 per cent of its total energy consumption by 2020.
