(Key Elements)

 

     China attaches great importance to climate change, and has taken a series of policies and measures to address climate change in the overall context of its national sustainable development strategy and outstanding achievements have been made. In accordance with the provisions of the UNFCCC and its national circumstances, China has formulated China's National Climate Change Programme (CNCCP), outlining the guidelines, basic principles and specific objectives in addressing climate change, as well as policies and measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change in key areas. The key elements of CNCCP are as follows:

 

I. CHINA AND CLIMATE CHANGE

 

1. Adverse Impacts on China. China is the most populous country in the world, with a relatively low level of economic development, a coal-dominated energy mix, and relatively weak capability to address climate change. Climate change has caused and will continue to cause adverse impacts on China's natural ecosystem and socio-economic system.

 

2. Low Historical Emissions and Low per capita Emissions. China's per capita CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion in 2004 are 3.65 tons, about 33 of that of OECD countries. The CO₂ emission intensity per unit GDP is generally on a declining trend, with a decrease of 49.5 in 2004 as compared to1990, while only 16.1 for OECD countries.

 

3. Serious Efforts and Outstanding Achievements.

-By restructuring economy and improving energy efficiency, 1,800 Mt CO₂ emissions avoided from 1990 to 2005;

-By developing low-carbon and renewable energy to optimize the energy mix, which increased the share of renewable energy in the total energy consumption to 7.5, 380 Mt CO₂ emissions avoided;

-By afforestation, forest management and deforestation avoidance, 5,110 Mt CO₂ emissions avoided from 1980 to 2005;

-By controlling population growth, which avoided over 300 million births by 2005, 1,300 Mt CO₂ emissions avoided in 2005 alone; and

-Laws and regulations strengthened, institutions and mechanisms improved, climate change research and capacity building enhanced, and public awareness raised.

 

II. PRINCIPLES, OBJECTIVES AND MEASURES

 

1. Six Guiding Principles

    -To address climate change within the framework of sustainable development;

    -To place equal emphasis on both mitigation and adaptation;

    -To integrate climate change policy with other interrelated policies;

    -To rely on the advancement and innovation of science and technology;

    -To follow the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities"; and

    -To actively engage in wide international cooperation.

 

2. Overall Objective

    -To make achievements in controlling greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions;

    -To enhance adaptation capacity;

    -To make new progress in advancing science and technology R&D;

    -To remarkably raise public awareness; and

    -To further strengthen institutions and mechanisms.

 

3. Objectives by 2010

a. Endeavours to control GHG emissions

    -To reduce energy consumption per unit GDP by 20;

    -To increase the share of renewable energy to 10 in primary energy supply;

    -To stabilize nitrous oxide emissions from industrial processes at 2005 level;

    -To control the growth rate of methane emissions;

    -To increase the forest coverage rate to 20; and

    -To increase carbon sink by 50 million tons over 2005 level.

b. Endeavours to enhance adaptation capability          

    -To increase improved grassland by 24 million hectares, to restore the grassland suffering from degradation, desertification and salinity by 52 million hectares, and to increase the efficient utilization coefficient of agricultural irrigation water to 0.5;

    -To place 90 of typical forest ecosystems and national key wildlife under effective protection;

    -To increase nature reserve area to 16 of the total territory;

    -To improve 22 million hectares of desertified lands;

    -To reduce the vulnerability of water resources to climate change, to complete the construction of anti-flood engineering systems in large rivers, and to enhance the capability of farmland to resist drought; and

    -To recover and expand mangroves area so as to remarkably raise the capability to resist marine disasters.

 

c. Efforts to strengthen scientific research and technology Innovation

    -To reach advanced levels in research on climate change in some fields;

    -To make remarkable progress in technology R&D on energy development, energy conservation and clean energy; and

    -To improve adaptation technology in agriculture and forestry.

 

d. Efforts to raise public awareness and to enhance management

    -To widely disseminate knowledge related to climate change to raise public awareness on climate protection; and

    -To establish and strengthen institutions and mechanisms to address climate change.

 

4. Projected Results by 2010:

    -By developing hydropower, 500 Mt CO₂ emissions to be avoided;

    -By developing nuclear power, 50 Mt CO₂; emissions to be avoided;

    -By expediting technological advancement in thermal power generation, 110 Mt C02 emissions to be avoided;

    -By utilizing coal mine methane, 200 Mt CO₂ emissions to be avoided;

    -By developing biomass energy, 30 Mt CO₂ emissions to be avoided;

    -By developing wind, solar and geothermal energy, 60 Mt CO₂ emissions to be avoided; and

    -By implementing 10 key energy conservation priority programmes, 550 Mt CO₂ emissions to be avoided.

 

III.CHINA'S POSITION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

 

     Climate change is mainly caused by the massive GHG emissions originated in developed countries since industrial revolution, but its adverse impacts are global. China is willing and ready to strengthen cooperation with all countries to address climate change. Developed countries should fulfill their commitments under the UNFCCC to provide financial resources and transfer technology to developing countries so as to enhance the latter's capability and capacity to address climate change.

 

1. Mitigation: Parties included in Annex I to the UNFCCC should take the lead in reducing GHG emissions according to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". The overriding priority of developing countries is to achieve sustainable development. China will, in accordance with its sustainable development strategy, take effective measures to improve energy efficiency, promote energy conservation, develop renewable energy, strengthen ecological preservation as well as carry out tree planting and afforestation in an endeavour to control its GHG emissions and to make contribution to mitigating climate change.

 

2. Adaptation; Adaptation is indispensable in the fight against climate change.The international community should place more emphasis on adaptation to enhance the adaptation capability and capacity of developing countries. China will actively engage in international cooperation on adaptation.

 

3. Technology Cooperation and Transfer: Technology plays a central role in addressing climate change. An effective mechanism on technology cooperation and transfer should be established to promote R&D. deployment and transfer of climate-sound technologies. It is crucial to remove various obstacles to, and provide necessary incentives for technology cooperation and transfer. A fund for international technology cooperation and transfer shall be established in order to make climate-sound technologies accessible and affordable to developing countries.

 

4. Implementation of the Convention and Its Protocol: The UNFCCC provides the objective, principles and commitments to address climate change. The Kyoto Protocol further sets up specific GHG emissions reduction targets for Annex I Parties for the period 2008 to 2012. The developed countries should fulfill their commitments to take the lead in reducing their GHG emissions and to provide financial resources and transfer technologies to developing countries. As a responsible country, China will do its part in implementing the commitments under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol.

 

5. Regional Cooperation: The UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol is the fundamental legal framework for the international community to combat climate change. Other regional cooperation mechanisms are to complement and supplement the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, rather than to replace or weaken them. China will actively engage in regional dialogue and practical cooperation on climate change accordingly.

 

See CHINA'S NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMME(FUll CONTENT), please refer to 

http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/P020070604561191006823.pdf