by Jbs120409 f3 — December 7, 2009—China recently announced that it will reduce the intensity of its carbon dioxide emissions by 40 to 45 percent by 2020, according to news from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Carbon dioxide emissions intensity is defined as the amount of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), notes EERE.
China expects its GDP to at least double by 2020, which could potentially result in a doubling of carbon dioxide emissions, but the new target should hold the increase in carbon dioxide emissions to 20 percent or less. The carbon intensity target will be a binding goal that China will incorporate into its medium- and long-term development plans, says EERE.
China also announced plans to invest in the research, development and commercialization of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, as well as other low-carbon energy technologies. The country plans to draw on non-fossil-fuel energy sources for 15 percent of its energy needs by 2020 and will encourage low-carbon lifestyles and consumption.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will also attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7 to 18, 2009. The conference includes the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 5th Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 5) to the Kyoto Protocol.
