China committed to addressing climate change

Smoke billows from a factory in Dezhou, Shandong province. To reach mandatory efficiency goals, the government had to take some extreme steps, including power cuts and limits on electricity supply in 2010. [Provided to China Daily]

BONN, Germany - China is seeking to officially submit its "intended nationally determined contributions" (INDC) to address global climate change by the end of this month, China's chief climate negotiator Su Wei said Thursday.

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), all countries have been invited to submit their INDC to set out what they will do to combat global warming before December's Paris climate talks.

China's contributions will include its targets and policy measures to reduce emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change in the post-2020 period, Su, who was here to attend this year's second round of UN climate negotiations, told Xinhua in an interview.

A joint statement on climate change issued by China and the United States last November, as well as Chinese leaders' declaration at the United Nations Climate Summit last September, sent important policy signals that China will actively tackle the challenge, he said.

At the UN Climate Summit, China announced that it will make greater efforts to address climate change more effectively and take international responsibilities that are commensurate with its national conditions, stage of development and actual capabilities.

In the post-2020 period, China will make marked progress in reducing carbon intensity, increase the share of non-fossil fuels, and raise the forest stock.

In the joint statement with the United States, China said it intends to peak its carbon dioxide emission around 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20 percent by 2030.