China to build lower carbon economy (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-03-16 10:19
China is committed to building a lower carbon (emission) economy to combat
climate change over the coming decades, a Chinese official said Tuesday at a
meeting in London.
Energy and environment ministers from 20 countries with the biggest domestic
energy needs met in London on Tuesday at the start of a two-day roundtable to
discuss climate change and ways to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
In his key-note speech, Liu Jiang, vice-chairman of China's National
Development and Reform Commission, said that as a rapidly-developing country,
China has been challenged by climate change and energy scarcity.
China is among a few nations in the world that rely on coal as their major
energy source. "Coal amounts to 67 percent of primary energy consumption in the
country," which made it more difficult to slow down the growth momentum of
carbon emission, Liu said.
In addition, he added, China's energy efficiency remains low, which has posed
another problem for the country.
Against all the challenges, the Chinese government has formulated its energy
development strategy with priorities on energy efficiency, energy
diversification, renewable energy and related technology, Liu said.
China promulgated its Law on Renewable Energy last month. The government has
been supporting the development and utilization of new and renewable energies,
such as bio-gas, solar energy, wind power and geothermal energy, he said, adding
that nuclear power would be another priority as a clean energy source for the
country in the next 20 years.
Liu emphasized the importance of global collaboration to tackle climate
change and said China is willing to work with the international community to
explore solutions.
Technology development and transfer is the ultimate solution to the challenge
of climate change, he said.
"At present, large-scale infrastructure construction is underway in the
developing countries. Should obsolete technologies instead of advanced and
climate-friendly technologies be applied on these projects, we would expect high
emission of greenhouse gases in the decades to come."
