China expected to overfulfill goals of cutting greenhouse gas emission

China is expected to overfulfill its goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, which will lay a foundation for achieving its 2030 goals, said an official at a press release of China’s State Council Information Office on Oct. 31, Science and Technology Daily reported.

China’s carbon emission intensity during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015) has decreased by 21.8 percent. And its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP is set to be reduced by 18 percent by 2020 from 2015, according to China’s reducing greenhouse-gas emissions program during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

“China’s carbon intensity dropped by 6.6 percent last year, and another 4 percent in the first three quarters of 2017, which indicates that China is expected to overfulfill its goals of the 13th Five-Year Plan period regarding cutting carbon intensity,” said Li Gao, an official from the climate change department of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Li added that the decrease is due to China’s efforts in optimizing the industrial structure, cutting industrial overcapacity, and the service sector’s outstanding contribution to economic growth.

In addition, statistics by China National Coal Association shows that China’s coal consumption in the first three quarters this year was 2.84 billion tons, 2.4 percent lower than the previous year, while its electric energy generated from water, nuclear, and wind power rose by 21.1 percent on a year-on-year basis.

It shows that compared with 2005, China has achieved a win-win outcome in economic growth and coping with climate change, as its carbon intensity saw a sharp decrease while its GDP maintained rapid growth, Li noted.