China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, today said it will reduce by 2020 CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 18 per cent compared to 2015 figures, as the landmark Paris climate agreement came into force.
The decision was taken at the central cabinet meeting, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
China and the US are the top two emitters of greenhouse gases in the world.
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The new pledge to cut greenhouse gases was announced as Beijing is enveloped by severe industrial pollution forcing people to wear masks.
As per the new plan, the government will restrict other greenhouse gas emissions and start a carbon trading market in the next five years to help meet the commitment to peaking carbon dioxide emission around 2030, according to the 13th Five-Year work plan for greenhouse gas emission control by the cabinet.
Total energy consumption will be kept within five billion tonnes of standard coal by the end of 2020, with more use of non-fossil fuels including hydropower, nuclear power, wind power and solar power, whose installed capacity would reach 340 million, 58 million, 200 million and 100 million kilowatts respectively, the cabinet decision said.
Total coal consumption will be kept at about 4.2 billion tonnes, while smoggy regions should aim for negative coal use growth after 2017.
The share of natural gas consumption in total energy consumption should be lifted to about 10 per cent by 2020, it said.
China will also speed up industrial upgrades to support low-carbon industries while promoting green technologies in industrial production.
The government will also promote a green lifestyle, encouraging low-carbon consumption such as buying new-energy cars, the Xinhua report said.
The cabinet decision comes on a day the landmark Paris Agreement to combat climate change becomes international law.
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