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Kick-start a green race

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-23 08:23

To save our planet from global warming and its harmful consequences, all countries must now do their best to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

China's new commitment in its endeavor to cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by a notable margin by 2020 from the 2005 level should serve as a real booster for global efforts to slow climate change. It is high time for each member of the international community, rich or poor, to do its bit to become a green champion.

Speaking at the UN Summit of Climate Change in New York to create momentum for a new global climate pact at Copenhagen in December, Chinese President Hu Jintao assured world leaders that his country will try to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 15 percent by 2020.

This marks a vital policy shift from focusing only on energy intensity; China now is including carbon management into its national development goals.

For a developing country like China, which is undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization, it is a hard decision to impose any carbon pollution limit that may make it more difficult to pursue economic growth under old development patterns.

However, China's efforts to pursue energy-saving growth have emboldened this country to assume an increasingly important role in combating global warming.

Though still falling somewhat behind its schedule to cut energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent between 2006 and 2010, the country has been at full throttle to accomplish this self-imposed task that can reduce its energy use by 620 million tons of standard coal equivalent during the period, or cut carbon emissions by 1.5 billion tons.

Related readings:  Working toward a climate-smart future  Hu highlights principles to tackle climate change  Hu promises deep carbon cuts  Warming of plateau is 'threatening all Asia'

China's announcement of its midterm goal of mitigating climate change not only reflects growing confidence among Chinese policymakers to successfully marry sustainable economic growth with environmentally conscious efforts.

More important, it sends a much-needed signal to the international community still divided on a new global climate pact.

If a developing country like China can face up to the issue of carbon emissions with concrete accomplishments, what can be the excuse for some developed countries' inaction on cutting greenhouse gases?

And for poor countries, the heartening message is that China's attempts to blaze a trail in pursuing economic growth while addressing climate change may point to a development path they can follow. In particular, developing countries can seek technological and financial aid that industrialized countries have promised.

In the face of such a serious challenge as global warming, joint acts are imperative. Yet, with or without a global climate pact, each country should race against time to go green. And clearly, China is on the way now.