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Despite some recent U.S. press reports to the contrary, China is not sitting still when it comes to addressing climate change. A number of high-level statements and reports released in China over the last week have sent this message loud and clear.
Today marked the start of China’s annual legislative session. Various official statements released over the course of this past week indicate that low-carbon development and clean energy will be top legislative priorities in China throughout the coming year. Below are four indicators of China’s commitment to a course of action on greenhouse gas emissions and clean energy in the coming session. My colleagues and I will continue to blog on climate and environmental developments during the NPC legislative session as they arise.
1. Highlights from the First Day of the National People’s Congress Session
China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) is currently engaged in a two-week long meeting to establish the nation’s priorities. While the discussions are still ongoing, two preliminary developments are already worthy of note:
- Premier Wen Jiabao opened the session with a “State of the Union” style address about what achievements China made in 2009 as well the direction China should be heading. In his speech he noted that climate change had been a key priority in 2009 and that China will continue to take strong measures to implement its 2020 carbon intensity goal. He also noted that China had made progress in implementing its energy intensity goal and that China will actively support its rapidly developing clean energy sector.
- The NPC is considering whether to adopt a proposal that focuses on low-carbon development as its No. 1 Resolution. The No. 1 Resolution is often considered one of the most influential documents in the legislative session. The proposal recommends that building a low-carbon economy should be a top government priority, including greening governmental offices and their activities by using recyclable materials and energy efficient lighting and transportation (Chinese only).
2. Post-Copenhagen Roundup Conference
Last Wednesday, China convened a high-level conference in Beijing to discuss its post-Copenhagen strategy and policy in fighting climate change. Several top climate change officials spoke at the event, and a number of my colleagues from NRDC’s Beijing office were present.
Su Wei, the Director General of the Department of Climate Change, spoke about the progress made at Copenhagen and the path forward from China’s perspective. One of the themes he emphasized is that a global consensus emerged from Copenhagen that climate change is caused by human activity and that global political action is needed to fight it.
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