China yet to reach carbon emissions peak, working to ease growth

Xie Zhenhua, a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), answers questions at a press conference on green development during the annual session of national advisory body in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2016. Qin Dahe, Wu Xiaoqing, Hu Cunzhi and Bai Yansong, members of the CPPCC National Committee, also attended the press conference on Monday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

BEIJING, March 7  -- China still aims to hit peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and is working hard to slow growth, the country's special representative on climate change said Monday.

China's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) set the timetable according to the country's development plan, taking into account the needs of industrialization and urbanization, said Xie Zhenhua, also a national political advisor, at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

China plans to complete industrialization by 2020, and its urbanization drive and population growth are both likely to be stable around 2030, he said.

It is reasonable to set the peak target for around 2030, and the country will try its best to achieve it a bit earlier, he said.

Xie denied the suggestion that the country's CO2 emissions had reached peak levels.

He said he agreed with several reports that China's efforts contributed a lot to achieving zero increase in global CO2 emissions in 2015.

The energy China has saved over the past two decades has accounted for 58 percent of the global amount, while it has installed about 25 percent of the sustainable energy capacity worldwide, he said.

To slow down emissions, the country will continue to increase energy efficiency, develop non-fossil energy, expand forests and adjust the industrial structure.