Tian Chengchuan, an official at the Department of Climate Change of China's National Development and Reform Commission, announced on Nov. 16 that China will launch 50 carbon emission demonstration projects by 2020. The projects will all boast extremely low carbon footprints. Tian revealed the news at an event examining "new urbanization and industrialization," held at the UN Marrakech Climate Conference.

According to Tian, China has set a series of goals for low-carbon pilot projects, including expanding the pilot cities from 42 to 100; increasing low-carbon industrial parks to 80 by 2020; building 20 national-level low-carbon industry demonstration parks; constructing 1,000 low-carbon pilot communities and 100 low-carbon demonstration communities; and launching 50 near-carbon neutral demonstration projects.

Urbanization is a major challenge for future low-carbon development. The construction of low-carbon cities, industrial parks and communities is an important starting point for China to achieve new urbanization and industrialization without sacrificing its environmental goals.

In recent years, China has stepped up efforts to promote low-carbon development. Official data shows that China's carbon intensity decreased by 20 percent during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, exceeding the target of 17 percent.

China has pledged that its carbon emissions will peak by 2030. Other cities have set the same goal for 2020.