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China's ambitious plan to curb carbon emissions
中国宣布降低碳排放计划
China is expected to enhance collaboration in fighting climate change with its US counterpart. Despite China setting ambitious goals to curb carbon emission, there are concerns if the goals are too hard to achieve.
China produces half of the world’s steel production, and accounts for 60 percent of the world's cement production and consumption.
As a result, China is the world's largest CO2 emitter. It produces, imports and burns over half of the coal on the planet.
In June, the country pledged a bold "Intended Nationally Determined Contribution" to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. it sets 2030 as the deadline to peak its carbon emissions.
It promised to cut carbon emissions by 60 to 65 percent compared to 2005, increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 20 percent, and increase forest reserves by 4.5 cubic meters.
Still, there are concerns that the sluggish Chinese economy may suffer another blow due to the carbon-cutting move. But the Chinese government wants to take the opportunity to restructure its economy and upgrade the value chain.
The fighting against climate change will not only benefit China, but also the US, world's second largest CO2 emitter.
Experts say climate change has become one of the largest common grounds between China and the US. If the two countries can go hand in hand in the fight against global warming, the rest of the world might follow suit.
