guardian.co.uk: China announces pledge to curb carbon emissions (decrease carbon intensity by 2020)

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/22/climate-change-china-us-united-nations

China announces pledge to curb carbon emissions

President Hu Jintao vows to greatly decrease intensity from country's economy and invest in green energy

Julian Borger and Suzanne Goldenberg in New York
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 22 September 2009 20.00 BST

The world inched closer to an elusive deal to combat climate change today when China, the planet's biggest polluter, made its most substantial commitment to curbing its carbon emissions and investing in clean energy.

The proposals, delivered by President Hu Jintao, on the first morning of this week's UN general assembly meeting, included the promise of a "notable" decrease in the carbon intensity of China's economy - the amount of emissions for each unit of economic output - by 2020.

"At stake in the fight against climate change are the common interests of the entire world," Hu said. "Out of a sense of responsibility to its own people and people across the world, China fully appreciates the importance and urgency of addressing climate change."

Hu's speech fell short of expectations that he would name the target for China's carbon intensity, and observers suggested China was keeping its cards close to its chest until the climate change summit negotiations in Copenhagen in December. But the speech, coming soon after a change of rhetoric by India's government, slightly raised hopes that a meaningful agreement can still be secured in Copenhagen.

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