China advocates that the international community address climate change through practical and effective international cooperation. To do so, we must adhere to the basic framework of the Convention and its Protocol, adhere to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” and adhere to sustainable development as a goal. China will, on the basis of the Convention and its Protocol and the Bali Roadmap, and mostly importantly, in line with its national conditions and realities, undertake international obligations that are commensurate with its development stage, due responsibilities and actual ability. It will implement active and effective domestic policies, measures and actions and play a constructive role in seeking achievements in international negotiations on climate change, thus making its contribution: protection of the global climate and promotion of world sustainable development.

In recent years, China’s economy has realized fast growth, but its ambitious schedule for development is basically unchanged. China’s resources are deficient, and per capita resources are low. Its current industrialization is characterized by high resource consumption, great waste and serious pollution. As its energy consumption has grown, so too has China’s dependence on imported energy resources, and the burden on its resources and environment has got heavier. If China’s modernization continues along the road of extensive development and traditional industrialization, its energy resources and environment will be unable to support it, and economic development would be unsustainable. Therefore, it is imperative for China to increase its capability for sustainable development: it should properly manage competing goals between economic development and climate change response, and actively explore effective ways to control greenhouse gas emissions; it should change the current development mode, promote the adjustment of the economic structure, enhance energy conservation and energy efficiency, and advance the development of clean energy.

Today, developing a green economy and reducing carbon emissions has become an important international trend. Low-carbon technology and industry have become new fields of international sci-tech and economic competition. Many countries are intensifying their financial investment and policy support and exploring ways to develop green and low-carbon economic sectors in line with new realities. The Chinese government has made it a key strategy of the new era to realize sound and rapid development of the national economy. Economic mode transformation requires a national economy to grow at the lowest resource cost possible, and with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions possible. China has been exerting itself toward that end, and its current policies and measures center around sustainable development and eco-conservation, in accordance with international efforts in climate change response. By using the climate change challenge as an opportunity, China can not only avoid the carbon emission “lock-in effect” of the current development mode but also promote sustainable development through controlling greenhouse gas emissions.

Proceeding from the long-term interests of the Chinese nation and of all mankind, the Chinese government focused its 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) on addressing climate change: cutting per unit GDP energy consumption, developing renewable energy sources and increasing forest area. In 2009, China set its 2020 goals for controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and included them in the medium- and long-term national economy and social development plans. China will, in line with its national conditions, coordinate economic development, poverty elimination and climate/environment protection, while taking a low-carbon development road towards industrialization and urbanization.

As a matter of fact, the developed nations started to control greenhouse gas emissions only after their industrialization and urbanization process was complete, but the case is different in China. According to the most recent statistics, in 2009 China’s per capita GDP was US $3,678, ranking 100th in the world. Furthermore, its development is uneven. According to the United Nations standard of US $1 per person per day, China has over 100 million people living in poverty, so it faces an arduous task. China is currently in the process of accelerating industrialization and urbanization, so increasing demand for energy will not subside soon. Limited in natural resources, coal will remain China’s main energy source for the time being and near future, which puts controlling greenhouse gas emissions in perspective.

It is under such complex and contradictory conditions that the Chinese government tackles the issue of climate change. China has established leading bodies and work mechanisms to respond to climate change and perfected relevant laws and regulations. It has taken the lead among developing nations in promulgating and implementing state plans to address climate change, and has adopted forceful measures to adjust its economic, industrial and energy structures. It has also launched massive campaigns to save energy and plant trees, and strengthen public awareness in a continuous enhancement of its capability to adapt to climate change.