AsianScientist (Mar. 29, 2011) – Former British prime minister Tony Blair was one of the leaders present on Monday at a new partnership between the Climate Group, an international climate action organization, and five Chinese cities. Together, they aim to blaze a new trail for low carbon development over the next three years.
China’s cities – with more than 100 cities having a population of more than one million – are at the forefront of the fight against global climate change, said Mark Kenber, CEO of the Climate Group, at the launch of the “China Redesign” program.
Kenber urged cities to place an emphasis on clean energy, energy efficiency, innovation, pioneering and new technology.
Under the program, the Climate Group will work with the five cities, businesses, financial institutions and experts to develop and implement sustainable urban development strategies tailored to their different needs and to introduce clean technologies. The cities are encouraged to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
10 experimental projects will also be carried out in the five cities to find practical solutions in renewable energy, sustainable transport, green building construction, energy management and green industrialization.
Over the next five years, China has pledged to reduce energy intensity per unit of GDP by 16 percent and cut carbon intensity by 17 percent from its 2010 levels.
“It’s unprecedented that we set the reduction of carbon dioxide emission as a binding target in our 12th Five-Year Plan,” said Jiang Zhaoli, an official from the National Development and Reform Commission.
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Source: The Climate Group.
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