China Outlines Cuts in Carbon Emissions

The white paper details the country’s successes in reducing carbon emissions and lays out new goals. Although much of the information has been released before, it is the first time it has been presented comprehensively — part of China’s strategy to make its accomplishments better known ahead of the talks, which begin on Monday in Durban, South Africa.

“In the past they have had a hard time getting the word out,” said Deborah Seligsohn, a Beijing-based fellow with the World Resources Institute. “This is a significant collection of information and data.”

In an interesting nuance, the report also gives a rare nod to nongovernmental organizations, which usually are frowned upon by China’s authorities. The report mentions favorably “Earth Hour,” a project by the World Wildlife Fund, and praises the work of another private organization, the Energy Foundation. The report also indicates that China will follow its previous position of pressuring developing countries to do more.

Speaking Tuesday as the white paper was released, officials said China and other developing countries had taken serious steps while developed countries lagged. Xie Zhenhua, the head of the Chinese delegation to the Durban meeting, said poorer countries accounted for 57 percent of emission reductions.

“We hope nations of the world translate their political willingness into concrete actions,” Mr. Xie said at the news conference.

The report said that China achieved a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions between 2005 and 2010 and planned to cut another 17 percent by 2015. The reduction is per unit of gross domestic product, the most common measurement of economic output. This means that while China’s overall carbon emissions will rise along with its economic output, its industries will become more efficient.

Mr. Xie also said that despite the financial crisis, rich countries should still try to contribute to a $100 billion fund to help poorer countries finance efficiency improvements.

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