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China says 2010 pollutant targets already met – Xinhua
January 27, 2010
China has already reduced emissions of major pollutants by 10% below 2005 levels, meeting its target a year ahead of schedule according to the official Xinhua news agency.
China set a binding national target to reduce 2005 emission rates of sulphur dioxide, which causes acid rain, by 10 percent by the end of 2010. The greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, along with chemical oxygen demand, a measure of water pollution, was also to be reduced by 10% over the five-year period.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection is not responsible for China’s campaign to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which is led by the National Development and Reform Commission.
Reuters reports the country’s carbon emissions have not yet peaked, but China plans to reduce carbon intensity – the amount of CO2 produced per unit of GDP – by 40-45% by 2020.