China has ordered five cities and two provinces to set caps on greenhouse gas emissions in preparation for the launch of local carbon markets, Reuters reported, citing a notice issued by the state planning agency on Friday. The National Development and Reform Commission requested the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen, along with the provinces of Hubei and Guangdong, to set “overall emissions control targets,” submit proposals on how to hit the targets, as well as establish a dedicated fund to support the project. Aside from the seven official pilot projects, over 100 entities in China, including coal-rich province Shaanxi and port city Dalian, are organizing their own regional CO2 emissions trading platforms. The State Council has approved an implementation plan drawn up by Guangdong, China’s biggest CO2-emitting province, which commits Guangdong to increasing its share of non-fossil fuels to 20% of its overall energy consumption by 2015 and to cutting carbon intensity by 19.5%. China has pledged to reduce carbon intensity by 17% for the 2011-2015 period and committed to using “market mechanisms” to reach the target.
Categories