ABSTRACT
China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (Cao 2011: 2) and has recognised climate change as an important challenge. In its 12th Five Year Plan (FYP) China has set a 17 per cent reduction target of carbon intensity per unit of GDP below 2005 levels by 2015 (Sandbag 2012: 12). This will allow China to make important progress towards honouring its commitment to reduce the carbon intensity per unit of GDP by 40–45 per cent compared to 2005 levels by 2020. The later commitment has also been included in the Copenhagen Declaration of the 16th Conference of the Parties (NDRC 2010).
