Yesterday, the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China held a press release to review the yearly report of the climate policies and actions taken to solve climate change in 2016. On the press release, Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change for China, pointed out that China's energy conservation and emission reduction targets for 2016 were to cut total energy intensity and carbon intensity by 3.4% and 3.9% respectively. But, in fact, through reducing energy intensity by 5.2% and carbon intensity by 6% in just the first three quarters of 2016, China has met its targets ahead of time.

        During the 12th Five Year Plan period, China reduced its carbon intensity by 20%, higher than the 17% target set for the period. At the same time, it also further optimized energy mix. In 2015, the percentage of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption reached 12%, higher than the 11.4% target; the total forest stock volume increased to 15.137 billion m3, reaching the target set for 2020 ahead of time. Xie Zhenhua revealed that, by September 2016, the seven pilot carbon markets saw an aggregated on-spot trade volume of 120 million tons of CO2, with a total trade volume of more than RMB 3.2 billion. "These achievements show the determination of China in taking practical actions to tackle climate change" said Xie.

        Regarding the measures China will take in the future to ensure the achievement of its targets in energy conservation and emission reduction during the 13th Five Year Plan period, Mr. Xie Zhenhua introduced that the target in the 13th Five Year Plan is for China to reduce energy intensity by 15%, and carbon intensity by 18%, and increase the percentage of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption to 15%. Now that China has met its targets in forest stock volume, it needs to focus on controlling total energy consumption, especially the consumption of coal. The targets set for this year is for China to reduce energy intensity by 3.4% and carbon intensity by 3.9%. But, in fact, through reducing energy intensity by 5.2% and carbon intensity by 6% in just the first three quarters of 2016, China has met its targets ahead of time.