China vows to promote low carbon urban development

BEIJING - China will continue to promote green and low carbon development in urban areas to achieve efficient and high quality growth, the country's top economic planner said on Monday.

"China will push forward energy-saving and environment-friendly urban development to provide citizens with a sustainable living environment," said Zhang Yong, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), during National Low-carbon Day on Monday.

Acknowledging the previous economic growth came at the expense of environmental destruction, Zhang said China has been making concrete contributions to address climate change and prioritizing green, low-carbon economic development. China's energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product dropped 29.9 percent and 33.8 percent respectively in 2014 compared to the levels in 2005.

In a joint statement issued during a visit by US President Barack Obama to Beijing in November last year, China pledged to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions around 2030, and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20 percent by 2030.

The introduction of the National Low-carbon Day beginning in 2013 is aimed at promoting awareness about climate change and low-carbon development policies, encouraging public participation and facilitating the country's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

National Low-carbon Day falls on the third day of the National Energy Efficiency Promotion Week in June every year.