Chinese lawmakers are considering practical and effective measures to combat climate change in a draft resolution being deliberated by the country's top legislature on Tuesday.
The draft resolution on climate change, submitted to the 10th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), puts forward five guidelines to practical action to better deal with climate change.
It says the country must commit to energy saving and emissions reductions by promoting energy-efficient technology and products, exploiting renewable and clean energy, developing a recycling economy and further advancing forestation and forestry carbon sequestration.
"Greenhouse gas emissions must be controlled, and ecological construction is a top priority," it says.
The resolution stresses the country's ability to adapt to climate change should be improved.
"We must improve monitoring and early warning systems and prepare ourselves well against extreme weather and climate disasters," it says.
The country must intensify the development of agricultural infrastructure, promote agricultural restructuring, increase research and development on water-saving technologies, and strengthen monitoring and protection of coastal environments, it says.
The resolution says the country should speed up the research, development and promotion of key technologies in energy efficiency, renewable and clean energy and low-carbon energy.
"The role of science and technology in leading and supporting the fight against climate change should be given full play," it says.
It also says the country needs specific plans and policies to develop a "green economy" and a low-carbon economy, including increasing "green investment", and advocating "green consumption" and "green growth".
"We must grasp the opportunity of developing a low-carbon economy and accelerate the process of developing low-carbon energies and industries, as well as clean-energy vehicles and transportation systems," it says
"We should make carbon reduction a new source of economic growth, and change the economic development model to maximize efficiency, lower energy consumption and minimize carbon discharges," it says.
The government should combine all measures to enhance the ability to tackle climate change issues and serve long-term sustainable economic and social development, the resolution says.
Tackling climate change was a primary focus of the legislature's four-day meeting which opened Monday.
Xie Zhenhua, the country's top representative to international climate change negotiations, said during Monday's meeting that China would "do its best with utmost sincerity" to push for the success of the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.
Xie, Vice Minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said China would continue international negotiations on climate change in the spirit of "being highly responsible for the survival and long-term development of mankind."
(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2009)
