China fully committed to green growth

China's National Development and Reform Commission has released its 2012 Report on the country's Policy and Action for addressing Climate Change. The Report outlines the measures China has taken over the past year to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and sets out the government's position in international climate talks.

"It's a make-or-break decade for action on climate change". Vice Chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, Xie Zhenhua, made the remark at a press conference on China's policies on climate change, adding that the country is fully committed to green growth.

Xie Zhenhua said, "As of the end of August 2012, China had approved more than 4,000 clean development mechanism projects, focusing on new and renewable energy, energy conservation and the enhancement of energy efficiency. China's estimated annual certified emission reduction has reached 730 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent."

Promoting ecological progress has been given high priority by China's ruling Communist Party. At the recently concluded National Party Congress, President Hu Jintao called for the building of a "beautiful" China in the country's overall development plan.

It's the first time the concept of a "beautiful China" has being included in the Party's policy agenda.

Zhu Guangyao, Vice Minister of the Ministry Of Finance, said, "The Party congress emphasized the importance of ecological civilization building in China. This is the responsibility of Chinese people now and for our next generation."

Addressing climate change forms part of the development ideals promoted by the Communist Party of China. Its "Scientific Outlook on Development" calls for a transformation of the economic model to an environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient one.

The outlook means China aims to switch from over-reliance on cheap labor and natural resources to a well-educated workforce and improvements in science and technological development.

After over three decades of economic acceleration, China has developed into the world's second largest economy, but this has come at a high price. Climate change requires urgent action. But an increasingly complex and fragile environment means that this task will not be an easy one. How to achieve more while emitting less remains a long-term challenge.