China deposits acceptance document of Doha Amendment to Kyoto Protocol

China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Wang Min on Monday deposited a document of China's Acceptance of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The Amendment, literally known as "Instrument of Acceptance of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol" and believed to be a result of hard negotiations, maintains the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, especially the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, equity and respective capabilities and follows the emission reduction model of the Kyoto Protocol, and ensures there is no gap in law between the first and second commitment periods, according to a Chinese diplomatic source.

China hopes that developed countries accept the Doha Amendment as soon as possible to ensure its early entry into force. It also attaches great importance to addressing climate change, regarding this as an important part of its efforts to promote ecological progress and to build a beautiful country, including this in China 's national development plan and having conducted a range of adaptation and voluntary mitigation actions, said the Chinese diplomatic source.

The Chinese government has announced a 40 percent to 45 percent reduction of carbon dioxide intensity below 2005 levels by 2020 and is committed to making every effort to achieve this target.

Adopted on Dec 8, 2012 in Doha, Qatar, the Amendment makes arrangements for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. It provides for quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments for Annex I Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a view to reducing collectively their overall emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels in the commitment period from 2013 to 2020.