A Low-carbon Road Map for China

"China is a major force behind anthropogenic carbon emissions and their mitigation. The world's leading primary energy consumer in 2012, China devoured almost half of all coal produced. The nation accounted for one-quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2011 and 80% of the world's rise in CO₂ emissions since 2008 (ref. 1).

Facing international pressures to curb its CO₂ releases, as well as a tight domestic fossil-energy supply and high levels of air pollution, China has implemented a bold national strategy for energy conservation and emissions mitigation. The country plans to reduce its carbon intensity (CO₂ per unit of gross domestic product, or GDP) to 55–60% of 2005 levels by 2020.

This can be achieved only if China becomes a low-carbon economy...."

Read the full commentary here (log in may be required): http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v500/n7461/full/500143a.html