China Sets Course to Cut Climate-Changing Pollution and Expand Clean Energy
WASHINGTON (March 15, 2016) – China has released a new five-year ''National Economic and Social Development'' plan that will escalate its transition from coal to a clean energy economy. The following is a statement by Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“We commend China for taking its strongest actions yet to reduce dangerous air pollution and transition to a low-carbon economy. These decisive steps to combat climate change will be good for the health of the Chinese people and good for our planet. We will continue working with China to facilitate this fundamental transformation—including deepening energy efficiency, expanding renewable energy use, greening its urbanization process, and capping and reducing coal use—as we together lead the world in addressing the central environmental challenge of our time.”
NRDC international and China experts have recently blogged on China’s five-year plan. Please see these blogs here:
- Barbara Finamore: Tackling Pollution in China's 13th Five Year Plan: Emphasis on Enforcement
- Barbara Finamore: Big plans for integrating renewable energy into China's electricity grid
- Alvin Lin: How China's 13th Five Year Plan Climate and Energy Targets Accelerate its Transition to Clean Energy
- Han Chen: China on track to exceed Copenhagen climate target for 2020