"China Plan To Cap CO2 Emissions Seen Turning Point in Climate Talks"

"China said on Tuesday it will set an absolute cap on its CO2 emissions from 2016 just a day after the United States announced new targets for its power sector, signalling a potential breakthrough in tough U.N. climate talks.

Progress in global climate negotiations has often been held back by a deep split between rich and poor nations, led by the United States and China, respectively, over who should step up their game to reduce emissions. But the fact that the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases made unprecedented announcements on climate within 24 hours of each other sparked optimism among observers hoping to see the decades-old deadlock broken. The steps come ahead of a global meet on climate change starting on Wednesday in Germany.

China, the world's biggest emitter, will set a total cap on its CO2 emissions when its next five-year plan comes into force in 2016, He Jiankun, chairman of China's Advisory Committee on Climate Change, told a conference in Beijing.

Carbon emissions in the coal-reliant economy are likely to continue to grow until 2030, but setting an absolute cap instead of pegging them to the level of economic growth means they will be more tightly regulated and not spiral out of control."

Kathy Chen and Stian Reklev report for Reuters June 4, 2014

SEE ALSO:

"Behind the Mask – A Reality Check on China’s Plans for a Carbon Cap" (Dot Earth/NY Times)

"Chinese Adviser’s Carbon Cap Remarks: Promising But Overblown?" (National Geographic)

"Is China Planning To Put a Cap on Its Carbon Emissions?" (Vox)

"Could Obama's Climate Plan Spur China To Action?" (Christian Science Monitor)