He said over-exploitation of arable land has heightened the risks of mudslides due to water and soil erosion, while excessive urban development has caused more frequent floods due to the reduced water absorption capacity of soil.

Over-exploitation of underground water has also led to subsidence in several major cities, especially in the Yangtze River Delta, the triangular-shaped territory that includes southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang and Shanghai, which sank 7.8 mm in 2007, according to research by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Despite the effects, analysts recognize that reducing carbon emissions and mitigating global warming is the key to combating climate change and minimizing its impact.

The National Action Plan on Climate Change and the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) both contain explicit goals, aiming to reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent by 2010 and increase the share of renewable energy to 10 percent and forestry coverage to 20 percent.

"The newly installed wind turbine capacity in China last year was the second largest in the world, reaching 6,300 megawatts, and likely to be No 1 this year," said Xiao, who added China is also encouraging more public transport usage, a switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy, green buildings and "public behavioral changes".

The continuous expansion of cities, however, is the biggest hurdle when it comes to fighting carbon emissions and air pollution, said Cornie Huizenga, executive director at the Clear Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center.

The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 350 million people will be added to the 590-million urban population by 2025, when the nation will have 221 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants and its energy consumption will account for 20 percent of the global total.

China's CO2 emissions growth is projected to be twice as large as countries in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development by 2030, although per capita emissions will remain lower.

"China needs to move from awareness to analysis and action in the form of policies and investments to be really effective in fighting global warming," said Qin.

"We have to intensify climate change action, at national and local levels."

(China Daily August 14, 2009)