China must answer the world's questions
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Take the year 2008 for instance. China's exports reached US$1.4 trillion and its imports totaled US$1.1 trillion, ranking second and third respectively in the world. The figures are huge, but we can see that the structure of China's foreign trade is becoming more balanced. Although there were no specific requirements placed on China in the Kyoto Protocol, the Chinese government voluntarily restricted energy consumption (and greenhouse gas emissions) in past economic development plans. Before the Copenhagen Climate Summit, China promised it would reduce carbon intensity by 40 to 50 percent by 2020.
China's rapid development has been a boon to world prosperity and stability, but it has also had short-term negative influences on the environment. It is understandable that the international community has high expectations that China will pursue balanced development. But above all, using clean energy and speeding up emissions reductions will protect China's own environment and its people. Strategic investment in clean energy should be seen as a great undertaking of lasting importance.
To reduce emissions by 45 percent per unit of GDP, China must increase energy efficiency and cut the proportion of fossil fuels in energy consumption. Practically speaking, this means that in the next 11 years, China will have to raise its installed nuclear power capacity by 2.3 times and significantly enhance the use of renewable energy such as hydropower, solar power and wind power. This will require massive investment but will also bring huge benefit.
Concerning the relationship between development and environmental protection, China needs to give the world an answer.
And China's answer is that it has the same right to development as western countries had, but it will not copy their development model. China will pursue socialist development without colonizing or invading others, and without owning slaves. It will strive to achieve balanced social development, a green life style for its citizens, sound national security, and a high-tech approach to environmental protection. The second decade of the 21st century will be a crucial period for China to fulfill its promises but it will surely deliver.
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