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                 China Announces Climate Target for Paris Deal

   by Associated Press

   China on Tuesday announced its contribution to a global climate pact
   that's supposed to be adopted this year in Paris, pledging to reduce
   the intensity of its carbon emissions and to halt their growth by 2030.

   During a visit to the French capital, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang
   said in a statement that the world's most populous nation and top
   carbon polluter will aim to reduce its emissions per unit of gross
   domestic product by 60-65 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels.

   Beijing's goals, which were formally submitted to the U.N. later
   Tuesday, also included previously announced pledges to achieve a peak
   in overall emissions around 2030 and to raise the percentage of energy
   consumption from low-carbon sources to 20 percent by that year.

   Li said the targets show "that China is exerting its utmost in
   addressing climate change, and that China is fully committed to playing
   an even greater part in global governance and in advancing common
   development of mankind."

   The U.S. and the European Union have already announced their climate
   targets, meaning the world's top three carbon emitters have now made
   pledges for the Paris deal, which would be the first agreement to
   require both developed and developing nations to take actions to curb
   global warming.

   China announced some of its targets last year in a joint statement with
   the United States, injecting momentum into the climate talks by
   signaling that two countries that had previously been at odds in the
   negotiations were moving forward together.

   After a meeting with Li, French President Francois Hollande said
   China's contribution "confirms its commitment to build an `ecological
   civilization.'"

   Environmental groups also applauded China's contribution, though many
   had hoped for more ambitious targets.

   "China has only ever been on defense when it comes to climate change,
   but today's announcement is the first step for a more active role,"
   said Li Shuo of Greenpeace. "For success in Paris, however, all players
   -- including China and the EU -- need to up their game. Today's pledge
   must be seen as only the starting point for much more ambitious
   action."
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ap-china-announces-climate-targets-paris-deal/2842998.html