China makes new energy-efficiency pledge
Chinese president Hu Jintao has said that his country will make a fresh commitment to improving the energy efficiency of its factories, power plants and houses.
Speaking at the one-day United Nations climate change summit in New York, Mr Hu suggested that such energy-saving measures will ensure that China's carbon emissions do not skyrocket as its economy continues to grow.
He neglected to outline specific targets for reducing emissions, but added: "We will endeavour to cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by a notable margin by 2020 from the 2005 level."
China has already set a target of reducing its energy consumption per unit of GDP by approximately 20 per cent by 2010 compared with 2005 levels.
Meanwhile, Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama grabbed the headlines with his speech, in which he pledged to cut emissions by 25 per cent from the 1990 level by 2020.
He also said that the country will provide more help for developing nations to tackle climate change with new technologies.
"Japan is prepared to offer more financial and technical assistance than in the past, in accordance with the progress of the international negotiations," Mr Hatoyama stated.
