China to cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40-45 percent from 2005

China announce plans to boost energy efficiency

BEIJING — China says it is aiming for a big boost in energy efficiency by cutting carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by up to 45 percent by 2020.

The announcement from the State Council, or Cabinet, comes ahead of next month’s Copenhagen climate summit, which aims to produce a new global climate change treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The State Council said it “is a voluntary action taken by the Chinese government based on its own national conditions and is a major contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change.”

China announced earlier Thursday that Premier Wen Jiabao will take part in the Copenhagen meeting.