Commentary: China's ecological progress determines more than its own future (2)

China will strengthen conservation efforts all the way, drastically reduce energy, water and land consumption per unit of GDP, and use such resources in better and more efficient ways, according to the report.

By promoting ecological progress, China will guarantee the interests of people today, leave more room for nature to achieve self-renewal, reserve more farmland for farmers and leave future generations a beautiful homeland with green fields, clean water and a blue sky.

As the world's most populous country and one of the world's largest energy consumers, China's ecological progress will also have a remarkable influence on the world.

There have long been arguments from the West that China's thirst for energy would put the whole world at risk.

If the U.S. lifestyle, which features vehicles with large displacement and big houses, prevails in China, other planets might be needed besides Earth to provide enough resources.

China has said it would not promote such a lifestyle.

According to Hu's report to the 18th Party congress, China will work with the international community to actively respond to global climate change on the basis of equity and in accordance with the common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities of all countries.

Unlike some Western countries that have shifted their factories to developing countries, China has voluntarily set targets for its emissions. In 2006, for the first time, China listed emissions reduction goals in its five-year national development plan (2006-2010), demanding that the aggregate energy consumption per unit of GDP drop around 20 percent from that of 2005.

As Canada decided to drop out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2011, following the United States in shedding its responsibility of fulfilling the compulsory carbon emissions target, China is determined to further its efforts in reducing energy consumption.

In its 12th Five-year Plan (2011-2015), the aggregate energy consumption per unit of GDP is required to drop 16 percent from that of 2010.

It is a responsible act for China to do so, both for its people and for the whole world.

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