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China's temperature, sea level rise faster than global average

Xinhua, November 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

China has seen faster temperature and sea level increases compared with the global average, according to a report released on Friday.

The sea level along the country's coastal areas rose by 2.9 millimeters per year from 1980 to 2012, and the average temperature in China increased by 0.9 to 1.5 degree Celsius in the 100 years since 1909, according to an assessment report on climate change in China.

The report, the third of its kind since 2007, also shows that from the 1970s to the beginning of 21st century, China's glaciers have retreated by 10.1 percent.

These findings indicate that China will continue to warm, with the report projecting a temperature rise of 1.5 to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

The report will be presented at the Paris climate change Conference of the Parties (COP21) on Nov. 30, according to Chen Chuanhong, head of the Department of Science and Technology for Social Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST).

The findings are the result of more than three years of work by over 500 scientists. The project was led by the MoST, China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, with contributions from 16 other central authorities.

The report records China's climate change research progress, providing a scientific basis for environmentally friendly, sustainable development, said Yu Rucong, deputy head of the CMA.

Climate change poses opportunities and risks for China and, generally, it would do more harm than good, according to Chao Qingchen, deputy director of the report's expert panel.

China has adopted a series of policies and actions to combat climate change, which have achieved remarkable results, according to the report.

Advancement in technology has facilitated energy conservation and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, cutting coal consumption in thermal power and energy consumption in steel and cement sectors by 30 to 50 percent.

The MoST will lead a fourth assessment on China's climate change in 2016, further examining causes and affects, and reviewing emission reduction measures and policies. Endit