China Announces 16% Cut in Energy Consumption Per Unit of GDP by 2015

China aims to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 16 percent in the five years to 2015, says a government work report to be delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the annual session of the national legislature on Saturday.

Carbon dioxide emission is set to be slashed by 17 percent in the five years on the basis of 2010, according to the report distributed to the media before the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress.

The proportion of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption should reach 11.4 percent during the five years, the report says, adding the release of major pollutants should be reduced by 8 to 10 percent.

Further, China will substantially improve water conservation facilities and agricultural irrigation, the efficiency of water resources use and resistance to flooding. Forest stock should be increased by 600 million cubic meters and forest coverage should be raised to 21.66 percent during the 2011-2015 period, according to the report.