China Carbon Cap the ‘Most Important Turning Point’ of the Decade

A day after the U.S. released its new carbon pollution regulation for power plants, China announced that it will set absolute and intensity-based limits on its CO2 emissions when its next five-year plan comes into effect in 2016. China’s world-leading emissions are expected to peak in 2030. “The Chinese announcement marks potentially the most important turning point in the global scene on climate change for a decade,” said Michael Grubb, professor of international energy and climate policy at University College London. “Interesting hint from Beijing, although the key point will be where (the cap) is set,” said a spokesman for EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. “If ambitious and announced well in advance of Paris, it could be a game-changer.”  (h/t to InsideClimate News)