BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China warned on
Wednesday that it faces more warmer weather, more extreme climate events and
more severe drought in the future.
"Extreme climate phenomena, such as high
temperatures, heavy rain and snow and severe droughts, have increased in
frequency and intensity," it said in a white paper released Wednesday.
The average temperature of Earth's surface in China
had risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius from 1908 to 2007, according to the white
paper.
But China admitted that it was difficult to control
greenhouse gas emissions because of the ongoing industrialization process and
its coal-dominated energy mix.
"To advance further towards its development
objective, China will strive for a rational growth of energy demand," said the
white paper. "The coal-dominated energy mix cannot be substantially changed in
the near future, thus making the control of greenhouse gas emissions rather
difficult."
The sea level will rise faster than ever, it also
warned.
In China's coastal zones, the sea surface temperature
and sea level have risen by 0.9 degree Celsius and 90 mm, respectively, over the
past 30 years.
Climate change has had visible adverse effects on
China's agriculture and livestock-raising sectors, manifested by severe damages
to crops and livestock in extreme weather, the report stated.
Developed countries should take the lead in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming and climate change, said the
white paper. They also should provide financial support and transfer
technologies to help developing nations fight against climate change.
Rich countries should spend at least 0.7 percent of
their gross domestic product (GDP) helping developing nations address climate
change, Xie Zhenhua, vice director of the National Development and Reform
Commission (NDRC), said when explaining the policy paper. "But up to now, their
spending is far below that level."