China Could Achieve 20% Renewable Energy by 2020

According to a report in the China Daily China could generate up to one fifth of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.  Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice-chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, said in a London interview that published he is sure that China can exceed 15% of energy consumption by 2020, but that he personally believes China can achieve 20% renewables by 2020.  China's stated goal is for 15 percent of its energy consumption in 2020 to come from renewable sources, which apparently in China includes hydroelectric and nuclear power generation.  China has been very aggressive in developing wind and solar energy.

In Canada the government's objective is that 90 percent of Canada’s electricity generation will be provided by non-emitting sources such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal or wind power by 2020 and to reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

A couple of weeks ago the Japanese Environment Minister, Tetsuo Saito, argued for a 15% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2020.  He stated that Japan should aim for a 25 % reduction in total, 15 percentage points by domestic efforts and the remaining 10 points by forest absorption and the purchase of emission credits from other countries.