China explores possibilities of low-carbon future

BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- As China tunes down its growth expectations, the Asian economic powerhouse is trying to leave itself more room to improve the way in which it grows, and a low-carbon economy is certainly among its major goals.

With the country's lawmakers and political advisors gathering to discuss future plans and possibilities, China has presented its determination to further reduce emissions and give shape to a new low-carbon scheme.

"We will show the world with our actions that China will never seek economic growth at the expense of its ecological environment and public health," said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in a government work report delivered during China's annual legislative session.

Carbon emission trading would be one of the major steps, as in Wen's report, the Premier pledged to start trials of such a trade system and a cap-and-trade scheme for pollution rights, and move faster toward establishing "a compensation mechanism for ecological damage."

A pilot scheme for carbon emission rights trading already launched last year in seven Chinese municipalities and provinces -- Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Hubei, Shenzhen and Guangdong -- with a view to expanding it nationwide if the tests proved successful.