China announced Thursday that it had set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 relative to economic development. China is aiming to reduce what it calls so-called carbon intensity by 40 to 45 per cent compared to 2005 levels, according to Xinhua, the state news agency.

The announcement came the day after President Barack Obama pledged a provisional target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the US, the first time in more than a decade that an American administration has offered even a tentative promise to reduce production of climate-altering gases. Obama discussed climate change with Chinese President Hu Jintao when they met in Beijing on November 16.

China and the US, the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, have been in discussions on options that both nations can take to address climate change. The countries are expected to be crucial players in talks next month at international climate meetings in Copenhagen at which nations will negotiate terms for a global post-2012 treaty on reducing emissions, although leaders have said they do no expect to come to an agreement there.

Chinese officials announced Thursday that Prime Minister Wen Jiabao would attend, after American officials said Wednesday that President Obama planned to take part in the talks himself.

In Copenhagen, Obama will tell the delegates that the US intends to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions “in the range of” 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 per cent by 2050, American officials said Wednesday.

China’s announcement on Thursday of future reductions uses an altogether different benchmark. China will measure its reduction by carbon intensity, or amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of gross domestic product, meaning that emissions would still grow but the rate would slow. China has rejected demands to announce an absolute reduction in carbon emissions, arguing that environmental concerns must be balanced with economic growth and that developed countries must first demonstrate a significant commitment to reducing emissions.

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