Severely suffering from climate change, China is now taking active steps to solve the problem. For the first time, a national program is being introduced to help the country adapt climate change, according to a high-ranking environmental official.

It is vital that a common program be adopted across all government agencies, due to the urgency with which the central government is handling climate change. A remaining problem is that most local officials are still not aware of the issue's severity, said Lu Xuedu, deputy director of the Ministry of Science and Technology's division of environmental affairs.

Lu claimed the program will cap greenhouse gas emissions, and aim to develop climate-friendly technologies.

The facts and effects of climate change will be publicized at a grassroots level, and will provide precise policies to support climate-related international cooperation and technology transfers, the official said.

The draft of the program would be submitted for approval by the State Council later this month, Lu told China Daily.

However, they said the program would in effect be "more of a guideline" rather than setting specific targets, since to set such precise goals would be unrealistic for certain areas at this time.

Initially spread over three years, environmental officials hope the program could eventually be expanded and maintain its impact over a longer period.

Zou Ji, a climate policy expert involved in drafting the program, noted China's progress in terms of energy efficiency, recycling energy as well as coal and gas exploration.

Furthermore, the program will have a legal background, imposing that all government agencies collaborate in battling climate change, said Zou, a professor with Renmin University.

Lu says China faces a mounting challenge in implement plans to alleviate global warming.

A recent report confirmed that temperatures would continue rising throughout this century due to increased energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with warmer winters across North China being among the most obvious features.

The report came from six central government agencies and academic bodies, including including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the China Meteorological Administration and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

It predicted that China would see an average temperature rise of 1.3 to 2.1 ℃ by 2020, and 2.3 to 3.3 ℃ by 2050.

Another report released by the State Oceanic Administration last month also warned of a rapid rise in sea levels.

It stated that sea-levels have risen by 2.5 mm per annum of late, and predicted that in the next 3-10 years, the average level would rise by 9-31 mm over 2006 levels.

"The speed is astonishing," Lu said. "Coastal cities including Shanghai and Guangzhou will confront unimaginable challenges if the situation deteriorates."

(China Daily February 16, 2007)