Among the 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) the Chinese Government allocated for dealing with the financial crisis, 210 billion yuan ($31 billion) has gone to energy saving and ecological construction projects, according to statistics from the National Development and Reform Commission.

Over the last three years, the Chinese Government has made great efforts to deal with climate change. In 2007, the National Leading Committee on Climate Change was set up with Premier Wen Jiabao as its leader. It made China the first developing country to make a national plan to combat climate change. In August 2009, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress issued a resolution to develop a green and low-carbon economy. In November 2009, Premier Wen gave a speech titled "Let Science and Technology Lead China's Sustainable Development," which stressed innovations in low-carbon technologies.

"In some aspects, China is in line with developed countries in the energy-saving technology industry," said Liu Yanhua, Vice Minister of Science and Technology. Liu noted that not all advanced technologies are suitable to China and the country must find low-cost alternatives that suit it.

Liu also pointed out that China is in a transitional urbanization period and many people are migrating from the countryside to cities. "The low-carbon economic development mode is difficult to be quickly realized in China. We need to both maintain rapid economic development and achieve emission reduction goals by 2020. It is a hard task," said Liu.

In recent years, the Chinese Government has made efforts to protect natural forests and has also implemented artificial forest projects, in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, according to Liu.

Low-carbon life

"A low-carbon life starts from every detail of life, including switching off the lights, cooking, showering and traveling," said Beijing's Lin Jifang, who uses a self-timer to control time spent using the water dispenser, computer and television. "After joining the low-carbon tribe, I have become more sensitive than before."

Lin is delighted to see that the term "low-carbon" has been included in many government reports and has become fashionable in China now. Beijing's Chaoyang District Government has announced that it would construct the first low-carbon business area in the world.

Bank employee Li Yue said her low-carbon lifestyle started after she happened upon an Internet carbon emission calculator and was surprised to find that she produced 4 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, a rate that was much higher than the average of 2.7 tons. She realized that some of her habits were not energy-efficient.

"If I put uncooked rice into water for 10 minutes before I put it into the rice cooker, it can save 4.5 kwh of electricity every year," Li said.

Beijing college student Ai Jingjing has shown many people her carbon emission bill. Driving a car over 25.6 km generates 4.72 kg of carbon dioxide; running a computer for 10 hours emits 0.18 kg of carbon dioxide; and running a washing machine for 40 minutes generates 0.117 kg of carbon dioxide. Ai said 130,000 college students from 16 cities around China made a promise in 2009 to live a low-carbon life.

"We can make our life low-carbon by paying attention to many details," said Yan Jingyan, a Shanghai journalist. Washing clothes by hand instead of using machines can avoid 0.3 kg of carbon dioxide emissions. Keeping the right air pressure in car tires can increase vehicle energy efficiency by 6 percent and keep 90 kg of carbon dioxide from being emitted each year. Placing cling film over food in microwave ovens can both keep the taste of the food and conserve electricity. Jogging in parks instead of on treadmills for 45 minutes can save 1 kg of carbon dioxide emissions.

"Building a low-carbon society relies on people changing their lifestyles," said Zhou Dadi, a member of the Experts Committee for Climate Change.

Minister Wan revealed that China has compiled the National Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Manual that introduces methods on how to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions through changing how people live.