China vows to cut energy intensity 2.5 in 2024
2023 intensity only fell by 0.5, less than 2 target
2024 target won39;t meet fiveyear plan goals, analysts say

BEIJING, March 5 Reuters China on Tuesday set more stringent energy intensity targets for 2024 after missing last year39;s goal, as the world39;s biggest energy consumer tries to keep from falling further behind on its climate targets in a fiveyear plan ending in 2025.

China is aiming to cut its energy intensity, or the amount of energy used per unit of economic growth, by 2.5 in 2024, higher than last year39;s missed 2 goal, the National Development and Reform Commission NDRC said in a report released at the opening of the annual National People39;s Congress.

China reported last week that its energy intensity fell just 0.5 in 2023. It also missed last year39;s target to cut carbon emissions per unit of GDP.

The world39;s biggest carbon polluter39;s desire to cut emissions and energy consumption is often at odds with the need to boost economic growth and living standards.

Due to the rapid growth of industrial and civilian energy consumption, reductions in energy and carbon intensity … fell short of expectations, the NDRC said in the report on Tuesday.

Primary energy production last year amounted to 4.83 billion metric tons of standard coal, 4.2 higher than 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics said last week.

Energy use per unit of economic growth fell 2 between 2020 and 2023, leaving China way behind…