China intends to cut carbon intensity by 40-45% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels, the Chinese State Council said Thursday.

"This is a considerable contribution to the fight against global climate change," the government said in a statement.

Carbon intensity is the total of carbon dioxide emitted for each unit of GDP. After the U.S., China is the world's second largest greenhouse gas emitter.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will speak on the country's plans at a UN climate summit in Copenhagen, due on December 7-18. The goal of the Copenhagen talks is to set new targets for cutting greenhouse gases, and to raise funds to help poor countries tackle the effects of global warming.

The conference is expected to see the signing of a new international document to replace the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, some elements of which expire in 2012.

The overwhelming consensus of climate change experts, environmental groups and organizations is that climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions due to human activity, which is causing significant damage to the Earth, although a minority argues that the possible impact has not yet been proven.

BEIJING, November 26 (RIA Novosti)