China's pledge to halt the rise in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent from 2005 levels, released by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday, has received wide plaudits, although some suspicious voices have been raised.

The goal is challenging. However, China is not cautiously skirting the issue, and it is gearing up to shoulder global responsibility. It will devote itself to low-carbon emissions while maintaining high quality economic growth. Over the past years, China has been unjustly accused of being one of the causes of the faltering progress of the push to tackle global climate change.  

Despite the urgency of curbing greenhouse gas emissions, it is difficult for the international community to reach a consensus over the share of responsibility that each country should take.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, China's carbon emissions fell in 2014, dropping 2 percent compared with 2013. Domestic coal consumption was cut by 2.9 percent, and coal production fell by 2.5 percent. This proved to be a crucial reason why total global carbon emissions declined last year for the first time in four decades, according to experts. Besides, Beijing adopted a series of measures to reduce its reliance on high-polluting industries, scaled up the utilization of renewable sources, and invested more in renewable energy than all of Europe combined for the first time ever in 2013.

As China unveiled its plan to cut emissions this time, the country has once again sent a strong message of its sincerity in tackling the climate crisis, not only undertaking its obligation as an emerging power, but also for its own development. The pledge also spelled out China's goodwill and expectations for the upcoming Paris climate summit, and sets an example for all other nations that are still hesitant to submit their plans of joint agreement for the conference.

Pollution has brought a sense of crisis to Chinese society. Pressure from within and outside has pushed our industrial transformation. On the issue of cutting emissions, China shares the same goals as developed nations, though these will be achieved by different means. Perhaps with the development of China, the country is moving closer to Western society in terms of recognition and attitude toward major social issues.