Beijing has resolved to meet strict energy efficiency and pollution-reduction goals in a work plan published yesterday, two days before President Hu Jintao attends a meeting of Group of Eight leaders in Germany at which global warming will feature prominently.

The General Work Plan for Energy Conservation and Pollutant Discharge Reduction was issued by the State Council and carried by Xinhua. It seeks to address the country's deteriorating environmental problems, but also help defend against international pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which Beijing calls the cost of growth.

Under the 11th five-year programme period ending 2010, the mainland pledged to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by four per cent each year, and major pollutant discharges by two per cent a year. However, Beijing fell short of the targets last year, which Premier Wen Jiabao admitted in his work report to the national legislature in March.