China must act urgently on multiple fronts if it is to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its rapidly expanding cities and hit government targets for curbing carbon intensity, a report from the World Bank said. Cities generate an estimated 70% of energy-related greenhouse gases and with China set to increase the number of urban residents by 350 million over the next 20 years, the bank says the case for urgent action is strong. “For the 12th Five Year Plan period, a 17% reduction target for carbon intensity has been set,” the World Bank’s Country Director for China, Klaus Rohland, wrote in a foreword to the report. “Addressing cities’ emissions will be a crucial element of this planned reduction.” China has set a goal of reducing the economy’s carbon intensity by 40% to 45% in 2020 compared with 2005, while the five year plan covers the period from 2011 to 2015. The report, titled “Sustainable Low-Carbon City Development In China”, says industry and power generation each contribute as much as 40% of city emissions. The remaining 20% of the carbon footprint is left by transport, buildings and waste. The World Bank called for energy-efficient buildings and industries, transport alternatives to cars and better management of water and waste. The report analyses the financial instruments the World Bank has available to support the building of low-carbon cities in China. The bank said 67% of projects in its existing China lending portfolio had environmental, climate change, or low-carbon objectives.