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China's cabinet has issued a new climate plan targeting an 18-percent cut in carbon emissions by 2020 compared to 2015 levels.

The State Council says coal consumption must be capped at about 4.2 billion tons in 2020 while non-fossil fuel energy generation capacity like hydropower and nuclear power are expanded.

The plan was announced Friday, the same day as the Paris Agreement of nearly 200 countries took effect.

China has taken a leading role in climate change talks and its collaboration with the United States has been touted by Washington and Beijing as a bright spot in an otherwise strained relationship.

China will guarantee that emissions peak no later than 2030 under the Paris pact. There are also plans to officially launch a national carbon trading market next year.