Data shows China's average temperature rising

Last month, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the Progress Report for 2009 on China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change. The report warned of severe weather conditions around the country.

It said that in the past 100 years, the country's average temperature rose by 1.1 degrees centigrade, higher than the worldwide increase. China's annual mean temperature has risen steadily for the past 12 years and reached 9.6 degrees centigrade in 2008, 0.7 degrees higher than the previous year.

Rising temperatures have caused frequent droughts and sandstorms across the country. Climate change has become the new threat for those living below the poverty line, with an annual per capita income of less than 175 U.S. dollars. People living in such conditions are estimated at around 40 million. About 95 percent of them live in areas affected by climate change.

Rising temperatures have caused frequent droughts and sandstorms across  the country.