Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Macro Control to Focus on Energy Saving, Emission Reduction
Adjust font size:

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Friday that the current macro-control policy must focus on energy conservation and emission reduction in order to develop the economy while protecting the environment.

 

"The challenge of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions has proved arduous as China's economy grew 11.1 percent in the first quarter but power consumption surged 14.9 percent," said Wen.

 

"This is a crucial year for China in its efforts to meet the energy saving and emission reduction target set for the 2006-10 period," said Wen.

 

The Chinese government has set a target of reducing energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan (US$1,298) of GDP by 20 percent by 2010, while pollutant discharge should drop by 10 percent.

 

But energy consumption fell only 1.23 percent last year, well short of the annual goal of four percent.

 

"To reverse the situation, local governments must no longer regard the target as a flexible one, but an imperative", said Cai Zhizhou, a researcher at the China Center for National Accounting and Economic Growth, Peking University.

 

"To curb excessive growth of the sectors that consume too much energy and cause serious pollution, China must tighten land use and credit supply and set stricter market access and environmental standards for new projects," said Wen.

 

"Restrictions should be imposed on exports in these sectors as soon as possible," he added.

 

"Outmoded production methods must be eliminated at a faster pace and how this policy is implemented by local governments and enterprises will be open to the public and subject to social supervision," he said.

 

"The ten nationwide energy saving programs, such as developing oil alternatives, upgrading coal-fired boilers and saving energy indoors, will save China 240 million tons of coal equivalent during the 2006-10 period, including 50 million tons this year," said Wen.

 

The Chinese government will advance reforms in the pricing of natural gas, water and other resources, raise the tax levied on pollutant discharge, establish a "polluter pays" system and severely punish those who violate the environmental protection laws, said Wen.

 

"Without faster restructuring and an efficient method of economic growth, China's natural resources and the environment will not be able to sustain its economic development," said Wen.

 

"We have no choice but to develop in an economical, clean and safe way," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- Political Advisor Expects Power Industry to Save Energy, Curb Pollution
- Power Industry Urged to Save Energy
- School Textbooks Cost Over 9 Mln Trees Every Year
- Wen to Head Top Energy-saving Team
Most Viewed >>
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing particulate matter II
Shanghai particulate matter III1
Guangzhou sulfur dioxide II
Chongqing particulate matter III2
Xi'an particulate matter III1
Most Read
- White paper on energy
- Endangered monkeys grow in number
- Yangtze River's Three Gorges 2 mln years in the making
- The authorities sets sights on polluted soil
- China, US benefit from clean energy
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
- Prof. Maria E. Fernandez to Give a Lecture on Climate Change
More
Archives
UN meets on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference brought together representatives of over 180 countries and observers from various organizations.
Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base