Energy-efficient buildings

Energy waste in buildings is a prominent problem in China. The country's buildings have a combined floor space of about 40 billion sq m. About 95 percent of them are high energy consumers, using two to three times more than buildings in developed countries. The current construction boom means the nation will add another 30 billion sq m of floor space by 2020. Yet, only 20 percent of the new buildings will be efficient.

Energy efficiency in buildings is an issue that has far-reaching impact on the economy. Several approaches could help reduce energy use in buildings and create greener high-rises and homes. First, the use of new construction materials, especially those that reduce energy intensity and use recycled industrial waste such as coal slag, should be encouraged. Regulations should be put in place to encourage the use of energy-saving technology and energy-saving materials should be used when buildings are renovated.

Proposed by: Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.

Recipients: State Council, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Construction and Government Offices Administration of the State Council.

Environment tax

The authorities should levy an environmental tax to battle pollution. The economy has maintained impressive growth over the years, but the cost in pollution and resources has been high. The worsening environment has become a threat to the nation's long-term economic growth, and an environmental tax could be an effective cure.

In the absence of any sort of pollution tax, polluters end up paying for just a portion of the damages they cause. This situation has allowed polluters to remain inefficient. Highly polluting operations stay afloat in China and the situation has even encouraged some foreign companies to shift their high-polluting manufacturing operations here. Put simply, it is necessary to introduce an environmental tax to deal with the problem.

The design of the tax should consider the environmental situation both at home and abroad. The point at which the tax is triggered could be quite high at first and then gradually reduced to make introducing it easier. A large share of the tax revenue should be used for environmental protection, if not all of it.

Proposed by: Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.

Recipient: State Council, State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

Bio-pesticides

The authorities should promote the use of bio-pesticides to reduce pollution in rural regions. China is one of the world's largest users and producers of pesticides, given the size of its agriculture sector. However, its use of environment-friendly bio-pesticides remains limited. For example, bio-pesticides account for only 4.8 percent of the pesticide used in Jiangsu province, and the scenario across the nation could be even worse.

There are several reasons for this situation, such as the higher price of bio-pesticides compared with chemical ones. Moreover, there are only a handful of bio-pesticide producers in China and their technology and products are often backward and unreliable. The government should offer policy and cash incentives to boost the development of homegrown bio-pesticide companies, and offer subsidiaries to farmers to encourage them to use bio-pesticides.

Proposed by: Central committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang.

Recipients: State Council and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Ban phosphorus

The authorities should ban the production and use of detergents containing phosphorus, which was believed to be one of the culprits behind several serious water pollution incidents last year.

Although there are limits on the production of detergent containing phosphorus and the use of phosphorus-free goods has been encouraged, the substance has never actually been banned. Manufacturers' reaction to phosphorous-free detergents has been lukewarm because of cost concerns. A carpet ban on the production and use of phosphorus should start with the law and an industrial policy that supports manufacturers.

Proposed by: Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.

Recipients: National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Construction and SEPA.

Two workers pull weeds and algae out of Taihu Lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, last July. Pollution is believed to have nourished the spread of plant life in the lake. File photo

(China Daily March 11, 2008)