A senior US environmental official praised a rural alternative
energy program in southwest China's Yunnan Province during his visit Lijiang,
Yunan Province on Wednesday.
The program was initiated by the Nature Conservancy based in
Washington D.C. and Chinese government agencies to tackle indoor
air pollution by introducing biogas and solar energy and
environment-friendly cookers in rural areas.
Steven Johnson, administrator of the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), said the program was dedicated to using energy in a
more healthy and sustainable way.
The Chinese and US governments shared the same vision and
commitment in promoting new energy use in rural areas, he
acknowledged. "Both governments care a lot about the health of the
young mothers and their children in rural areas".
Jin Yinlong, a researcher with the Chinese Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, said, "In rural China, 20 percent of
respiratory illnesses are caused by indoor cooking smoke
pollution."
The new stoves could reduce carbon monoxide emissions and
breathable particles by 71 percent and 67 percent respectively,
said Lu Yunwen, an engineer with the Yunnan Provincial
Environmental Analysis and Testing Center.
Located 26 km from the scenic city of Lijiang and home to a
World Heritage list site, Haixi village boasts 100 percent use of
the new stoves and 80 of its 224 households have biogas
facilities.
(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)