China's vice premier Zeng Peiyan called on ordinary people in China
to get involved in the ongoing campaign of energy reduction on
Sunday, the first day of a nationwide publicity week themed with
energy conservation.
"The publicity week is a good chance to enhance the public
awareness of energy conservation," said Zeng, who attended
activities of the publicity week organized by the government of
Nanjing in Jiangsu Province.
The whole nation, including the sectors of construction,
production, circulation and consumption, should be mobilized to
practice energy saving in a down-to-earth manner, he added.
Zeng urged government departments and public places to set air
conditioners at or above 26 degrees Celsius during this summer, and
asked residents to do the same at home, in a bid to save more
energy.
During the nationwide publicity week, which lasts from June 10
to 16, various parts of China will hold all types of activities to
publicize the importance of energy saving.
The Ministry of Communications would shut off the air
conditioners in all of its offices on June 12, and staff who drive
to work are encouraged to take buses, ride bicycles or go on
foot.
East China's Anhui Province said it would cut the use of air
conditioners in office by two hours every day, and elevators would
be made available above the fifth floor only.
Under a five-year plan up to 2010, China pledged to cut energy
consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 percent,
or four percent each year, but consumption fell by just 1.23
percent last year.
(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2007)