The National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed a joint agreement here Friday on a project to promote the use of energy-saving lamps (ESLs) in China.

The four-year "Green Lights Project" will get 14 million U.S. dollars from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to phase out high-energy consuming incandescent lamps and promote ESLs in China.

China is expected to save 160 billion to 216 billion kwh of electricity in 10 years after the project is completed by 2012, and that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 175 million to 237 million tonnes, according to the NDRC.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon applauded China's effort in the project at the signing ceremony, saying it demonstrated that the country is a responsible and forward-looking global player.

Voices for using more ESLs have become louder around the world in recent years, and some countries have announced their plans to phase out incandescent lamps.

Last year, China promoted the use of 62 million ESLs, and the goal for this year is 120 million, according to the NDRC.

China's production of incandescent lamps fell 23 percent to 3.4 billion in 2008 from a year ago, while the output of energy-saving fluorescent lamps rose by 14 percent to 4.8 billion in the same period.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2009)