China sets Higher Energy and Emission Targets

CHINA is making more drastic reductions in energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions than previously planned, in order to sustain its economic growth at lower environmental cost.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) the compulsory targets will now require an 18 percent reduction of energy consumption for per unit of industrial output, with a minimum reduction of 18 percent in carbon dioxide emissions by 2015 from the level at the end of 2010.

MIIT vice minister, Su Bo revealed today that the reduction targets are now higher than previously proposed and are likely to be included in the industrial upgrading plan which is currently being drafted.

Su Bo pointed out that the key to reach the targets will include industrial restructuring, technical upgrading and better management of commercial and industrial energy efficiency.

Zhou Changyi, head of the department responsible for policy making of energy efficiency, described the new commitments as something “attainable if sufficient efforts are made.”

Adding: “Industry should play the leading role in energy saving and emission reduction as it is the area where energy consumption and pollutant emission mainly take place. It is difficult to get the whole industry motivated to engage in that course if targets are too soft,” he said.

Zhou Changyi encouraged China’s local governments to set targets for energy consumption reductions for per unit industrial output this year, as the MIIT will not impose quantitative standards for local governments, but they will increase their supervision of energy-intensive enterprises.

Picture Shanghai by Vera Buhl

Monday 28th March 2011


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