Special Report:Global Financial Crisis
by Chinese media writer Zhu Shaobin
BEIJING, March 10 (Chinese media) -- A message from the ongoing annual session of
the National People's Congress (NPC), or the parliament, tells saving energy and
protecting environment is a big government agenda, though keeping a "steady and
relatively fast" economic growth is a paramount task amid the global economic
crisis.
China approved a massive 4-trillion yuan (about 586 billion U.S. dollars)
two-year investment plan last November to curb economic downturn, but this
precludes boosting economic growth at the cost of environment.
The 4-trillion yuan spending list also included a 210 billion yuan
investment in environmental protection and energy conservation, said Zhang Ping,
Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top
economic planner at a press conference during the NPC session.
In the government report by Premier Wen Jiabao during the annual session
contents concerning environmental protection were obviously available.
He said the country is facing problems such as severe environmental
pollution and high energy- and- resources intensity, but government policies
would not miss environment.
Some hard facts: China's seven major water systems, including the Yangtze
and Yellow rivers, were ''mildly" polluted; more than half the 500 cities and
counties monitored reported cases of acid rain, according to the annual report
on environment for 2007 by the Environmental Monitoring of China under the
Ministry of Environmental Protection.
And China is a major carbon emitter, with about 19 percent of the global
emissions of CO2, according to a World Energy Council report published in 2008.
While preventing the already cooling economy from further sliding would be
the top task of the government this year, Wen said China would continue its
drive toward energy conservation, emissions reduction, and environmental
protection.
This "Green" determination has also been boosted by the country's
achievements in its environmental initiatives as figures show China's energy
consumption per unit of GDP dropped 4.59 percent in 2008, and 10.08 percent in
the past three years.
Last year both chemical oxygen demand (COD), a main index of water
pollution, and the total emission of sulfur dioxide, a main air pollutant, were
down 4.42 percent and 5.95 percent respectively; and down by 6.61 percent and
8.95 percent for the past three years, said Wen at the NPC's annual session.
But more efforts must be made before China could reach its goal of reducing
its energy intensity by 20 percent and major pollutants including COD and sulfur
dioxide by 10 percent before 2010, according to the country's 11th Five Year
Programs (2006-2010), a guideline for the country's economic and social
developments.
"Saving energy and reducing emissions is such a significant measure in
promoting scientific development and building a harmonious society," said Huang
Huahua, an NPC deputy from the southern Guangdong Province.
But analysts also admit great pressure in realizing the reduction target as
companies are less likely to invest in green facilities amid the financial
pains. It also presents a test to the government to balance growth with
industrial restructuring and upgrading.
"The 210 billion yuan spending in energy conservation and environmental
protection shows the government is deeply concerned about the issue," said Zhang
Boju, an environmentalist with the Beijing-based NGO Friends of Nature.
But he said the cause of environmental protection goes beyond money.
"It's most important that the policies be properly and efficiently
implemented top-down," indicating concerns for environment while initiating some
large infrastructure building projects might be diluted at local levels.
"The 4 trillion yuan is a massive spending that will bring about massive
changes. Any big project without a sound environmental evaluation and strict
regulation would likely cause irreversible consequences," Zhang Boju said.
He also said the best policy, environment-wise, would be precautions
against possible pollution instead of throwing money to repair the damages.
Wen said the government will continue energy conservation in the three key
areas of industry, transportation and construction. It will also speed up the
construction of 10 key energy conservation projects, such as upgrading
coal-burning furnaces, green lighting, and energy conservation in government
organizations.
The country will accelerate the development of clean energy, such as
nuclear, wind and solar power, said the premier.
In fighting the downturn, the country also issued a series of support
packages for 10 industries since January, including the steel and auto sectors.
"These packages are not only intended to offset the current economic
slowdown but would promote industrial restructuring and upgrading. The plans
reflected public concerns and the effort to protect the environment," said NDRC
vice minister Liu Tienan at a February press conference while elaborating on the
support packages for the 10 industries.
Under the packages, blast furnaces with capacity of only above 1,000 cubic
meters would be allowed, while those under 400 would be banned from operating in
the steel industry, said Chu Xueliang, an analyst with China Jianyin Investment
Securities.
Chu said about 100 million industrial capacity in the steel sector could be
eliminated due to the raised standards.
"There would be mandatory, clear regulations for the elimination of such
capacities," said Zhu Hongren, director of the Department of Operations
Monitoring and Coordination under the Ministry of Industry and Information
Technology at the joint February press conference.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment