Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C Back) speaks during a meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, on energy consumption and pollution reduction in Beijing, capital of China, on April 27, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao said on Friday that the current macro-control policy must focus on energy
conservation and emission reduction in order to develop the economy while
protecting the environment.
"The challenge of reducing energy consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions has proved arduous as China's economy grew 11.1 percent
in the first quarter but power consumption surged 14.9 percent," said Wen.
"This is a crucial year for China in its efforts to
meet the energy saving and emission reduction target set for the 2006-10
period," said Wen.
The Chinese government has set a target of reducing
energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan (1,298 U.S. dollars) of GDP by 20
percent by 2010, while pollutant discharge should drop by 10 percent.
But energy consumption fell only 1.23 percent last
year, well short of the annual goal of four percent.
"To reverse the situation, local governments must no
longer regard the target as a flexible one, but an imperative", said Cai
Zhizhou, a researcher at the China Center for National Accounting and Economic
Growth, Beijing University.
"To curb excessive growth of the sectors that consume
too much energy and cause serious pollution, China must tighten land use and
credit supply and set stricter market access and environmental standards for new
projects," said Wen.
"Restrictions should be imposed on exports in these
sectors as soon as possible," he added.
"Outmoded production methods must be eliminated at a
faster pace and how this policy is implemented by local governments and
enterprises will be open to the public and subject to social supervision," he
said.
"The ten nationwide energy saving programs, such as
developing oil alternatives, upgrading coal-fired boilers and saving energy
indoors, will save China 240 million tons of coal equivalent during the 2006-10
period, including 50 million tons this year," said Wen.
The Chinese government will advance reforms in the
pricing of natural gas, water and other resources, raise the tax levied on
pollutant discharge, establish a "polluter pays" system and severely punish
those who violate the environmental protection laws, said Wen.
"Without faster restructuring and an efficient method
of economic growth, China's natural resources and the environment will not be
able to sustain its economic development," said Wen.
"We have no choice but to develop in an economical,
clean and safe way," he said.
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator on
Friday called on the media to increase supervision over energy consumption and
pollutant emissions to assist the authorities' efforts to control pollution.
Wu Bangguo, a member of the Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, said the
media should play a role in arousing the public's awareness of energy-saving and
exposing problems and irregularities. Full story
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's environmental
departments and polluters will have to publicize information regarding
environmental degradation and pollution, according to a draft measure issued by
the country's environment watchdog on Wednesday.
"Environmental departments at all levels are required to
make public 17 categories of environmental information including laws,
regulations, policies and standards regarding environmental protection," said
the draft issued by the State Environmental Protection Administration
(SEPA). Full story
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao
and Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan will head up a team tasked with ensuring the
country's energy consumption and pollution reduction targets stated in the
Chinese government's 2006-2010 five-year plan are met.
At a meeting of the State Council on Wednesday, Wen said
the country is in grave need of cutting energy consumption and pollution as
sectors with high energy consumption and high pollution are still having rapid
growth. Full story
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