Low-carbon economy priority

By Li Qiaoyi

China will continue to develop a low-carbon economy (LCE) by reducing emissions and conserving energy, according to a senior official speaking in Beijing over the weekend.

The country will actively deal with climate change and continue efforts in industry restructuring, enhancing energy efficiency and producing clean, renewable energy in a bid to realize sustainable development, Su Wei, director general of the Department of Climate under the National Development and Reform Commission, stated at the China 2009 Asia-Pacific Forum on Low Carbon Economy.

Across the country, 23 provinces and cities have drawn up goals to conserve energy and reduce emissions this year, according to a blue paper by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released June 15.

The new goals see the amount of energy taken to produce 10,000 yuan’s ($1,462.57) worth of gross domestic product (GDP) fall by up to 5.6 percent year-on-year.

Beijing is targeting a 5 percent reduction.

In 2008, the amount of energy taken to produce 10,000 yuan’s worth of GDP dropped 4.59 percent year-on-year. The rate fell 3.66 percent in 2007 and 1.79 percent in 2006.

Sulfur dioxide emissions and chemical oxygen demand last year declined 5.95 percent and 4.42 percent respectively from the previous year.

Great potential currently exists to conserve energy, though heavy industry is still dominant in the national economy and technologies and managerial skills remain at low levels, Fang Qing, vice president of China Energy Conservation Association, said at the China Energy Strategy VIP Forum last month.

China could use the current financial downturn as an opportunity to remove outdated production methods and foster technology advancements, in an effort to transform the country’s economic growth pattern, Fang said.

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