Lu Wenbin, deputy director of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, said on Monday that by strengthening administrative accountability for energy conservation and emission reduction, the government will use "ironclad rules" and "iron fist" to promote energy conservation and emission reduction and ensure the achievement of the binding targets for energy conservation and emission reduction during the 12th Five-Year Plan period.
According to the 2014-2015 Action Plan for Energy Conservation, Emission Reduction and Low-Carbon Development previously released by the State Council, the specific targets for energy conservation, emission reduction and carbon reduction in the next two years are: energy consumption per unit of GDP, chemical oxygen demand, sulfur dioxide, ammonia nitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions should decrease by more than 3.9%, 2%, 2%, 2% and 5% respectively each year; and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP should decrease by more than 4% and 3.5% respectively over the two years.
In an online interview with the Chinese government website, he stated that based on an average annual GDP growth rate of 7.5% for China this year and next, 320 million tons of standard coal equivalent in energy conservation is needed over the next two years. To achieve this, structural adjustment measures such as eliminating outdated production capacity, curbing new capacity additions in energy-intensive industries, and developing the service sector and strategic emerging industries will be implemented to save 169 million tons of standard coal equivalent.
By implementing energy-saving technological upgrades and promoting energy-saving technology products, 147 million tons of standard coal equivalent were saved; and by promoting energy management systems, 20 million tons of standard coal equivalent were saved.
To achieve its nitrogen oxide emission reduction targets, China will reduce emissions by 2.6 million tons through measures such as denitrification retrofitting of coal-fired power plants and cement clinker production lines and strengthening operational supervision; and reduce emissions by 1.4 million tons through measures such as "coal-to-gas" conversion, elimination of outdated production capacity, elimination of yellow-label vehicles, and upgrading of oil products.
Lu Wenbin mentioned that some localities lack a deep understanding of energy conservation and emission reduction. The central government has proposed not to simply judge success by GDP, but to pay more attention to the quality and efficiency of development. However, some localities are particularly reliant on traditional development paths. Some believe that energy conservation and emission reduction is simply "subtraction" in economic development, and are not very determined to eliminate outdated production capacity. Some are even adding some high-consumption, high-emission, and overcapacity projects.
"To achieve the binding targets for energy conservation, emission reduction, and carbon reduction during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, there are still considerable gaps in terms of understanding, work progress, policy mechanisms, and basic capabilities. The situation remains severe, and the task is extremely arduous," said Lü Wenbin. (Source: [Original Source Missing]) Reuters (2014-06-09)
