Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stated on March 5 that China will take a firm stance against environmental pollution, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions intensity by more than 3.1% this year (2015), reduce chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen emissions by 2%, and reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 3% and 5%, respectively.
In his government work report delivered at the National People's Congress, Premier Li Keqiang stated that the government will promote new energy vehicles, vigorously develop wind power, photovoltaic power, and biomass energy, actively develop hydropower, safely develop nuclear power, and develop and utilize shale gas and coalbed methane. He also emphasized controlling total energy consumption and strengthening energy conservation in key sectors such as industry, transportation, and construction. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of actively developing a circular economy and vigorously promoting the resource utilization of industrial waste and domestic garbage.
The report points out that a decisive battle must be waged to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and improve the environment. China's energy conservation and environmental protection market has enormous potential, and the energy conservation and environmental protection industry should be developed into a new pillar industry. The report also calls for the in-depth implementation of the action plan for air pollution prevention and control, the implementation of regional joint prevention and control measures, the promotion of ultra-low emission retrofitting of coal-fired power plants, and the achievement of zero growth in coal consumption in key areas.
In addition to expanding the carbon emissions trading pilot program, it is also necessary to implement an action plan for water pollution prevention and control, strengthen the treatment of pollution in rivers, lakes, and seas, as well as water pollution sources and agricultural non-point source pollution, and implement full-process supervision from water source to tap. We should promote third-party governance of environmental pollution and improve the legislation on environmental protection taxes.
According to China's key energy conservation, pollution reduction, and carbon emission reduction development plan, small and medium-sized enterprises in my country that focus on developing energy conservation, pollution reduction, and carbon emission reduction equipment and components can also enhance their competitiveness and enter the Chinese domestic market.
Sources: Reuters (2015-03-05) (Compiled by PIDC)
