10-03-06
China aims to cut the amount of energy used to produce each unit of gross
domestic product by 20 % in five years, seeking to conserve resources and
reverse a trend of environmental degradation caused by a decade of economic
growth averaging 9.5 % a year.
The Government is targeting a 4 % reduction this year and aims to cut discharge
of major pollutants by 10 % in the five years to 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao said
in his annual work report to the National People's Congress.
"These targets are designed to address the acute problem of mounting pressure on
resources and the environment," Mr Wen said. "They reflect the need to build a
resource-conserving and environment-friendly society and are necessitated by
current conditions and long-term interests."
China is the world's second-largest oil consumer and among the least
efficient users, according to the Asian Development Bank. The country uses six
times more energy than Japan and 3.5 times more energy than the US to produce
one unit of gross domestic product. Pollution has contributed to a growing wave
of unrest in the countryside.
It would be difficult to continue pursuing growth based on inefficient energy
consumption, Ma Kai, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission
and the nation's top economic planner, said in his report to China's Parliament.
China had much room to increase energy savings and reduce consumption of
materials, he said.
The Government is encouraging the use of cleaner-burning fuels such as
natural gas as an alternative to coal and wants to close plants that waste
energy and cause pollution.
It is also seeking to reduce the nation's reliance on oil imports by promoting
power sources such as nuclear, solar and hydropower.
Source: The Age