The EU's environment chief yesterday expressed confidence that
China's measures would effectively tackle Beijing's chronic air
pollution in time for the 2008
Olympics.
"I'm sure the atmosphere will be cleaner and the environment
will become better in Beijing and even the whole country as the
Chinese government is working out measures to protect the
environment, including developing renewable energy," said EU
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas in Beijing.
Dimas was speaking at a news conference on Sunday, ahead of a
two-day international renewable energy conference, due to open
today, jointly organized by the Chinese government and the EU.
"The emerging economy wants to play a leading role in creating
the conditions for renewables to thrive," Dimas said.
As a follow-up to the World Sustainable Development Summit in
Johannesburg in 2002 and the International Conference on Renewable
Energy in June last year, representatives from 80 countries and the
EU, including ministers, are expected to attend this
conference.
Participants will also discuss options for increasing
renewables' share of the worldwide energy market.
"Developing renewable energy is of greater importance now given
the doubling of crude oil prices," Dimas said.
The increased use of renewables helps reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and air pollution, which impact the environment and
economic development, he added, before emphasizing that energy
efficiency was equally important.
"I would like to stress that the Chinese government is aware of
the significance of climate change and has collaborated with the EU
and others to solve the issue the globe is facing," Dimas said.
"China has been endeavoring to develop wind power generation,"
he said. "More and more other renewable energy will be used in the
future."
In 2000, China implemented an "Ecological Home and Rich Farmer
Program," which promotes efficient energy generation and use. It
sets biogas, biomass and solar energy as priorities.
China, which gets 70 percent of its energy needs from coal, has
set a target of generating 30 GWs (gigawatts) of electricity from
wind sources by 2020, Wu Guihui, deputy director-general of
National Development and Reform Commission's (NDRC) energy bureau, told a press
conference hosted by Greenpeace yesterday.
By the end of last year, China had set up 43 wind farms
nationwide with a total capacity of 764 MWs (megawatts), which is
used on the national grid.
Wu said technology is still a problem. The government is
encouraging foreign technology transfers by guaranteeing overseas
firms' shares in the wind energy market.
The EU stands ready to contribute its know-how to developing
innovative policies, instruments and public-private partnerships
for accelerating renewable energy markets worldwide, he told
reporters.
The EU and China have agreed to build a zero-emission power
plant in China as a cooperative project to reduce the impact of
power generation on the environment.
Dimas is expected to sign implementation agreements today for
the EU-China Biodiversity Program, including a 30 million-euro
(US$36 million) contribution from the European Commission,?
with China's environmental protection minister, Xie Zhenhua.
(China Daily November 7, 2005)