Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged more curbs on industries
that consume more energy and release more pollutants in a bid to
ensure a healthy and fast economic growth.
Wen said that the economy could hardly be sustainable if China
failed to adjust the economic structure, transform the (extensive)
growth mode, and reduce energy consumption.
"We are left with no choice but to develop in an economical,
clean and safe way," the premier said in a speech addressed to the
national working teleconference on energy saving and pollutants
reduction late April.
A copy of the full speech was made available to Xinhua
Monday.
Wen noted the nation will tighten land use and credit supply and
set stricter market access and environmental standards for new
projects amid efforts to rein in the rapid expansion of
energy-gorging industries including power, steel, oil refinery,
chemicals, construction materials, and metals.
The premier said the six sectors that consume 70 percent of
energy for industry and release the same percentage of sulfur
dioxide grew 20.6 percent in the first quarter, 6.6 percentage
points higher than the same period last year.
"We will continue to curb the energy-guzzlers by further
adjusting exports rebates, levying more exports tariff, and
reducing exports quotas," he said.
Wen said China will cancel preferential policies on the
industries like lower tax, electricity and land costs.
"Outmoded production facilities must be eliminated at a faster
pace and how this policy is implemented by local governments and
companies will be open to the public and subject to social
supervision," he said.
Wen added that China will push forward reforms in the pricing of
natural gas, water and other resources, raise the tax levied on
pollutant discharge, establish a "polluter pays" system and
severely punish those who violate the environmental protection
laws.
"The ten nationwide energy saving programs, such as developing
oil alternatives, upgrading coal-fired boilers and saving energy
indoors, will save China 240 million tons of coal equivalent during
the 2006-10 period, including 50 million tons this year," he
said.
He said the government will also introduce more incentives to
encourage companies to use more energy efficient production
facilities and techniques.
"This year is crucial for China in its efforts to meet the
energy saving and pollutants emission reduction target set for the
2006-10 period," said Wen.
The Chinese government has set a goal of reducing energy
consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent by
2010, while pollutant discharge should drop by 10 percent.
Energy consumption, however, fell only 1.23 percent last year,
well short of the annual goal of four percent.
Wen also said to meet the target is an urgent demand of global
climate change and the coal-dependant China should bear the
responsibility to reduce pollutant emission.
(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2007)
