CCICED Event

Seminar on Low Carbon Economy and China’s Energy & Environment Policy held in Beijing

Under the support of Norway, Sweden, Britain, EU and Environmental Defense of United States, CCICED held the Seminar on Low Carbon Economy and China’s Energy & Environment Policy during April 23-24, 2007 in Beijing. Centering on the requirements of the Chinese Government for developing a resource saving and environmentally-friendly society, domestic and international experts had discussions and exchanged their views on such issues as the development trend of energy and environment policies at home and abroad, countermeasures for global climate issue, low carbon economy and energy efficiency, which provides relevant reference to the study and development of relevant policies in China.

British deputy prime minister John Prescott and Vice Minister Zhou Jian of State Environmental Protection Administration attended the meeting and made a speech. Secretary General of CCICED Mr. Zhu Guangyao and Norwegian Parliament Member Mr. Børge Brende chaired the opening ceremony. Chairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Director General of the Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) of India Mr. R.K.Pachauri, Mr. Ding Yihui, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Special Advisor on Climate Change of China Meteorological Administration and Professor Jorgen Randers, Chairman of Norwegian Commission on Low Emissions made keynote speeches respectively on such topics as the latest IPCC Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change, assessment of the impact of global climate change on China and how can Norway become a climate-friendly society.

International experts from such countries or international organizations as Norway, Britain, Sweden, United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, India, EU, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, UNDP and WWF, and Chinese officials and experts from the relevant ministries of the State Council, research institutes and universities attended the seminar. International and Chinese experts presented topic report and discussions on such aspects as the latest IPCC Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change, the impacts of global climate change on China, international development of low carbon economy, the direction of China energy policy, challenges confronting China on climate change and countermeasures, public awareness and action in energy saving.

Experts in the meeting believe that energy and environment issue will be a key challenge in the next few decades for global environment and development. In particular, global climate change problems caused by inappropriate economic development mode and low energy efficiency will impose major threat to long term survival of human beings. To this end, each country in the world shall take actions and jointly meet the challenge. The experts pointed out that developed countries shall should on greater responsibilities in addressing global climate change issue. They should take feasible measures, change their economic growth and consumption mode that is not sustainable, develop low carbon society, reduce the consumption on unrenewable energy, help developing countries obtain knowledge and experience and promote global sustainable development.

Chinese and international experts attending the meeting noticed that as the biggest developing country in the world, China has made unprecedented economic and social development miracles in the past few decades. The influence of China on global economy and sustainable development is increasing and will continue enhancing this influence in the next few decades. With rapid economic growth, China has growing demands for energy and resources. Therefore, China will face greater challenges in such aspects as energy efficiency, addressing climate change and promotion of sustainable development. There is no precedent for China to develop effective policies and gradually reduce and solve these problems as it is a big developing country with huge population. It needs more courage, wisdom and innovation. At the same time, active action and successful practice of China will make great contribution to global sustainable development.

The Chinese and international experts appreciate the strategic goal of the Chinese Government in implementing scientific development and building a resource saving and environmentally-friendly society. At the same time, experts believe that appropriately addressing energy and environment issue including global climate change as well as its potential adverse impact on the long-term development of China is not only critical to China’s sustainable development process, but also has positive influence on the addressing of global energy and environment issues as well as climate change. Therefore, The Chinese and international experts at the meeting recommend that China should more actively carry out international exchanges and dialogues to share information and absorb advanced international ideas, experience and lessons, give full consideration of the environment and energy issues in developing economic development policies and vigorously raise public awareness in saving energy, protecting the environment and taking actions.

High Light

The State Council set up a leading group on energy saving and emission reduction with Premier Wen Jiabao as the team leader

On April 25, 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao chaired an executive meeting of the State Council to study and arrange the enhancement of energy saving and emission reduction work. The meeting points out that China is facing grave situation in meeting the energy saving and emission reduction targets. We must make full play of the dominant role of the government and understand that energy saving and emission reduction targets are indicators that intensify government responsibilities. We should strengthen the responsibility of enterprises as principal bodies for energy saving and emission reduction, strictly observe laws, regulations, policies and standards on energy saving and emission reduction and implement the target responsibilities.

The meeting decided to set up a leading group on energy saving and emission reduction with Premier Wen as the team leader and Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan as deputy team leader.

The State Council held a national teleconference on energy saving and emission reduction

On April 27, 2007, the State Council held the national teleconference meeting on energy saving and emission reduction to mobilize and strengthen the work on energy saving and emission reduction. Premier Wen Jiabao made an important speech. The meeting was chaired by Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

Premier Wen pointed out that we should do well the following key work and take following major measures at present and in the coming years: (1) effective control of rapid growth of industries with high energy consumption and heavy pollution. We shall keep close control on land and credit, raise market access and strictly control new projects with high energy consumption. We shall put in place various policies restricting the export of products with high energy consumption and heavy pollution as soon as possible. We shall immediately implement the differentiated electricity price policy in an all round way and raise the power price for the products with high energy consumption. In addition, we shall streamline the preferential policies for the industries with high energy consumption and heavy pollution. (2) accelerate the phasing out of lag-behind productivities. We shall speed up the development of specific working programs on phasing out of lag-behind productivities. The State will make public the name of enterprises on the list of phasing out of lag-behind productivities and the implementation situation of each region each year, which is under public supervision. (3) comprehensively carry out key projects on energy saving and emission reduction. We will focus on the 10 key energy saving projects including the conservation and alternatives of petroleum, reform of coal fueled boilers, heat-electricity co-production and energy saving in buildings. We shall earnestly carry out the 7 key pollution prevention and control projects such as SO2 removal of coal fueled power plants, construction and reform of urban sewage treatment plants and supporting pipes and network as well as the control of water pollution of key river basins. (4) focus on energy saving and emission reduction of key enterprises. The State identifies 1000 enterprises as key enterprises for energy saving and emission reduction. Governments at all levels shall enhance their inspection and guidance on those key enterprises and implement strict award and punishment measures. (5) accelerate the promotion of science & technology on energy saving and emission reduction. We shall organize and carry out special activities on scientific and technological research on energy saving and emission reduction, set up a number of national key laboratories and develop some key technologies for energy saving and emission reduction with extensive applications. We encourage and support enterprise to carry out technical reforms on energy conservation and emission reductions. (6) vigorously develop circular economy. We shall deepen the trial work on the development of circular economy. We shall do well the comprehensive utilization of mineral resources, solid waste and reuse of recycled resources as well as recycled use of water resources. In addition, we will promote the recycling and environment-friendly disposal of garbage. Clean production shall be promoted in an all round way. (7) improve institutional and policy system. We will facilitate price reform on resource products such as natural gas, water and heat at appropriate time. We will raise the charge standard for pollutant discharge at proper level, improve the compensated use of mineral resources, establish eco compensation mechanism and develop and improve taxation policies encouraging energy saving and emission reduction. (8) increase the input in energy saving and emission reduction. We will set up an input mechanism for energy saving and emission reduction guided by the government, dominated by enterprises and participated by general public. Financial departments at all levels shall increase their inputs in energy saving and emission reduction. Monetary institutions are encouraged and guided to expand their credit support in this aspect. Enterprises are facilitated to control pollution, conserve ecology and protect the environment in accordance with the principle of “he who pollutes the environment shall treat the pollution, he who invests shall get benefits from it”. (9) strengthen legal development in energy saving and emission reduction. We will speed up the improvement of laws & regulation system on energy saving and emission reduction and develop and implement compulsory national standards for environmental protection limits of major products with high energy consumption. We will intensify law enforcement efforts in energy saving and emission reduction, seriously investigate and sanction a number of typical cases that severely violate national laws and regulations on energy management and environmental protection, investigate the responsibilities of relevant people and leaders. (10) enhance supervision and administration of energy saving and emission reduction. We will pay close attention to the establishment and improvement of the indicator system, monitoring system and examination system for energy saving and emission reduction and ensure the authenticity of the data. Moreover, we will set up and strictly implement various rules and regulations and strengthen routine monitoring on key energy consumption units and pollution sources.                                                               (Source: Xinhuanet)

Hot Topics

Release of the first measures on disclosure of environmental information

On April 25, 2007, Vice Minister Pan Yue of State Environmental Protection Administration announced that the Measures on the Disclosure of Environmental Information (Trial) (hereinafter referred to as the Measures) would officially put into effect from May 1, 2008. This is the first regulatory documents concerning disclosure of information issued by government department following the promulgation of the Regulations on Disclosure of Government Information by the State Council.

The Measures identified the main body and scope for information disclosure. Environmental departments at all levels are required to make public 17 categories of government environmental protection information including environmental laws & regulations, policies, standards, administrative permit and approval. Enterprises with the emissions beyond discharge standard or the total emission target shall open their four kinds of environmental information and shall not refuse the information disclosure at the excuse of keeping commercial secrets. Enterprises with emissions meeting standards are encouraged to disclose their environmental information in a voluntary way. Environmental information is required to be made easily accessible to the public within 20 working days. Furthermore, any request for information from the public must be handled within 15 days. Polluting companies, after being black-listed, have 30 days to publish information concerning their bad discharges in local media. The measures also identified the responsibilities for the disclosure of environmental information. In case of any behaviors that do not disclose environmental information in accordance with relevant regulations, environmental protection department involves in such behavior will be investigated its responsibility and enterprises involve in such behavior will be fined. In case that local communities believe that specific administrative actions of local environmental protection department in disclosing of government environmental information violate their legitimate rights and interests, they can apply for administrative review or institute administrative litigation according to law.

Links：2006 Policy Recommendations of the Fifth AGM of CCICED Phase III: Information Disclosure and Public Participation
Establishment of an environmental and economic data collection and analysis center within the government, with possible participation from civil society.

l          Initiation of a centrally-funded program to upgrade local and provincial capacity and willingness to improve environmental data gathering and analysis.

l          Establishment of reporting requirements for data to assure comparability of data across facilities and over time. Provide funding for the establishment and maintenance of an internet-based reporting system, with source by source data publicly available to all stakeholders. Public access to and analysis of environmental, natural resources and social data will enhance data quality and accountability, e.g. through a “Green GDP”.

l         Outreach and education of the public about the chances and opportunities to participate in environmental decision-making. Improve public access to environmental information concerning emissions and their consequences in order to empower meaningful public participation. Widely publish advance notice of proposed regulations or permit proceedings for industrial and natural resource projects to facilitate public participation.  

Policy Study

CCICED Secretariat held a work meeting with chief advisor

On April 30, 2007, a joint work meeting between CCICED Secretariat and chief advisor was held in Beijing. The meeting listened to the introduction from the Secretariat about the development of policy study work of CCICED during 2007-2008. These include the setting up of new Task Forces of 2007 and their research topics: Task Force on the Policy Mechanism towards Successful Achievement of the 11th “Five-Year” Plan Environment Targets, the Task Force on the Innovation for China’s Environmentally-friendly Society and the Special Policy Study on the Management of Chemicals in China and International Experience. The meeting discussed the addition of special policy study in 2007: “The Strategy Transformation on Environment and Development: Global Experience and China’s solution” and discussed the recommendation on the establishment of the Task Force on Environment and Health. The meeting listened to the summary on Low Carbon Economy and China’s Energy & Environment Policy (April 23-24) made by Dr. Hanson and discusses the priority areas for policy studies of CCICED in the field of energy and resources in 2008 and beyond. The meeting put forward recommendations and requirements for the future arrangements of each of the above work and adopted the meeting minute. Chinese Chief Advisor Mr. Shen Guofang, International Chief Advisor Mr. Hanson, Director of the Secretariat of CCICED Mr. Guo Jing, Mr. Drake, Director of CCICED Secretariat International Support Office and Dr. Ren Yong and Dr. Zhang Jianyu who are supporting expert team members of the Chief Advisor attended the meeting. Representatives from the embassies of Canada, Norway and Sweden also attended the meeting as observers.

Task Force on the Policy Mechanism towards Successful Achievement of the 11th “Five-Year” Plan Environment Targets

Chinese Co-chair of the Task Force is former Vice Minister of SEPA Ms. Wang Jirong and International Co-chair is Mr. Brendan Gillespie from OECD. This Task Force aims at presenting policy recommendations to the Chinese Government about policy innovations and institutional arrangements towards successful realization of emissions reduction target during the 11th Five-Year Plan period. At the same time, it will make projections to environmental protection target during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. The findings of the Task Force will provide direct technical support to the Chinese Government in meeting the emission reduction target during the 11th Five-Year Plan period. In addition, it will present its research findings at the First AGM of CCICED Phase IV.

The Task Force (TF) held its inauguration meeting in Beijing on April 25, 2007. Chinese Co-chair Ms. Wang Jirong as well as more than 20 Chinese experts and consultants attended the meeting. The international experts of the TF presented their written proposal on the carrying out of the research. The meeting discussed in detail the methodology, major issues, main case studies, implementation program and work division of the research activities. The meeting decided that the TF would carry out policy studies on whole-process emission reduction mechanism focusing on four aspects of “energy saving, technical progress, pollution control project, supervision and administration”.

On April 30, the TF held a technical group meeting that discussed the framework of the general report and the focuses of each chapter. Participants also identified the activities of the next stage and time schedule, which centering on the reduction of major pollutants and had active and in-depth discussions on issues include the emissions control target during the 12th Five-Year Plan period.