Xie Zhenhua: There were seven main measures for energy conservation and emission reduction in 2008
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Special report from Beijing, People’s Daily Network, March 11 (Reporter: Zhang Li) At 10 a.m. today, Vice Minister Xie Zhenhua of the National Development and Reform Commission and Deputy Director Zhang Lijun of the State Environmental Protection Administration answered journalists’ questions at the Great Hall of the People on issues related to environment and resources, as well as energy conservation and emission reduction. Xie Zhenhua said that there were seven main measures for energy conservation and emission reduction in 2008. Xie Zhenhua said that first, strengthen the assessment of energy conservation and emission reduction targets. In March and June of this year, it is hoped that the media will pay attention and supervise the implementation of the assessment results. Second, further adjust the industrial structure. By strictly controlling credit and land allocation, as well as implementing stricter assessments for energy efficiency and environmental protection, the growth of high-energy-consuming industries is curbed. Third, accelerate the phasing out of outdated technologies. In 2008, 13 million kilowatts of small-scale thermal power plants were shut down, and 50 million tons, 6 million tons, and 14 million tons of capacity in the cement, steel, and iron industries that were outdated were phased out; the tasks remain quite arduous. Fourth, focus on promoting energy conservation and emission reduction in key enterprises and major projects. Last year, 5.43 billion yuan was invested in government bonds, and 23.5 billion yuan was allocated from fiscal funds to support energy conservation and emission reduction, yielding significant results; investments in this area will continue to increase this year as well. Fifth, advance the development of a circular economy; 172 pilot units have been identified in this area, with the aim of expanding its scale further through these pilots. Sixth, it is necessary to improve various economic policies that support energy conservation and emission reduction. Relying solely on administrative measures is not enough; legal measures are necessary. For energy conservation, emission reduction, and a circular economy, it is important to employ certain economic policies within a market economy in order to motivate enterprises to take proactive action. Seventh, intensify law enforcement inspections. Finally, this effort requires the mobilization of the entire society; it is necessary to carry out extensive campaigns for energy conservation and emission reduction, encouraging everyone in society to participate in these efforts to save energy and protect the environment.
Xie Zhenhua: The situation regarding energy conservation and emission reduction is severe, and enforcement measures are not strong enough. A special report from People’s Daily in Beijing, March 11 (Reporter: Zhang Li) At 10 a.m. today, Xie Zhenhua, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, and Zhang Lijun, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Administration, answered journalists’ questions at the Great Hall of the People on issues related to environment and resources, as well as energy conservation and emission reduction. Xie Zhenhua said that the situation regarding energy conservation and emission reduction in China remains very severe at present. The main reasons are that the economic growth rate is still too high, the heavy-industry-dominated structure of the economy has not changed, and supervision, management, and enforcement measures are not adequate enough. Xie Zhenhua said that the Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to energy conservation and emission reduction, giving this task a very important and prominent position. In 2007, efforts were intensified further, policy measures were more thoroughly implemented, the social atmosphere became more supportive, and the benefits of energy conservation and emission reduction became more evident. However, despite our efforts, the situation regarding energy conservation and emission reduction remains very severe, mainly because the economic growth rate is still too high, and the pattern of a heavy industrial structure has not changed. Our enterprises lack the sufficient motivation to proactively phase out outdated production capacities and slow down the production of products that are high in energy consumption and emissions. The construction of key facilities for energy conservation and emission reduction is also lagging behind. At the operational level, there is still a lack of full awareness, and the policy mechanisms are not yet perfect; as a result, the willingness of enterprises to engage in energy conservation and emission reduction has not been fully stimulated. Furthermore, supervision, management, and enforcement measures are not yet adequate, and the foundational work is relatively weak, especially in terms of energy conservation statistics. At present, it remains a very challenging task to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction goals in the three years following the 11th Five-Year Plan period. The task of saving energy requires ensuring that the energy consumption per unit of GDP decreases by more than 5% on an annual basis, while the goal of reducing emissions calls for a reduction of more than 7% in total emissions; these tasks are indeed very challenging. Xie Zhenhua emphasized that 2008 is a crucial year for achieving the energy conservation and emission reduction targets set for the 11th Five-Year Plan. In line with the requirements of the **** and the State Council, we will strengthen and improve macro-control, take more effective measures to implement the comprehensive plan for energy conservation and emission reduction, and make sustained efforts in this area. The main tasks: in the work report, the Prime Minister outlined ten tasks related to energy conservation and emission reduction. Therefore, our task is to implement these tasks earnestly, ensuring that this year the degree of reduction in energy consumption and emissions is even greater than last year.