Energy policy of China

The energy policy in China is the sumup of different aspects of energy policy of the People's Republic of China. The country is currently the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gas according to a Dutch research agency. It is closely watched by the international community, while some in China feel it is unfair to be so closely examined, as during the past years, the majority of greenhouse gases were emitted by the developed countries, and the emissions (and energy use) per capita is still only a fraction of that in developing countries.

Carbon emissions

CO₂ emission per capita per year per country

Countries by carbon dioxide emissions (blue the highest)

File:IPCC AR4 WGIII GHG concentration stabilization levels.png

Projected temperature increase for a range of greenhouse gas stabilization scenarios (the coloured bands). The black line indicates 'best estimates'; the red and the blue lines the likely limits. From the work of IPCC AR4, 2007.

On June 19, 2007, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency announced that a preliminary study indicated that China's greenhouse gas emissions for 2006 had exceeded those of the United States for the first time. The agency calculated that China’s CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels increased by 9% in 2006, while those of the United States fell by 1.4%, compared to 2005. The study used energy and cement production data from British Petroleum which they believed to be 'reasonably accurate', while warning that statistics for rapidly changing economies such as China are less reliable than data on OECD countries.

The Initial National Communication on Climate Change of the People's Republic of China calculated that carbon dioxide emissions in 2004 had risen to approximately 5.05 trillion metric tons, with total greenhouse gas emissions reaching about 6.1 trillion metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent.

In 2002, China ranked 2nd (after the United States) in the list of countries by carbon dioxide emissions, with emissions of 3.3 trillion metric tons, representing 14.5% of the world total. However, due to its huge population size, it only ranked 99 in the list of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita, with emissions of 3.2 metric tons per person (compared to 19.8 metric tons per person in the United States).

National Action Plan on Climate Change

Although China has been taking action on climate change for some years, with the publication on Monday 4 June 2007 of China's first National Action Plan on Climate Change, China became the first developing country to publish a national strategy addressing global warming. The plan does not include targets for carbon dioxide emission reductions, but it has been estimated that, if fully implemented, China's annual emissions of greenhouse gases would be reduced by 1.5 trillion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2010, although other commentators put the figure at 0.950 trillion metric tons.

Publication was officially announced during a meeting of the State Council, which called on governments and all sectors of the economy to implement the plan, and for the launch of a public environmental protection awareness campaign.

The National Action Plan includes increasing the proportion of electricity generation from renewable energy sources and from nuclear power, increasing the efficiency of coal-fired power stations the use of cogeneration, and the development of coal-bed and coal-mine methane.

In addition, the one child policy in China has successfully slowed down the population increase, preventing 400 million births, in some sense, curbing the greenhouse emissions significantly.

Electricity generation

In 2006, China's total electricity output is 2.83 trillion kWh. China currently generates around two thirds of its electricity from coal fired power stations. It is progressing with the construction of 562 new coal-fired plants over the next few years. In June 2007 it was reported that an average of two new plants were being opened every week. Much of this growth is driven by consumers in the western world buying Chinese goods.

Three Gorges Dam

In 2006, approximately 7% of China's electricity is generated from renewable sources, a figure targeted to rise to 10% by 2010 and to 16% by 2020. The major renewable energy source in China is hydropower. Total hydro-electric output in China in 2006 is 416 billion kWh. China is already the country with the most hydro-electric capacity in the world and the Three Gorges Dam is going to be the largest hydro-electric power station in the world.

In 2006, China has 9 nuclear power units with a total electric capacity of 6.99GW and total output of 54.8 billion kWh, accounting for only 1.9% country's total electricity output. China plans to increase its nuclear power capacity and nuclear power percentage in the total electricity output to 40GW and 4% respectively by 2020.

Rural electrification

Following the completion of the similar Township Electrification Program in 2005, the Village Electrification Program plans to provide renewable electricity to 3.5 million households in 10,000 villages by 2010. This is to be followed by full rural electrification using renewable energy by 2015.

Energy conservation

General Work Plan for Energy Conservation

The General Work Plan for Energy Conservation and Pollutant Discharge Reduction aims to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (energy intensity) by 20% over the course of the 11th five-year plan which ends in 2010, as well as cutting the discharge of major pollutants by 10%. The plan was issued in 2007 after the 4% reduction in energy intensity targeted for 2006 was missed, and all companies and local and national government have been asked to submit detailed plans for compliance before June 30, 2007. In 2006 the reduction achieved was 1.23%.

Implementation will involve a variety of measures, including increased use of renewable energy, revised pricing for primary energy sources and electricity, export restrictions on energy intensive and highly polluting products, and tax incentives for pollution-reduction projects. Central and local government will switch to low-energy lighting, and will be compelled to purchase only the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly electrical products.

Officials have been warned that violating energy conservation and environmental protection laws will lead to criminal proceedings, while failure to achieve targets will be taken into account in the performance assessment of officials and business leaders.

Space heating & air conditioning

A State Council circular issued on June 3, 2007, restricts the temperature of air conditioning in public buildings to no lower than 26^oC in summer (78.8^oF), and no higher than 20^oC (68^oF) in winter. The sale of inefficient air conditioning units has also been outlawed.

Energy use

In the industrial sector, six industries – electricity generation, steel, non-ferrous metals, construction materials, oil processing and chemicals - account for nearly 70% of energy use.

In the construction materials sector, China produced about 44% of the world's cement in 2006. Cement production produces more carbon emissions than any other industrial process, accounting for around 4% of global carbon emissions.

Public opinion

The Chinese results from the 1st Annual World Environment Review, published on June 5, 2007 revealed that:

• 88% are concerned about climate change.
• 97% think their Government should do more to tackle global warming.
• 63% think that China is too dependent on fossil fuels.
• 56% think that China is too reliant on foreign oil.
• 91% think that a minimum 25% of electricity should be generated from renewable energy sources.
• 61% are concerned about nuclear power.
• 79% are concerned about carbon dioxide emissions from developing countries.
• 62% think it appropriate for developed countries to demand restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from developing countries.

See also

• Category:Energy by country
  • Energy policy of the United States
• Energy security
• Energy policy
• G8+5
• Low-carbon economy
• Peak oil

External links

• National Development and Reform Commission: National Action Plan on Climate Change
• Gov't Demands More Focus on Green Energy
• China Clean Energy Program

In the media

• June 20, 2007, Greenpeace: Responsibility for China's soaring emissions lies not just in Beijing but also in Washington, Brussels and Tokyo