Society

'For the sake of mankind'

By Mark Hughes (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-11 08:37

During his keynote address before the National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People on Friday in Beijing, Premier Wen Jiabao rose to urge the nation to fight "a tough and prolonged battle" against pollution, to conserve energy and protect the environment.

He made assurances that China would play an active role in seeking progress on international cooperation on climate change while improving efforts domestically.

He pledged to expand forest coverage by at least 5.92 million hectares in 2010 and strive to build an industrial system and consumption pattern with low carbon emissions.

China has announced it will cut its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of economic growth by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 from the levels in 2005.

The country also aims to increase its energy-saving capacity by an equivalent of 80 million tons of standard coal this year.

Over the first four years of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) period, China's energy consumption per unit of economic growth fell 14.38 percent, Wen said.

Chemical oxygen demand and sulfur dioxide emissions, the major water and air pollutants, decreased 9.66 percent and 13.14 percent, respectively, he added.

The 2010 environmental target is to bring down emissions of major pollutants by 10 percent from 2005 levels.

However, despite the clear determination in Wen's voice and manner, the challenges ahead cannot be overestimated. A rising middle class in this most populous of nations with consequent demand for better housing and more cars in new metropolitan areas served by yet more vehicles will put enormous strain on the environment. Many would be satisfied with a policy of containment of environmental degradation levels rather than a reduction in them.

China's economy developed at an unprecedented rate after 1979 and that momentum has been held steady into the 21st century.

However, the nation paid a huge price in terms of crimes against the environment as it pursued an ever-higher gross domestic product.

Premier Wen is now putting a line under laissez-faire development and the focus is increasingly on nuclear power and renewable energy. About 16 percent of China's electricity came from renewable sources in 2006, led by the world's largest number of hydroelectric generators. Further, China has the largest wind resources in the world with three-quarters of them offshore.

China produces 30 percent of the world's solar photovoltaics. It has become a world leader in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic technology, with its six biggest solar companies having a combined value of more than $15 billion.

China emerged as the world's third largest producer of ethanol biofuels (after the United States and Brazil) as of the end of the 10th Five Year Plan Period in 2005 and at present ethanol accounts for 20 percent of total automotive fuel consumption in China. Many farmers are turning to the cultivation of biofuel crops as the price of crude oil remains high.

Zhang Guobao, director of China's National Energy Administration, spoke earlier this month of China's development of nuclear power projects, 21 of which are under construction in the country. Currently, China has 11 nuclear power projects in operation.

The commitment to these cleaner energies must be maintained and zealously overseen. China must strive to become the leader in each sector, showing the way to other, less powerful countries by example.

Oratory is a fine thing but unless it is backed up by deeds it becomes hollow. China is putting its money where its mouth is and must continue to do so for the sake of mankind. The rest of the world is watching.