State Council issues notice urging resources conservation

The State Council, or China's cabinet, issued a notice on July 5, calling for nationwide efforts to build a resources-saving society.

The notice outlines the major work that have to be done from now to the near future in this regard.

In promoting energy conservation, the notice says, efforts should be made to save energy in major energy consuming iron and steel, nonferrous metal, coal, electricity, oil and petrochemical, chemical and building material industries, and in enterprises each consuming more than 10,000 tons of standard coal a year.

It also stresses energy conservation in transportation vehicles and agricultural machinery, newly-built housing and public buildings, and commercial and private facilities, as well as the development and utilization of renewable resources such as hydraulic, wind, solar biological power.

The regulation of demand for electricity should be strengthened and the building of an energy-saving technical service system should be accelerated.

The notice also calls for efforts to save water for daily life, irrigation and industrial production; upgrade water-saving technologies and utilize seawater; and strengthen control over underground water resources.

Work should be done to promote the conservation of raw materials, save and make intensive use of land, and enhance the comprehensive use of resources, the document says.

Building a resources-saving society should become an important guideline for formulating the 11th five-year plan for national economic and social development beginning next year, and other special plans, regional planning and city planning.

Regulations on industrial restructuring should be worked out as early as possible to facilitate the development of resources-saving industrial projects.

The document demands efforts to improve the legal system for resources conservation, perfect related standards, reform the price structure of resources products, streamline financial and taxation polices to encourage resources conservation, step up scientific research and technological progress for resources saving, and establish a supervisory and management system for resources conservation.

The notice urges related ministries and authorities to strengthen leadership and coordination in the national endeavor to save resources and calls on governments at all levels to play a leading role in saving resources.

Various activities should be organized throughout the country to create a sound atmosphere for the building of a resources-saving society, it says.

Source: Xinhua