Emissions reduction will be a focal point of an energy law being created in China as part of the country's efforts to address climate change in an effective manner.
Among the 140 articles of the drafted energy law, no less than 20 concern energy conservation and the development of clean and renewable energy.
The draft required local governments to push ahead energy-efficient production processes, consumption approaches and lifestyles. They were also ordered to improve energy consumption structure, raise efficiency of energy use and encourage the replacement of traditional energy with new types of energy -- substituting fossil fuels with renewable energy and high-carbon with low-carbon energy.
On Monday, the National Energy Leading Group officially published the drafted energy law on its website to solicit public opinion. The public comment period ends Feb. 1.
The emissions-reduction-related articles of the draft involved energy conservation as a priority, coordinated development of energy and eco-environment, reasonable exploration of renewable energy, development of clean energy and nuclear energy for civilian use.
Also written into the draft was energy saving by government departments, market mechanism for energy conservation and energy pricing and taxation.
The draft stipulated that the government encouraged, under the precondition of ecological protection, energy-related crops to be planted on barren hills, shoals and other areas unsuitable for grain growing.
Stimulus in pricing should be provided for the development of wind power, solar energy and bio-energy, according to the drafted law.
Last year, the Chinese government decided to reduce energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan (1,351 U.S. dollars) of GDP by 20 percent and pollutant emissions by 10 percent for the 2006-2010 period.
The government had also earmarked 23.5 billion yuan for energy conservation and emission-reduction purposes this year.
In addition, the country closed energy consuming small thermal power units with a combined generating capacity of 11 million kilowatts and substituted them with energy-efficient units. The move saved 14.5 million tons of raw coal and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 29 million tons and sulfur dioxide by 47,000 tons.
Senior law expert Ye Rongsi said Monday that 2009 would be the earliest possible time for China's energy law to take effect.
Source: Xinhua
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