China to Address Climate Change:

Environmentally Sustainable Green Technologies

China, a developing country with a large population and a complex climate, has been exposed and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In China, the average surface temperature of the Earth has risen by 1.1^oC over the past century.  China has experienced 21 warm winters from 1986 to 2007; with 2007 being the warmest year. Extremes of climate like high temperatures, heatwaves, severe droughts and heavy precipitation, snow disasters have increased in frequency and intensity in China.  Along coastal zones, sea surface temperature has increased by 0.9^oC and sea level has risen by 90mm over the past 30 years, accompanied with more frequent floods.

There was almost no emphasis on environmental protection before the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. At that time, China was already undergoing very strong economic growth. Obviously, the industries were doing damages to the environment, which needed the immediate remedial enforcements from the Chinese government.

The Kyoto Protocol was viewed as a golden opportunity for China to better develop its resource-saving techniques and industries in its efforts and commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Facilitated by an efficient and centralized government, 12 days after the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, China drafted a national mainstream energy policy establishing to develop a low-carbon economy or environmentally sustainable green technologies.

China’s Renewable Energy Law ( RE Law ) was enacted in February 2005 to prioritize generation of renewable energy. A special fund was set up to research and facilitate the utilization of renewable energy in rural areas. The Law has set the world’s most aggressive and legally binding target for utilization of renewable energy. The law mandates 16% of all energy is to come from wind, biomass, solar, and hydro-power energy by 2020, against a 7% background period when the RE Law was enacted.

It was reported that China could be a USD 500 to USD 1 trillion a year market for the sustainable "green technologies". One of the contributing factors being rapid urbanization arising from the annual urban migration by rural folks. (AP Sept 10, 2009)

Wind, solar, geothermal, and tidal energy are expected to reduce 60 Mt carbon dioxide by 2010. Bio-energy is expected to reduce 30 Mt CO2e, and hydroelectricity development is expected to reduce by 500 Mt CO2 by 2010.

Developing renewable energies

China is projected to become the top manufacturer of solar photovoltaics by 2010		China ranks first in the world in hydro power generation.		China is top manufacturer of wind turbines

China ranks first in the world in hydro power generation. By end of 2007, the annual capacity reached 145 GW, with an average annual increase of 12%. It holds the leading position in the fields of design, engineering, management and equipment manufacturing of small hydropower. About one-third of China's counties rely on small-scale hydropower as their main source of electricity.

China ranks 5th in the world in wind power generation. Wind power generation increases by 7-fold with capacity of more than 6 GW as at end of 2007. Green Peace, in a research report forecasts that by 2020, wind-generated electricity in China may reach 14% of the global wind energy output.

Solar energy collection area has reached 110 million sq. m, keeping China the world solar leader for many years.

Biomass power generation is 3 GW

Bio-ethanol generation is more than 1.2 million tons

Nuclear power capacity is 9.06 GW and increase of 30.5% over 2006.

Coal consumption as primary energy dropped from 72.;2% in 1980,  to 69.4% in 2007.

The proportion of hydropower, wind power and nuclear power combined was raised from 4% to 7.2% in the same period. To date, China is a leading producer in renewable energy. The total amount of renewable energy available for use is approximately 220 million tons of standard coal.

With a commitment of $180 billion for renewable energy development announced in 2008, China not only sets to abide to clean and sustainable development, but has also strategically positioned itself to be a major producer and exporter of green technology. By 2008, China is the top manufacturer of solar photovoltaics, solar water heaters, energy efficient home appliances, wind turbines. With a whooping population of 1.3 billion to poise a huge potential auto market, it plans to become one of the world’s leading producers of hybrid and all-electric cars too.

Optimizing energy consumption structure

China's fundamental state policy emphasizes on both development and energy conservation with priority given to energy conservation.

• Energy saving bulbs are to be distributed to households under government subsidy.
• An energy conserving campaign has been launched to encourage public enterprises to formulate, comply, audit and make public on their energy use.
• New buildings must be energy efficient while pilot projects involving state offices and large public buildings in 24 localities are under retrofitting renovations to go green.
• More efficient equipment is used in power generation and coal production sector, while phasing out the small thermo-power stations and coal mines.
• Tax incentives have been introduced for businesses in energy efficient sector.
• Introduction of  stringent fuel economy standards for its rapidly growing passenger vehicle fleet;  more stringent than those in Australia, Canada and the United States. Average fuel economy for new vehicles was projected at 36.7 mpg in 2008.

800 key energy conservation projects 2007are expected to create an energy conservation capacity of
240 million tons of standard coal from 2006 - 2010. Energy efficiency policy targets to reduce energy intensity ( energy use per unit of GDP)  by 20% of 2005 in 2010; to raise the proportion of renewable energy mix in the primary energy by 10% and the extraction of coal bed gas up to 10 billion cubic meter.

China Leapfrogs in High Speed Rail Development

China realises the importance of investing in high-speed railways (HSR) which are key to improving travel times between major cities. They allow more freight to move along the existing slower rail lines, improving economic prospects in the rural parts of the country where growth has often lagged behind that of the industrial coast.

Moreover, high speed rail (HSR) is a more environmentally-friendly, energy efficient and sustainable green transportation. Germany, France, Japan and China have been planning and building HSR networks for the same reasons, with later comer, the US under President Obama administration fighting for a dominant place in this industry.

Until only a few years ago, China had no high-speed rail service and certainly lacked the relevant technology know-how. It was due to its swelling manufacturing capacity, that China, in 2004, decided to establish a network of HSR, as its existing infrastructure began to prove inadequate. To date, China is able to build its own, and has the world’s most extensive high-speed rail network, with 42 lines expected to be in operation by 2012.

In 2009, China spent $44 billion on HSR development, up from $12 billion in 2004. This is part of China's plan to build a $556 billion high speed rail system linking nearly all its provincial cities by 2015. It equates to a total rail length of 40,000 km, which will become the largest, fastest, and most technologically advanced high-speed railway system in the world. Rail travel works very well in a country with a whooping population of 1.3 billion.

The Beijing-Shanghai Rail Link
With a total cost of USD 12 billion, number of jobs created is estimated to be 1.9 million.

Due for completion in 2012, it will connect two of China's most prominent economic cities that produce 40% of China's national wealth.It will reduce travel time from 10 to 4 hours with a distance of 1318 km and ease severe traffic congestion in both cities. (Pic left: Beijing traffic; Pic right: Shanghai by night)

China is planning a new Iron Silk Road of 8000 km length of high-speed rail, to link it with 17 countries within the region. This HSR system will be ultimately capable of transporting cargo as well as passengers all the way to London.

Last week, China announced considerable subsidies for consumers who buy electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Beijing will pay the first $7,800 to $8,800 of the sticker price for the first 50,000 such vehicles bought

Control of greenhouse gas emissions

To reinforce industrial policies relating to metallurgy, building materials and chemical industries in the control of GHG emissions.
To develop a recycling economy to increase utilization efficiency.
To limit the emissions of nitrous oxide below the 2005 emissions by 2010.
To decommission small, inefficient power generators; cement and steel factories. China claims to haveclosed cement plants with 87 million tons of production capacity and steel with 37 million tons of capacity.
To deploy very advanced power plant technology (e.g., “supercritical” and “ultra supercritical” combustion technology).

China is a pioneer in combating desertification
Integrated Planning and Management approach in combating desertification forms an integral part in China's socioeconomic development plan. Viewing the combat on a basis that needs long term commitment coupled with scientific and technological skills, many higher academic institutions have set up departments of soil and water conservation and desert control to better equip the younger generations in this direction.

The "Green Wall of China" afforestation project in north-eastern China, stretching more than 5,700 km, nearly as long as the Great Wall of China, to protect Beijing from encroaching deserts and combat climate change cost € 6 billion.
China has 54 million hectares of man made forest, its timber volume reaching 1505 billion cu.m. Rate of forest coverage increases to 18%. In 2009 alone, China planted 5.88 million hectares of forest. It is estimated that afforestation related activities absorbed a total of 4.68 billion tons of carbon dioxide. By 2050, the artificial forest is to stretch 400 million hectares – covering more than 42% of China’s landmass. Such will be the result of a policy by China in 1978, that every citizen above age 11 to plant at least three Poplar, Eucalyptus, Larch or other saplings every year. In the last decade, 56 billion trees have been planted across China

Former U. S. Vice President and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore has said China plants two and a half times more trees every year than the rest of the world combined. He called the endeavor "the largest tree-planting program the world has ever seen."

Afforestation related activities absorbed a total of 4.68 billion tons of carbon dioxide.		Promoting low-emission and high-yield rice cultivation to control emissions of methane - inidca hybrid rice

To reduce emissions of methane:

Engaging fine ruminant animal breeds, large scale breeding and management techniques, strengthening management of animal waste, waste water and solid waste and promoting biogas utilization. China strongly advocates environmental protection in the 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. 
In China's 11th Five-Year Plan, it has been regulated that at least 70% of sewage and 60% of household garbage should be effectively treated in the cities by 2010. 

Coalbed Methane ( CBM ) Industry: As of June 2008, China had started construction on the first of 10 CBM pipeline intended to capture and distribute 6.5 billion cubic meters of CBM. China and the US can cooperate in this field, as it needs transfer of technology from the US.

Promoting low-emission and high-yield rice cultivation in efforts to control emissions of methane.

In line with these implementations, energy consumption per unit GDP in 2006 and 2007 was lowered by 1.79% and 3.66% respectively with energy conservation of 147 million tons.

Enhancing capacity of adaptation to climate change
This is facilitated through a multi-thronged approach:

1. Disasters monitoring:
   Improving the multi-disaster monitoring mechanisms, early warning mechanisms, the policy-making and coordination mechanisms, the action mechanism with extensive public participation.
2. Farmland and Agriculture:
   Shoring up farmland and agriculture infrastructures, irrigation and drainage systems, adjusting cropping systems, breeding stress resistant varieties, developing new biotechnologies. By 2010, degradation of farmlands due to desertification and salinity will be rectified.
3. Forest and Ecosystems:
   Strengthening conservation of natural forests, wetlands and other ecosystems. Develop technologies for biodiversity conservation and restoration. Improve monitoring network and management system to enhance early warnings on forest fire, pest and disease.
4. Water Resource Optimization:
   Optimizing the allocation, development and conservation of water resources and hydrological monitoring. Steps include conversion of certain farmlands back into lakes and other water structures, strengthening of dikes. Develop investment, financing and management systems for key water projects. By 2010, the vulnerability of China's water resources to climate change will be reduced considerably.

Strengthening R & D The 10th Five-year plan (2001 - 2005) :2.5 billion yuan (US $360 million) was invested in climate change related researches. The 11th 5-year plan (2006 -2010) : 7.0 billion yuan (US $ 1 billion) was invested in energy conservation and emission reduction researches. Continued researches are necessary to discover more effective monitoring and assessment systems, technologies for improved reduction and adaptation, energy efficiency, clean energy, emission control; utilization technology for carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gas, biological carbon-capture and carbon sequestration technologies. (Energy-saving lamps in Hainan province. The lights are equipped with batteries charged by wind and solar power. Source: Ndrc)

Promoting public awareness in addressing climate change through policies, publicity, seminars, education and training, participation and incentives. It is noted that many consumer-oriented companies in China now focus on achieving a green image. China Mobile launched a plan this year to outsource system equipment and complementary equipment with energy-saving and emissions reduction features.

Enhancing international cooperation
Actively participating in Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. By year end 2008, China has 1557 out of the total of 4200 CDM projects.

References and related news:

National Development and Reform Commission: Ndrc.gov.cn
China's Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Policies: fas 2008
China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change: ccchina.gov.cn
Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China (2008)China's policies and actions for addressing climate change
National Development and Reform Commission People's Republic of China (2008) China's National Climate Programme

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