The country's commitment to reducing energy consumption and
pollution was welcomed yesterday by world-renowned economists and
leading business executives who said it would make ?a positive
contribution to cutting down global warming.
They also called for China's global leadership in tackling
climate change and other environmental woes as the country pursues
sustainable development in the newly-approved
11th Five-Year Guidelines (2006-10).
Referring to China's 2010 goal of cutting energy consumption per
unit of GDP by a fifth from the 2005 figure, Nobel Laureate in
Economics, Joseph E. Stiglitz said, "it will be a contribution to
the world" as it would mean less emissions which are a direct cause
of global-warming.?
"China's 11th Five-Year Guidelines seem to have taken this
message to heart," Stiglitz told China Daily during an
interview on the sidelines of a high-level forum on China's
harmonious development organized by the China Development
Research Foundation.
Stating that the scientific evidence on the threat of global
warming and the link with greenhouse gas emissions is overwhelming
Stiglitz said China's commitment to increasing energy efficiency is
"particularly commendable."
"But China should do more in terms of its new role of global
leadership," said Stiglitz.
For example, he said, China could support the initiative of
countries with rainforests who are curbing deforestation within an
expanded Kyoto Protocol. Forests played an important role not only
in cutting back on global warming but also in preserving
bio-diversity.
"China's plan to conserve resources will reduce timber imports
and it can also play a bigger role in helping developing countries
with reforestation," said Stiglitz.
Among the important areas in which the leadership required to
take an interest, the Columbia University professor said, there was
the need to help developing countries arrive at a common, positive
platform on global warming.
Participants at the forum believed China's ‘green goals’ have
the potential to provide business opportunities.
For instance the Government recently listed China's top 1,000
state-owned enterprises which consume the lion's share of the
energy used by industry for potential savings.
"These goals mean business opportunities," said Mark Moody
Stuart, chairman of Anglo American, a world mining giant.
The company is using new technology in
Shaanxi Province which can cut carbon emissions by turning coal
into gas and liquid fuel.
(China Daily March 20, 2006)