China’s 12th Five-Year Plan for energy saving and emission reduction
China’s State Council released the “Circular of the State Council on the Printing and Distriobution of the 12th Five-Year Plan for Energy Saving and Emission Reductin” in late August. The Circular identifies three goals: Transforming the mode of economic development; establishing an energy-saving and environmentally-friendly society; and strengthening the capacity of sustainable development.
The circular also lays out the current situation of energy-saving and emissions reduction in the country and identifies the key development objectives for the 12th Five-Year Plan period. It also enumerates the main tasks and key development projects for the period.
The situation in China today
Several significant advances in energy savings and emissions reduction were noted during the 11th Five-Year Plan period:
- Energy consumption showed an average annual growth rate of 6.6%, which supports the 11.2% annual growth rate of the national economy.
- A 19.1% reduction of energy consumption per unit of GDP.
- Reduction of total sulfur dioxide emissions by 14.29%; and reduction of total CO2 emissions by 12.45%.
Target developments by 2015
The circular identified target areas from 2012 through 2015:
- Reduction of energy consumption per RMB10,000 (US$1,599) of GDP to 0.869 tons of standard coal (based on prices in 2005), reflecting a 16% decrease from 1.034 tons in 2010 and a 32% decrease from 1.276 tons in 2005.
- Saving 670 million tons of standard coal during the 12th Five-Year plan period.
- Keeping total CO2 emissions at 23.476 million tons, 8% less than the 25.517 million tons emissions recorded in 2010; controlling total sulfur dioxide emissions and reducing the level from 22.678 million tons in 2010 to 20.864 million tons.
- Reducing total ammonia nitrogen emissions by 10% from 2.644 million tons in 2010 to 2.38 million tons; keeping total nitric oxide emissions at 20.462 million tons compared to 22.736 million tons in 2010.
Main objectives of the 12th Five-Year Period
The circular specified three main tasks for the 12th Five-Year plan period:
- Making adjustments in the industry structure and optimizing it
- Improving energy efficiency level
- Increasing the energy emission levels of major pollutants
In addition, the circular emphasizes 10 projects for development during the 12th Five-Year plan period:
- Renovation projects that promote energy saving
- Energy-saving projects that will directly benefit the people
- Management and promotional projects involving energy contracting
- Building model projects of energy-saving technology industrialization
- Construction of urban sewage treatment facilities
- Prevention and control of water pollution in key valleys
- Projects involving desulfurization and de-nitration projects
- Prevention and control of livestock and poultry breeding pollution
- Promotion of a circular economy
- Projects that promote energy-saving and emission reduction capacity
August 24, 2012
