Professional Documents
Culture Documents
China has experienced a phenomenal economic boom over the past 26 years—with an average 9 percent annual
G D P growth—bringing millions out of poverty and establishing the country as a major economic powerhouse in the
world. T his growth, however, has been built on a foundation of environmental degradation. T he ecological problems
in China are numerous, but the two most serious challenges are: ( 1) destruction of water ecosystems from mismanage-
ment and hydropower construction, and ( 2) air pollution stemming mainly from coal burning for energy. China’s
S tate Council has recogniz ed the lack of clean energy and water as two of the six main bottleneck s for the country’s
next fi ve-year development.1 H ow well or how poorly the Chinese government decides to deal with its energy and
water management issues will determine environmental q uality within and well beyond China’s borders. Current
policy and investment trends in China could stimulate stronger clean energy and better water conservation. O f
particular note are some integrated resource planning and technology-promoting policies and pilot projects that
could not only spark more domestically produced pollution control and energy effi ciency products to clean up China,
but also turn the country into a leading exporter of such technologies. Creating clean technologies mark ets could help
promote a truly harmonious development cycle in China.
C
h in a is th e la rg e s t c o n s u m e r o f c o a l— m o s t s h ip fa c e s to o m a n y d o m e s tic e c o n o m ic , s o c ia l a n d
o f it lo w q u a lity — in th e w o r ld . T h u s it is e n v iro n m e n ta l c ris e s to ta k e o n c lim a te p o llu tio n
n o t s u r p ris in g th a t w ith th e la rg e s t p o p u - re s p o n s ib ilitie s a s w e ll. H o w e v e r, Ch in a ’s d o m e s tic
la tio n a n d s ix th la rg e s t G D P , Ch in a is th e w o r ld ’s a ir q u a lity a n d g lo b a l c lim a te c h a n g e p ro b le m s a re
s e c o n d la rg e s t e m itte r o f g re e n h o u s e g a s e m is s io n s in tim a te ly lin k e d . E a c h y e a r, m o re th a n a m illio n
b e h in d th e U n ite d S ta te s . M o re o v e r, Ch in a ’s e c o - Ch in e s e d ie fro m re s p ira to r y d is e a s e s d u e to s e v e re
n o m ic g ro w th m a y d o u b le c a rb o n d io x id e (CO 2) a ir p o llu tio n , c o s tin g th e e q u iv a le n t a n n u a l s a la rie s
e m is s io n s b y 20 20 , o v e r ta k in g th e U n ite d S ta te s o f 5 m illio n p e o p le . Ch in a ’s re g io n a l h a z e , la rg e ly
to b e c o m e th e la rg e s t c lim a te p o llu te r in th e w o r ld c a u s e d b y c o a l c o m b u s tio n a n d b u rn in g a g ric u ltu ra l
(L a n , 20 0 5 ). w a s te s , is d e p re s s in g 7 0 p e rc e n t o f c ro p s b y u p to
Ch in a ’s N ational Communication on Climate 3 0 p e rc e n t (Ch a m e id e s e t a l., 1 9 9 9 ). E ffe c tiv e ly
Change p re s e n te d a t CO P 1 0 in B u e n o s A ire s in 20 0 4 a d d re s s in g th e s e m o re im m e d ia te a ir p o llu tio n
le ft n o d o u b t a s to th e m o n u m e n ta l c lim a te c h a n g e p ro b le m s w o u ld h a v e a m a jo r im p a c t o n d e c re a s in g
th re a ts th e c o u n tr y a n d th e w o r ld fa c e s . W e s te rn Ch in a ’s c o n trib u tio n to g re e n h o u s e g a s e m is s io n s .
Ch in a ’s m o u n ta in g la c ie rs a lre a d y h a v e s h r u n k b y
o n e -fi fth , e n d a n g e rin g w a te r s u p p lie s fo r a q u a r te r Water Wastage and M ism anagem ent
b illio n Ch in e s e . G lo b a l w a rm in g w o u ld m e a n o n e - W h ile a ir q u a lity s ta tis tic s a re g lo o m y, Ch in a a ls o
fo u r th o f Ch in a ’s s in g le c ro p s e a s o n a re a w o u ld b e fa c e s a w a te r c ris is o f e p ic p ro p o r tio n s th a t th re a t-
lo s t, re s u ltin g in a n o v e ra ll d e c re a s e o f w h e a t, ric e , e n s to w e a k e n th e n a tio n ’s e c o n o m ic e n g in e . Ch in a
I ntegrated R esource Planning and IPCC, 2000). IRP is indispensable for identifying
E fficiency Power Plants and resolving a myriad of technical, financial, insti-
When evaluating the goals of the Eleventh FYP tutional, and market barriers that threaten resource-
the first question that arises is how China will be conserving laws. For example, the Chinese govern-
able to finance these efforts, as well as the related ment plans to invest $ 30 billion to add 30 GW of
education, training, certification, R&D, manufac- nuclear capacity in the next 15 years. The capital
turing, and enforcement work. In China consid- costs appear unrealistically low by a factor of two or
erable more investment is going into developing more based on nuclear industry cumulative empirical
coal-fired electric power systems (~ $ 60 billion per construction experience and projected best guesses
year until 2030) than into cleaner and cheaper by nuclear advocates for constructing new reactors
energy options (IEA, 2003). (MIT, 2003). Using more reasonable cost estimates
A fundamental tool for securing these savings shows nuclear energy to be uncompetitive with a
and avoiding sub-optimal investments in the energy portfolio of higher value energy efficient purchases.
sector is integrated resource planning (IRP). IRP The $ 30 billion could instead bring online 45 GW
is a well-established, scientifically based method- of wind power, upwards of 100 GW of cogenera-
ology that compares costs, benefits, and risks of tion, and more than 100 GW from DSM and end-
all supply and demand-side management (DSM) use efficiency projects (Lovins, 2005).4
efficiency options (RAP, 2004; Finamore, et al., In 2005, utility experts from Jiangsu Province,
2003). China already has experience with energy Shanghai, Beijing, and elsewhere, began creat-
efficiency programs, many of which were done in ing an inventory of DSM opportunities—such
partnership with international N GOs and bilateral as high-efficiency lighting, industrial motors, and
M
ethane is the primary component of
natural gas and is an important clean
energy resource. With a global warm-
ing potential 23 times greater than carbon dioxide
and a relatively short atmospheric lifetime, it is also
a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that accounts for
16 percent of all global, human-induced GHG
emissions. A reduction in methane emissions
would have a rapid and significant effect on the
atmosphere’s warming potential.
About 8 percent of all human-induced meth-
ane emissions around the world are emitted from
coalmines, making coalmine methane (CMM)
recovery and utilization an attractive and effective
climate change mitigation opportunity. In addi-
tion to benefiting the global environment, such CMM Project Construction at Jincheng Mine in S hanx i Province.
projects also increase mine safety and productiv- © U .S . E nvironmental Protection A g ency
ity, reduce operational downtime, mitigate local
air pollution, and make available a local, clean CMM Projects in China
energy resource. China, the world’s leading emit- Thirty projects that utilize CMM are reported
ter of CMM, is well suited to host CMM projects to be operating or in development in China. The
for a number of reasons: methane captured at project sites is currently used
for electricity generation, thermal power produc-
n The estimated 26,000 active coal mines in China tion, town gas distribution, vehicle fuel, chemical
emitted approximately 13.5 billion cubic meters industry feedstock, and boiler fuel. These projects
of methane in 2004, making the coal mining collectively generate over 100 MW of power and
industry China’s primary source of methane reduce methane emissions by over 630 million cubic
emissions. meters annually, equivalent to 1 million metric ton
n Projects that drain explosive methane from of carbon equivalent (MMTCE). The largest oper-
underground mines can help decrease China’s ating project drains 126 million cubic meters per
staggering miner fatality rate—at least 7,000 year from Laohutai mine in Fushun, of which 59
deaths are reported each year, the most of any million cubic meters is delivered to the Shenyang
country. gas pipeline network for residential distribution.
n As China’s economy continues to grow, its Once the second stage of the project is completed,
demand for new sources of clean and unconven- coalbed methane (CBM) from nearby virgin coal
tional energy grows as well. seams will be blended with methane from mining
“Beijing to raise water prices.” (2004). X inhua CEC (California Energy Commission),
News Agency. May 23, 2004. California’s water-energy relationship. CEC-
700-2005-011-SF. November 2005. [Online].
Bradsher, Keith. (2005a, September 23). “China Available: www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/
sets its first fuel-economy rules.” The New Y ork CEC-700-2005-011/CEC-700-2005-011-
Times. SF.PDF.
Bradsher, Keith. (2005b, August 26). “Oil again: CECP (China Standard Certification Center).
China set to tax large engine vehicles.” The New (2005). China issued procurement policy for energy
Y ork Time. efficient products. January 24. [Online]. Available:
www.cecp.org.cn/englishhtml/showpage.
Brennand, Timothy P. (2000). Concessions for wind asp? newsid= 30.
power plants: A new approach to sustainable energy
development in China. UNDP & University of East “Cities raise water prices.” (2004). X inhua News
Anglia, England. Agency. December 25. [Online]. Available: www.
china.org.cn/english/2004/Dec/115943.htm.
Butler, Tina. (2005). China’s imminent water crisis.
May 30. [Online]. Available: http://news.mong- Chameides, W.L.; H. Yu; S. C. Liu; M. Bergin;
abay.com/2005/0531-tina_butler.html. X. Zhou; L. Mearns; G. Wang; C. S. Kiang; R. D.
Saylor; C. Luo; Y. Huang; A. Steiner; & F. Giorgi.
Byrne, John; Gerard Alleng; & Aiming Zhou. (1999). “Case study of the effects of atmospheric
(2001, July). Economics of building integrated aerosols and regional haze on agriculture: An
PV in China. Prepared for the Green Building opportunity to enhance crop yields in China
Workshop, Shanghai, China. [Online]. Available: through emission controls? ” Proceedings of the
www.udel.edu/ceep. national academy of sciences, V. 96, 13626-13633,
Nov. 24. [Online]. Available: www.pnas.org.
CCBA. (2005). Climate, community and biodiversity
standards, version 1.0. Climate, Community, and
“China exclusive: Wind energy to serve as China’s Gleick, Peter H. (2003a). “Water use.” Annual
major power driver.” (2005). People’s Daily Online. Review of Environmental Resources, Vol.
Nov. 7, 2005. 28:275– 314.
Cohen, Ronnie; Wolff, Gary; & Barry Nelson. Gleick, Peter H. (2003b). “Global freshwater
(2004). Energy Down the Drain, The Hidden Costs resources: Soft-path solutions for the 21st cen-
of California’s Water Supply, NRDC and Pacific tury.” Science, Nov. 28, 2003 V. 302, pp.1524-28.
Institute. August. [Online]. Available: www.nrdc. [Online]. Available: www.pacinst.org.
org.
Gleick, Peter H.; Cooley, Heather; & David
CPUC (California Public Utility Commission). Groves. (2005). California water 203 0: An efficient
(2005). Water Action Plan. December 15, 2005. future. Pacific Institute. September 2005. [Online].
[Online]. Available: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/ Available: www.pacinst.org.
Static/hottopics/3water/051109_wateractionplan.
htm. Goldstein, David B. and Robert K. Watson.
(2002). Transforming Chinese buildings. March 14,
De Moor, H.C.C.; Schaeffer, G.J.; Seebregts, A.J.; 2002, Natural Resources Defense Council, www.
Beurskens, L.W.M.; Durstewitz, M.; Alsema, nrdc.org.
E.; van Sark, W.; Laukamp, H.; Boulanger, P.; &
Zuccaro, C. (2003). Experience curve approach for Goldwyn, David, and Michelle Billig. (2005).
more effective policy instruments. Paper presented at “Building strategic reserves.” In Jan H. Kalicki &
the 3rd World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy David L. Goldwyn (Eds.). (2005). Energy and secu-
Conversion. [Online]. Available: www.ecn.nl/docs/ rity: Toward a new foreign policy strategy, Baltimore,
library/report/2003/rx03046.pdf. MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
“Energy efficiency stressed.” (2005). China Daily. Greene, Nathan; Celik, F.E.; Dale, B.; Jackson,
August 08, 2005. M.; Jayawardhana, K.; Jin, H.; Larson, E.D.; Laser,
M.; Lynd, L.; MacKenzie, D.; Mark, J.; McBride,
Energy Foundation. (2004). China sustain- J.; McLaughlin, S.; & Saccardi, D. (2004).
able energy program booklet. Energy Foundation. Growing energy, how biofuels can help end America’s
[Online]. Available: www.efchina.org/resources. oil dependence. Prepared for National Commission
cfm. on Energy Policy. [Online]. Available: www.ener-
gycommission.org.
Farinelli, Ugo. (2003). Sustainable energy strategy
for China based on advanced technologies, CCICED GWP. (2005). A brief introduction of south-to-north
Task Force on Energy Strategies and Technologies. water transfer project. Global Water Partnership
Presentation at the ETSAP Workshop on Energy China Secretariat, China Institute of Water
Modelling for China, Beijing. [Online]. Available: Resources and Hydropower Research. [Online].
www.iea.org/textbase/work/2003/beijing/14fari. Available: www.gwpchina.org.
pdf.
Gu, Shuhua and Liu, Wenqiang. (2000). The role
Finamore, Barbara; Hu Zhaoguang; Zhou Fuqiu; of renewable energy options in China’s present and
Yang Zhirong; Li Weizheng; & Liu Jing. (2003). future energy system. Presented at the conference
Demand-side management in China benefits, barriers on East Asia Energy Future. [Online]. Available:
and policy recommendations. [Online]. Available: www.nautilus.org/archives/energy/eaef/C4_final.
www.nrdc.org/air/energy/chinadocs/dsm.pdf. PDF.
Hu, Xulian. (2005). Development of China car- Koomey, Jonathan; Arthur H. Rosenfeld; &
bon emission scenarios toward 2050. Presented at Ashok Gadgil. (1990). Conservation screening
COP11 and COP/MOP1 side event, Global curves to compare efficiency investments to power
Challenges Toward Low--Carbon Economy, plants: Applications to commercial sector conservation
Focus on Country—Specific Scenario Analysis. programs. Center for Building Science, Lawrence
December 3. [Online]. Available: http://2050.nies. Berkeley Laboratory. [Online]. Available: http://
go.jp/2050sympo/cop11_side/Hu_COP11.pdf. enduse.lbl.gov/info/ConsScreenCurves.pdf.
Hu, Zhaoguang; David Moskovitz; & Jianping Kunming Municipal People’s Government. (2001).
Zhao. (2005). Demand-side management in China’s Third Sino-Swiss Symposium on Sustainable
restructured power industry how regulation and Urban Development and Public Transportation
policy can deliver demand-side management benefits Planning, 24 October. [Online]. Available:
to a growing economy and a changing power system. http://www3.stzh.ch/mm/download/kunming_
World Bank. Available: www.raponline.org. symposium.pdf.
IEA. (2003). World energy investment outlook. Lan, Xinzhen. (2005). “Clean air, what will the
International Energy Agency. [Online]. Available: Kyoto protocol mean for the largest develop-
www.iea.org/textbase/work/2003/beijing/6WEIO. ing country in the world?” Beijing Review, April
pdf. 11. [Online]. Available: www.bjreview.com.
cn/En-2005/05-11-e/11-china-2.htm.
IEA and OECD. (2000). Experience curves for
energy technology policy. [Online]. Available: www. Langer, Kenneth and Robert Watson. (2004).
iea.org/excetp/excetp1.htm. “The greening of China’s building industry.” The
China Business Review, November-December.
Jaccard, Mark and Trent Lott. (2000, May). The
renewable energy portfolio standard: Relevance Li, Hau. (2005). “How China’s maturing solar
to the Chinese electricity sector. Report for the thermal industry will need to face up to market
CCICED Working Group on Energy Strategies challenges.” Earthscan, February 21.
and Technologies. [Online]. Available: http://eng.
cciced.org. Litman, Todd. (2006). Online transit-oriented
development TDM encyclopedia, Victoria Transport
Jacobson, M.Z. (2002). “Control of fossil-fuel Policy Institute.
particulate black carbon and organic matter, pos-
sibly the most effective method of slowing global Liu, C.M. and Z.C. Chen, (Eds.). (2001). Water
warming.” Journal of Geophysical Research, 1:07. strategy for China’s sustainable development report
2: Current state of China’s water resources and the
Wan, Gang. (2004). Current situation and pros- Zhou, Yuan & Richard S.J. Tol. (2003).
pects for development of a clean energy automotive Implications of desalination to water resources in
industry in China. Michelin Challenge Bibendum. China: An economic perspective. Working paper
[Online]. Available: www.challengebibendum.com. FNU-22, Research Unit, Sustainability and Global
Change, Center for Marine and Climate Research,
Wang, Ying. (2004). “Fresh efforts to tap solar Hamburg University. [Online]. Available: www.
energy.” China Daily. December 24. uni-hamburg.de/Wiss/FB/15/Sustainability/
desaltchina.pdf.
Water China. (2003, March). [Online]. Available:
www.waterchina.com. Zhu, Tiequn. (2000). “Prevention and control of
water pollution caused by agricultural non-point
WCI. (2005). Shipping facts. World Coal Institute. sources in China.” Rural Eco-Environment, No. 3.
[Online]. Available: www.wci-coal.com.