A 42.9 million-euro Energy and Environment Program was launched
jointly by China and the European Union on Wednesday.
The five-year initiative was planned by China's?National
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and a delegation from the
European Commission and involves projects on energy saving as well
as the development of renewable energy and natural gas.
The program aims to improve China's energy efficiency and
environmental quality, fuelled by policy discussions, exchange
visits, personnel training and technology exchanges. The EU is
contributing 20 million euros with the rest of the budget coming
from China.
China ranks second in world energy consumption levels and its
energy efficiency stands at around 33 percent, 10 percentage points
lower than that of developed countries, said Zhao Jiarong, director
of the NDRC's Department of Environment Resources Conservation.
In 2003 energy consumption in China reached 1.68 billion tons of
standard coal equivalent, 11 percent of total world consumption. Of
this, 67.2 percent was from coal, 22.7 percent from crude oil, 2.8
percent natural gas and 7.3 percent renewable energy.
Zhao said the introduction of the program is expected to draw
energy-saving experience from members of the EU and promote
sustainable development in China.
(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2004)