The central government is launching pilot projects
in selected sectors, such as coal and chemicals, to promote a
circular, greener economy. By conserving resources, China hopes to
sustain a robust GDP growth rate over the long term.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on
Wednesday that it is designing a national campaign to promote a
circular economy,
In a circular economy, interlinked manufacturing and service
businesses seek to enhance economic and environmental performance
through collaboration in managing environmental and resource
issues.
A circular economy can take better advantage of resources and
energy, minimize waste, and reach a harmonious interaction between
society, the economy and the environment.
The government-sponsored projects of the circular economy are
ultimately aimed at eliminating emissions by making more efficient
use of resources.
Pilot projects are planned in such sectors as coal, chemicals,
electricity generation, building materials and recycling of
household appliances.
China hopes to sustain an average annual growth rate of 8
percent over the long term, but that requires also sustaining the
resources necessary to support growth. The NDRC states that
insufficient resources may be the single most dangerous threat to
an otherwise optimistic outlook.
Experts said the circular economy is an ideal development model,
but more incentives are needed to make it a reality.
“Basically, a circular economy will not work unless there are
clear incentives and emission control responsibilities,” said Zhang
Jianyu, a visiting scholar with Tsinghua
University.
China is only now starting to develop a circular, more
environmentally friendly economy. Policies, laws and regulations on
issues like recycling home appliances and construction materials
are still lacking and recycling systems all but nonexistent. Areas
such as these should be corrected as quickly as possible, according
to the NDRC.
Nevertheless, in recent years China has made considerable
strides in environmental protection. In 2002, it passed a law
promoting clean production methods, and many provinces and cities
have instituted local regulations along the same lines.
More than 400 enterprises in 20 industries have had clean
production evaluations.
Some 20 local clean production centers have been established and
more than 10,000 people have attended training on clean
production.
R.C. Lao, a Chinese Canadian working as an environmental expert
with the State Council, said the government is mapping out
standards for the circular economy.
“The standards will detail upper limits of energy and resource
consumption for all sectors,” said Lao, who is also the resident
project manager of the Canada-China Project on Cleaner Production,
under the Canadian International Development Agency.
He said a massive publicity campaign should be organized
nationwide to inform the Chinese people of these practices.
(China Daily July 23, 2004)