Chinese Environment Ministry Issues Plan To Save Energy, Reduce Air, Water Pollution

摘要

Calling 2009 a "crucial year" for meeting targets, China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) Aug. 3 released a "Work Plan for Energy Savings and Emissions Cuts in 2009" and called on government departments at all levels to strengthen efforts to meet the plan's goals. The work plan called for continued support for "10 major energy-saving projects," including subsidy programs for energy-efficient home appliances and light bulbs and a government program to support clean energy vehicle development in 13 major cities. It called for more strict control and transformation of industries with high energy use and for the "Guiding Catalog for Industrial Structural Adjustment" to be completed. It also advised that smaller, inefficient industries should be closed down, including iron, steel, cement, paper, alloy, and coking plants under certain tonnages.