Building a Clean Future for Coal: Improved Governance Systems to Reduce Air Pollution from Power Plants in Huainan City, China

摘要

A project team made up of environmental specialists from the Environmental Science Institute of Anhui University of Science and Technology (AUST), in cooperation with ECO-Asia CDCP, carried out the research for this report from June to December 2008. Working in close collaboration with AUST, ECOAsia CDCP convened a local roundtable in Huainan City in July 2008 to launch the study, develop a work plan, and establish relevant partnerships with government officials, power plant executives, NGOs and environmental groups. The roundtable also provided a forum for sharing data and experiences with initiatives aiming to reduce emissions in coal-fired power plants in other countries. The team used data provided by the local Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) and the Environmental Science Institute. In addition, interviews were conducted with local environmental administrators, industry personnel in coal-fired plants and local residents from the affected areas. International consultants also provided policy recommendations based on international experiences and lessons learned, especially experiences from the United States on air emissions monitoring, and control and public participation. Throughout the study, the Project Team continued to keep key stakeholders, including AUST, the Huainan City Municipal EPB, the Huainan City Municipal Department, the local coal-fired power plants, and the local Huainan City Green Association, updated on the research and its findings. One of the important objectives of the study was to evaluate the monitoring and compliance framework that currently exists, given recently enacted legislation aimed at establishing both timetables and targets for the reduction of emissions from coal-fired plants in Huainan City. Another important objective of the report was to promote increased transparency in efforts to reduce emissions and increase public awareness and participation in the process of making decisions about power plant locations and operations.