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Working together on climate change

China Daily | Updated: 2007-05-29 06:54

The China Daily CEO roundtable demonstrated that foreign governments, international organizations and NGOs are working to ensure industrial development is sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms.

China has agreed to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent per unit of GDP by 2020. The European Union is ready to help, particularly through the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change.

The EU and China are working together on groundbreaking Clean Coal Technologies and a Near-Zero Emissions Coal plant (NZEC). The EU has also formulated an ambitious plan to create a European Sustainable Energy Centre in China.

The right incentives must be created for energy savings and mitigating pollution, including revised rules on investment and approval processes, proper implementation and enforcement of environmental standards, and possible market-based mechanisms.

Dr Michael Pulch

Working together on climate change

Visitors check out the model of a new waste recycling equipment at an exhibition on energy saving in Shanghai.  Jing Wei

Deputy Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to China

Evidence is mounting that the climate is already changing, and even if greenhouse gas emissions were halted, global temperatures would still rise over the next 50 years.

What can businesses do?

Many are responding to this challenge by completing GHG emissions inventories, quantifying their emissions, reporting GHG emissions and setting GHG emissions reduction goals.

A changing climate is likely to have significant ramifications on operations and engineering, strategic investment decisions, market development, distribution, investor relations, communications and policy.

Experience from multinational companies indicates that management commitment and clarity of vision are important to steering businesses through the new environmental landscape.

Douglas Smith

Consultant, Environmental Resources Management Ltd

AREVA's mission is clear: Cleaner, safer and more economical carbon free power generation and electricity transmission and distribution. AREVA provides solutions based on nuclear energy, which is carbon free, competitive, safe and available.

Nuclear energy is a low carbon energy. Unlike other solutions to climate change, nuclear energy is also competitive. The cost of generated electricity is also extremely stable.

Nuclear energy is also readily available and resources can also be recycled and be extended for several centuries.

AREVA has already treated more than 20,000 tons of spent fuel, the equivalent of 20 years of nuclear energy production from 100 reactors.

Nuclear generation, which already accounts for 16 percent of the electricity in the world and one third in Europe, will play a growing role in combating climate change in the years ahead.

Arnaud de Bourayne

President, AREVA China

The problem of sustainable development in China can only be tackled by an orchestra of institutions and individuals, from government to business, employee to consumer. The government needs to provide clear regulations for enterprises. It also needs to provide incentives for good ecological behaviour for both businesses and consumers.

The best way to do this is with price mechanisms in the market. Costs for using resources should reflect availability and should not been subsidized by the government.

Meanwhile, it is business' role to break down sustainable development into concrete actions. This should be done in their own interest - to save costs and to position themselves as being "Green Enterprises".

Florian Reiter

General Manager, TRW Automotive Components Co Ltd

When it comes to global sustainable development, I see a lot of enthusiasm but little action. I'm afraid we need either a catastrophe or the implementation of remedies by punishment and rewards.

For example, we need realistic energy pricing, strict emission related approval/ disapproval of operations and tax rewards/ punishments for good and bad behaviour.

We will also require environmental education for all ages, as well as a strictly implemented control system of public environmental behavior.

Finally, we need to strengthen the advising role of scientists, experts, NGOs and the voices of direct suffers from environmental damage.

Dr JM Luther

General Representative, Allianz General Representative Office China

Environmental legislation and regulations exist in China, but nationwide implementation of environmental regulations should be enhanced and given top priority.

There is a need in China for stronger monitoring, inspection and enforcement capabilities to establish a better mix of incentives and sanctions.

In order to achieve the energy saving targets of 2010 and beyond, it will be necessary to assume best industry practices, renew outdated technologies and replace energy-inefficient devices.

To this effect, the government should actively promote the use of energy benchmarking in the energy intensive industry in order to determine where the most energy could be saved.

On the regulation side, the Chamber is also supportive of a new tax law under consideration for environmentally friendly companies, and we believe we can contribute to this development.

European Union Chamber of Commerce in China

(China Daily 05/29/2007 page15)

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