Costlier oil an opportunity

The fuel price hike can be deemed a great opportunity to boost energy saving, says an article in Beijing News. The following is an excerpt:

Last week, the National Development and Reform Commission raised retail fuel price. In the past, our country had long been offering subsidies to keep fuel prices at low levels, which partly fueled continuous high oil consumption in China. According to reports, the sales of high-emission SUVs kept rising for three years while they plummeted in other countries due to high oil prices. Now, the government has brought the oil prices back to track, letting prices of resources truly reflect their values, which can obviously curb the consumption of oils and raise the efficiency. It is a wise strategy adopted by China to cope with the era of high oil prices.

It is not only a measure adopted by the government under the pressure of soaring international oil prices, but also can be deemed an opportunity for governments at different levels to advance energy-saving and resources management. The government can use this chance to launch a publicity campaign to promote the energy-saving culture.