Globe stimulus needed

The Chinese government's decision to double fiscal subsidies for energy-efficient light bulbs this year is good news for both producers and consumers. But such a green stimulus should not be made only an expedient to address the current economic difficulties.

To make the pursuit of energy-saving, environmentally friendly and sustainable development into a key driving force behind ongoing changes to its growth model, policymakers should make an explicit long-term commitment to continuously increase government expenditure for all such green efforts.

The Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday that the government will subsidize 100 million energy-efficient light bulbs this year, compared to 50 million last year.