From Chinese Press

Change growth model

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-10 08:15

Herculean efforts have to be made to achieve energy-saving and emission-reduction goal during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

The first four years of the 11th Five-Year Plan saw energy consumption per unit of GDP reduced by 14.38 percent, and chemical oxygen demand and discharges of sulfur dioxide cut by 9.66 percent and 13.14 percent compared to the 10th Five-Year Plan.

But the fixed goal of 20 percent reduction in energy consumption and 10 percent emission cut is still a distant target with less than eight months left of the 11th Five-Year Plan.

The situation is alarming, especially since the third quarter of last year there has been a fast rise in energy consumption and high emission industries which thwarted the emission-cut efforts.

The problem lies with the country's extensive economic growth model, which should be changed into an intensive one. That is crucial for the implementation of Scientific Outlook on Development and adoption of a model of sustainable development.

(China Daily 05/10/2010 page9)