OPINION> Commentary
Energy-saving drive
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-17 07:44

Public participation is essential to the success of China's energy-saving drive. That is why an annual publicity week on energy conservation is always a good idea.

This week marks the 18th such occasion, which also happens to be the first since China's new law of energy-saving came into effect on April 1.

It should be particularly highlighted not only to raise public awareness but also to help the country to meet its five-year energy-saving aim.

The Chinese government has set itself a goal of cutting energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent by 2010 from the 2005 level. But the country failed to meet the annual target of cutting energy intensity by 4 percent in the past two years.

Hence, the country's performance on raising energy efficiency this year will largely determine if it can finally meet its five-year energy-saving goal. The goal itself is a big step toward transforming China's growth pattern into a sustainable one.

Hopefully, the great enthusiasm that Chinese consumers displayed in buying high-efficiency bulbs with substantial government subsidies speaks of their strong support for the national energy-saving campaign.

As part of the activities launched across the country to raise public awareness and promote energy-saving practices, the central government began to offer subsidies for use of 150 million energy-saving bulbs within three years. With subsidies from the local government, Beijing residents can even buy such bulbs at a 90-percent discount.

Clearly, the public responded more warmly than policymakers had expected. For instance, it was reported that in Xiamen, people stood on a queue more than 100 meters long outside a company's outlet selling the discounted bulbs.

A large consumer demand for cheap and energy-efficient products is certainly a key force that the authorities can make use of in order to advance the country's energy-saving campaign.

However, to adapt the country to an era of dearer energy, passing on price signals to consumers about rising energy costs is as important as giving targeted support to the masses.

At the moment, it is surely very difficult for policymakers to lift the cap on energy prices because of the inflation which is already the highest in a decade. But they would do well to keep in mind that the delay in introducing an energy pricing mechanism, that can reflect supply and demand, will only undermine the public's sense of urgency to save energy.

(China Daily 06/17/2008 page8)