Reduced energy consumption and pollution levels in China

The Chinese government reinforced its ongoing commitment to energy conservation and environmental protection on 5 March 2008 with the announcement of significant reductions in energy consumption, chemical oxygen demand and total sulphur dioxide emission in 2007.

Chemical oxygen demand fell by 3.14% and total emission of sulphur by 4.66% compared to the previous year. And energy consumption dropped by 3.27% for every unit of GDP.

A number of different approaches helped achieve these improvements. To name just a few:

• shutting down many older, higher polluting production facilities
• launching ten major energy-saving projects
• making significant breakthroughs in desulfurising projects for coal-fired power plants
• providing financial support for 691 water pollution prevention projects in major river valleys.