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Making ecology a priority
2004-06-17
China Daily
China's outstanding economic achievements in recent years have been partly based on an excessive consumption of its energy resources.
From 1990 to 2001, the country's oil consumption grew by 100 per cent from 118 million tons to 235 million tons; demand for natural gas increased by 140 per cent from 11.4 billion cubic metres to 27.7 billion cubic metres; use of steel soared by 143 per cent, and copper by 189 per cent.
While people hail the fast growth of the economy, they often overlook the drain on resources, mountains of rubbish, polluted environment and damaged ecological system, which are the high price China has paid for the high-rate growth of gross domestic product (GDP).
Moreover, the nation's obsolete mode of industrial development depends on resources which are rare and cause pollution.
The only way out is to develop new types of energy and the so-called "recycle economy," the importance of which has already been demonstrated by developed countries.
In developed countries, great efforts have been made to research and develop new types of energy, such as hydrogen, solar energy and wind power to fuel economies that feature recycled resources and minimum rubbish and pollution release.
Under the current energy structure, fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas, which are the main energy types needed for industrial development, cannot be recycled once consumed.
Worse, the global reserves of oil and natural gas are projected to last only another 40 or 50 years. Shortage of energy might be the biggest challenge and threat in the future.
A recycle economy stresses clean production by making comprehensive use of discarded materials. For centuries, the "throw-away economy" has been the simple but effective way for economic growth, creating large scale production, consumption and waste.
The government should take a leading role in pushing the development of new types of energy and the recycle economy.
More funding should be appropriated for research and development, and preferential policies in taxation should be launched to encourage the public to develop and utilize new technologies.
Although in the short term the cost of using clean energy is high, in the long run the cost will be gradually reduced and impressive benefits will help China stand out in the international competition.
Enterprises engaged in ecological technology development should play a vital role in this aspect, with support from the government.
Public funding should also finance key ecological projects, such as completion of the green GDP system, prevention and control of pollution, recovery of damaged ecological systems and establishment of the pre-warning system for ecological protection.
In addition to official efforts, the public should take full participation in the drive for environmental protection.
China has laws on environmental protection, but for a long time they have not been fully adhered to or effectively enforced. Lack of active public participation is a contributing factor.
The public should be informed that participating in environmental protection is one of their rights.
The government should publicize related information on the environment. In 1998, the Aarhus Convention was signed by 35 countries in Denmark to stress access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental protection matters. Later another 39 countries joined the convention.
Although China has not signed the convention, it has made progress in publicizing information.
But it is still difficult for individuals to get the needed information. Relevant laws are needed to ensure citizens' rights of knowing the truth and safeguarding interactive communications between the public and government.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Law, effective from September 1, 2003, has a far-reaching influence on protecting people's rights of participation. It stipulates the government should hold a public hearing and collect expert opinions on any projects that might damage the environment or hurt public environmental interests before examination and approval.
Although citizens' rights of participation in and supervision of environmental issues are protected by the law, due to lack of detailed regulations they still do not know how to participate and have a say. The law does not play the expected effective role.
Environmental proceedings for public interests should be adopted in China. Currently, it is stipulated that in the drive for environmental protection, only people whose interests have been hurt can file a lawsuit. But it is a matter of the public as a whole, not only individuals. Any individual, group, or governmental department should be allowed to file a lawsuit to protect public interests in the face of environmental destruction.
Access to professional knowledge about environmental protection should be provided to create a favourable atmosphere in such proceedings.
Last but not least, the government should maintain good relations with non-governmental organizations of environmental protection, offering them proper training and taking suggestions from them.
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