Economic Observer Online
March 25, 2011
Translated by Qi Changlong
Original article: [Chinese]

Wang Kaiyu, director of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's Department of Science, Technology and Standards, revealed to the Economic Observer at the 2011 Urban Water Industry Forum late last week that an industry development plan aimed at encouraging energy-efficiency and environmental protection will soon be submitted to the State Council for approval.

Wang also revealed that two additional schemes concerning the modernization of the service industry and promotion of the recycling of resources, were also being drawn up, but he declined to disclose any details regarding the content of either of these plans.

According to previously published reports, the schemes includes proposals for energy conservation, limiting environmental impact of various industries and resource recycling. New technology and equipment will be introduced and disseminated and enterprises will be encouraged to manufacture efficient, energy-saving products. New services will also be implemented to help enterprises control energy consumption.

Wu Xiaoqing, deputy director of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, says that China has a huge market for energy-saving and environment-friendly products that is growing at a rate of 15 to 20 percent per year. The market is poised to become the largest in the world.

Wu added that China will continue to increase investment in energy conservation and environmental protection over the next five years, to more than 3 trillion yuan.

Statistics show that the gross output value of China's energy-saving and environmental protection industry had reached 1.4 trillion yuan in 2008, accounting for 4.7 percent of that year's GDP. The industry also employed over 25 million workers.

Links and Sources
Economic Observer Online: 《節能環保產業發展規劃》將上報國務院 (Chinese)
Ministry of Environmental Protection Department of Science, Technology and Standards: Official Site