- Title: CHINA: Opening of international conference on renewable energy
- Date: 7th November 2005
- Summary: TRUCKS ON ROAD RUNNING PAST FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANT POWER LINES WIDE OF POWER PLANT
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- City:
- Country: China
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAEBQEV21XRBSJLP5TKPRKR8AY6
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: China on Monday (November 7, 2005) played host to an international conference on renewable energy against a backdrop of rocketing oil prices and pollution.
China - the world's second-largest oil consumer - said it was committed to finding sustainable means of fuelling its booming economy.
"(Our goal) is to accelerate the change of our pattern of economic development, make conservation a basic national policy, develop a sustainable economy, push forward ecological protection, speed up the building of a society that conserves and protects the environment, and raise the efficiency of our energy usage," said Zeng Peiyan, Chinese Vice Premier.
The International Renewable Energy Conference is working on building up international frameworks for developing and transferring renewable technologies.
The EU's Commissioner for the Environment said time was ripe for involving more emerging economies in the process.
"The fact that this conference is being held here in Beijing is very positive, and very encouraging. It confirms that accelerating the update of renewable energy is no longer the sole business of developed countries, and that emerging economies also wish to play a leading role in creating the conditions for renewable strategies," said Stavros Dimas.
Global investment in renewable energy hit a record $30 billion last year, accounting for 20-25 percent of all investment in the power industry.
Asia is seen as an especially fertile market for renewable energy as it grapples with growing demand for power to feed rapid economic expansion at the same time as global oil prices are rising.
Germany's environment minister said that using renewables was the only way to stabilise climate change and lift millions out of poverty.
"Climate change is acting as a brake on development. With the International Action Programme on Renewable Energies we are on the right track. With an environmentally sound and secure energy supply, we are contributing to halving the number of people living in absolute poverty over the coming decade," said Jurgen Trittin.
Trittin said Beijing was a run up to the UN Climate Conference to be held in Montreal in November - a landmark attempt to address the problem of global climate change.
"Here in Beijing we plan to discuss the next concrete steps. If Beijing is a success, we will have the momentum that we so urgently need for the climate change conference in Montreal in November," said Jurgen Trittin.
China has a goal of making renewable energy account for one-tenth of its power grid by 2020.
The nation is a world leader in existing renewable electricity capacity, with 37 giga-watt, followed by Germany, the United States, Spain and Japan.
Most countries with renewable energy policies are targeting 5 to 30 percent of their electricity production by 2012 - the end of the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Kyoto requires developed nations to cut their emissions of heat-trapping gases by 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2008-2012. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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