Polluters must pay more [ 2007-06-28 15:49 ]
China plans to significantly increase charges on the release of pollutants
and effluents, said Bi Jingquan, vice-minister of the National Development and
Reform Commission.
The move is to push companies to more actively clean
up the environment by imposing greater share of the financial burden, Bi said.
The discharge cost for sewerage will be at least double the current
level of 0.67 yuan per ton, while the charge on sulfur dioxide emissions may also be doubled from
the current 0.63 yuan per ton, Bi told a forum held by the new China Center for
Public Finance, at Peking University.
"There is a desperate need for the
country to instill the principle that those creating pollution must pay the
costs," he said.
In its development plan for the 2006-10 period, China
said it would cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20
percent, or 4 percent each year. It would also cut the release of major
pollutants by 10 percent during that period.
However, energy consumption
fell by just 1.23 percent last year.
"In the first half of this year, we
have not met the set goal (for energy consumption)," Bi said. "The release of
major pollutants has also not significantly declined."
The State
Council, China's Cabinet, set up a special task force this month to press on
with the country's campaign to cut energy consumption and pollutant release.
It has launched a series of energy-saving measures, including a strict
control of the indoor temperature of public buildings and restrictions on
decorative lighting for large buildings.
The Ministry of Construction
said China has built 1.06 billion square meters of energy-efficient buildings,
but they account for only 7 percent of the total floor space of all the existing
buildings in China's urban areas.
Due to structural economic defects,
many of China's industries have been heavy polluters. To improve that scenario,
China has promised to build a society that is environmentally friendly and
efficient in saving energy.
Bi warned that the situation remains severe.
China's major rivers and one-third of its soil have been hit by
acid rain. Waste treatment is also
not effective, Bi said.
China's waste treatment would cost much more if
it were burned, which will require more financial input from the firms, the
official said.
He revealed that the new discharge fees may be combined
with utility bills - companies that do not pay the fees will not be allowed to
use electricity and water supply, for example. He did not disclose when the new
rules might take effect.
Bi suggested that the current environmental
clean-up regime should be reformed by introducing more market mechanisms.
In some places, newly established waste burning facilities cannot find
adequate waste for treatment, because the local environmental protection
department encourages the waste to be transported to landfills that belong to
the government.
Bi also called for a strengthened collection of fees,
which is rather loose at present.
(China Daily 06/27/2007 page 13)
Vocabulary:
sulfur dioxide:二氧化硫
acid rain:酸雨
(英语点津 Linda 编辑)
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from
Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong
and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting
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