| Pg 2...The new emphasis on renewables, by contrast, is a relief for those who worry about the environmental impact of China's energy consumption. The country is already the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and some Chinese cities have been called "invisible" because they cannot be seen on satellite images. According to the World Bank, China contains 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities. But the Kyoto Protocol came into effect for China last year, aiming to control greenhouse gas emissions. The country's new renewable-energy law specifies tariffs that favor nonfossil energy sources such as wind, water, and solar power. Beijing has promulgated building codes mandating that all new construction dramatically improve energy efficiency. "We need everything--natural gas, nuclear, coal, renewable energy," says Li Junfeng, secretary general of the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association. "But for the long term, renewable is still the most important." |
