BEIJING, CN -- Companies operating in China are to face tough new green legislation after the country's top legislature passed a package of laws designed to underpin the government's climate change strategy.
Over the past year, the Chinese government has set out a range of targets designed to shrug off its tag as the world's largest polluter, including goals to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent, double renewable energy capacity and cut pollution levels 10 percent by 2010 compared to a 2005 baseline.
To support the targets, the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) approved a raft of new regulations on Friday that are designed to curb carbon emissions and promote adoption of clean technologies.
Speaking to the Xinhua news agency, NPC Standing Committee member Ni Yuefeng said the measures are intended to develop a "recycling economy" that could maximize economic efficiency while minimizing energy consumption and emissions.
The new laws were signed by President Hu Jintao and will come into force at the start of next year.
Under their provisions, the government will step up environmental monitoring of carbon-intensive industries such as steel, power generation, oil refinery, construction and printing. Industries will also be required to introduce water-saving technologies and encouraged to switch to cleaner forms of energy, such as natural gas and renewables.
Businesses and government departments will be required to install renewable energy technologies in new buildings, while industrial and rural sectors will be encouraged to make wider use of waste material, ranging from coal mine waste to livestock slurry.
In addition, tax breaks will be introduced on energy efficient and clean technologies, and a number of inefficient products will be banned. Those companies and government departments that use prohibited products will face fines of 50,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan
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(about $7,313 to $29,250 U.S.).
Government departments will also be required to develop their own plans for promoting energy efficiency and recycling, and stimulate investment in clean technologies.
Xinhua said that there were signs the government's climate change efforts were already working, citing official figures that show energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan of GDP fell 3.66 percent in 2007 to 1.16 tonnes of coal equivalent.
However, it also noted that the average energy use per unit of production for carbon intensive industries was still on average 20 percent higher than in developed economies.
The new legislation is likely to have a major impact on Western firms many of whom have exported their carbon intensive operations to China over the past two decades.
According to research from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, a third of Chinese emissions are the direct result of the manufacture of products and services that are exported, primarily to Western markets.
Time for a real change
Asymmetric design, electro-engine, bio-degradable car body – the Italian research car is a compact car that may redefine the vehicle market of the near future
If the people in response of the project are telling the truth, the future will belong to Phylla, an innovative Italian eco-car. The small car will be driven by electric power, and will be “ten times cheaper than a current fossil-fuel driven car”, says Nervio Di Gusto the man in charge of Fiat’s new development.
The development center of the Italian car manufacturer has coordinated the effort in concert with the polytechnic institute, the Turin chamber of commerce, the European Design Institute, the bio-energy producer Novamont as well as the provincial government of Piemont. The latter aided financing the project with around 1,2 million Euro.
The result of this concerted effort is a car that is 2,99 meters short, and weighs 750 kilograms. It is a quiet, clean and efficient four-seater, that is claimed to become more versatile than other contemporary small cars. Apart from that, the Phylla – the word derives from Greek and means leaf – was conceptualized to be completely bio-degradable. The car body that is put onto an aluminum frame could be composted, because it is made from recyclable material.
The “multi-organic city-car”, as is the current description of the car, is still more of a mobile lab. The drive systems and components have not been identified as yet. However, one thing is for sure: The Phylla is going to be a carbon neutral vehicle propelled by an electric engine. It is planned to use either Lithium-Ion-Batteries (range 145 km), or Lithium-Polymer-Batteries (range 220km). It could also be a hydrogen powered engine or a small fuel cell that could generate the torque of the Phylla.
Regardless of engine choice, the Phylla will be equipped with Photovoltaics on the roof that will create the necessary electricity for the battery. On average, the developers estimate that the Phylla will be able to generate enough electricity from its solar power to drive between 12 and 18 kilometers. So for people who only use their cars to go and back from work, any expenses or fuel would be unnecessary.
In terms of operation, the Phylla can easily compete with other contemporary small cars. It takes six seconds to accelerate from 0 to 50 Km/h, and reaches a maximum speed of around 130 km/h. The flexibility of the concept is even more impressive. The car will have a very special architecture that allows a conversion of passenger compartment and chassis-frame into either a pick-up, small transporter, or a vehicle for disabled.
At present level of design and development, the Phylla will first be tested on the Casalle Airport of Turin. If all goes well during this testing , a series production of the vehicle could begin as soon as 2010. Due to the modular construction of the car, and the use of high-end manufacturing, the Phylla may become not only an innovative zero-emission car, but may also prove to be comparably cheap. All in all a combination that promises financial and environmental success.
SOLAR POWER
Thai engineers will develop their own solar vehicle. Source: The Nation
Thai engineers will develop their own solar vehicle and send it to the United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen next year, having been inspired by Louis Palmer, known as "Mr Solar Taxi".
Kasetsart University's (KU) president Vudtechai Kapila-kanchana said KU would fund its solar technologists to develop the solar taxi, worth around Bt400,000.
"Palmer invited us to join his solar car campaign in Copenhagen. We have accepted the invitation." Vudtechai said
"Technologically, we are ready to develop the solar taxi prototype and Palmer has agreed to support us," Nontawat Junjareon, dean of the Engineering Department, said.
If they succeed, Thailand will be among the first five countries to join his Copenhagen campaign, Palmer said. The other four are the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
The Swiss-born Palmer is driving around the world without using a single drop of petrol. He reached Bangkok yesterday, halfway through his "Swiss Solar Taxi on World Tour". He started in July 2007.
"I want to tell the world that we can stop global warming and that solutions are available," Palmer said.
In 2004, he gave up his teaching career to design a solar vehicle and asked for help from experts as well as support from private companies.
He called his solar vehicle a 'taxi' as it has an extra seat for a passenger. Over 400 people had experienced a ride including the Prince of Jordan and Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett. Palmer aims to have travel over 40,000 km through 40 countries in five continents to lecture 40,000 people on his world trip.
"Response along the way has been incredible, especially in Thailand," Palmer said.
"I hope I can make people realise that it is not technology that makes solar an option, but political will and pubic awareness," he added.
Today, Palmer will exhibit his solar taxi at Central World Plaza, in Bangkok.
