Brussels, 16/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Energy efficiency, clean energies and infrastructure take the lion's share of investment in China's new five-year development plan for 2011 to 2015. European Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, who has just, on behalf of the Commission, presented the EU roadmap for a low-carbon economy by 2050 hailed the plan as “an evident signal of the economic potential of climate action”. The level of ambition of an emerging country banking so heavily on investment in clean technology and energies is all grist to her mill.
In a press release published on Wednesday 16 March, the commissioner says: “By placing energy efficiency and clean energies for the first time at the heart of their economic development, the plan bets heavily on strengthening China's competitive advantage in fields like electric vehicles, renewable energy, smart grids and other low-carbon technologies”. She argues, too, that it is “very encouraging that China has decided to gradually implement a carbon-market mechanism as one key tool for reducing industrial emissions cost-effectively” and intends to engage with her Chinese counterparts in order to further explore their intentions.
“China's clean energy drive proves that in order to keep our leading position in the green growth race, Europe must invest now in clean technologies, better energy infrastructure and research and innovation. This will reduce our energy bill and improve our competitiveness. And as investments will be made in Europe, jobs will be preserved and created in Europe”, the commissioner stated in a word to the wise. (A.N./transl.rt)