The Year of the Renewable

China releases energy white paper, plans to boost renewables R&D

Posted at 11:32 AM on 26 Dec 2007

China has released its first-ever white paper on energy policy, stating that the country "attaches great importance to environmental protections and prevention of global climate change" and plans to give "top priority to developing renewable energy" as a long-term pollution solution. That includes wind, solar, natural gas, and nuclear, as well as a continuation of the country's controversial current emphasis on hydroelectric dams. That said, the report noted that China won't be able to wean itself off of its massive coal consumption overnight, and reiterated that the country has no interest in putting strict limits on greenhouse-gas emissions. The report did seek to reassure, however, that China's growing economy and concurrent thirst for oil "did not, does not, and will not pose any threat to the world's energy security."

sources:  China Daily, The Washington Post, Agence France-Presse, Xinhua