Development of an Energy Conservation Voluntary Agreement, Pilot Project in the Steel Sector in Shandong Province. Project Report to the State Economic and Trade Commission, People's Republic of China

摘要: China faces a significant challenge in the years ahead to continue provide essential materials and products for rapidly-growing economy while addressing pressing environmental concerns. Energy is fundamental element of national conditions its use have direct impact on China's ability reach sustainable development goals. s industrial sector, which accounts over 70 percent nation total energy consumption each year, provides such as steel cement that build nation's roads, bridges, homes, offices other buildings. Industrial include bicycles, cars, buses, trains, ships, office equipment, appliances, furniture, packaging, pharmaceuticals, many components everyday life an increasingly modern society. This vital production products, however, comes with considerable problems. sector heavily dependent country's abundant, yet polluting, coal resources. locally pollutes air emissions particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, uses scarce water oil resources, emits greenhouse gases contributing warming global atmosphere, often produces hazardous polluting wastes. Fostering innovative approaches reduce resources diminish pollution from are tailored emerging market-based one most important challenges facing today. The pressures rapid growth, continued degradation, increased competition create situation calls strategically-planned evolution industries into world-class facilities competitive, energy-efficient less polluting. Such transition requires complete commitment enterprises government work together transform China. Internationally, transformation has been realized number countries using policy mechanism called Voluntary Agreements. Agreements essentially contract between industry, or negotiated targets commitments time schedules part all participating parties. These agreements typically long-term outlook, covering period five ten years, so strategic energy-efficiency investments can be planned implemented. A key they focus attention actors efficiency emission reduction shown result efficiency, more successful programs even doubling autonomous improvement rates. In addition, longer-term impacts including changes attitudes awareness managerial technical staff regarding barriers technology adoption innovation, creating market establish greater potential investments, promoting positive dynamic interactions different involved research development, deployment, facilitating cooperative arrangements learning mechanisms within industry. steps reaching Agreement assessment participants well target-setting through process. Participation by motivated carrots sticks, refers incentives disincentives. Supporting policies (the carrots), enterprise audits, assessments, benchmarking, monitoring, information dissemination, financial play role assisting meeting target Some based some regulations taxes sticks) participants. Overall, international experience shows effective means motivate industry improve related emissions, if implemented comprehensive transparent framework. were chosen State Economic Trade Commission (SETC) new test where movement toward demanding methods supporting transforming enterprises. Analysis various energy-intensive sectors led choice iron pilot project evaluate this concept. SETC chose Jinan Iron Steel Company (Jigang) Laiwu (Laigang) mechanism. Pilot Project developed collaboratively representatives Jigang Laigang, SETC, Shandong (ETC). report then methodologies guidelines developing implementing Conservation two Province.