Over-enthusiasm responsible for high-energy consumption projects

A nationwide ecological and environmental inspection conducted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment shows that a number of high-energy consumption and high-emissions projects launched in the country run counter to the central government’s green development philosophy and the goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. The ministry has published the results on its official website.

In Yunfu, Guangdong province, for example, the energy requirement for 16 under-construction or planned projects exceeds half of the city’s total energy consumption.

In Shandong province, 114 of 206 projects built after 2018 were in violation of relevant regulations. And in Sichuan, Jilin, Hubei and other provinces, completed projects lacked approval or their environmental monitoring data had been tampered with.

Such projects which do not conform to green norms will not only increase carbon emissions, and put more pressure on environmental protection and ecological conservation work, but also aggravate the contradiction between economic development and ecological and environmental protection and make it difficult to achieve the two carbon goals.

Behind the blind development of such projects is local governments’ eagerness to show “green” results. Some local officials do not even understand the significance of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. Many localities and enterprises have got used to the extensive development mode of the past that came at the cost of the environment.

China has made a solemn commitment to the world that it will achieve the two carbon goals, which will lead to a profound economic and social transformation. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) says that the blind development of high-emission and high-energy consumption projects will be resolutely curbed. And environmental authorities have issued a series of guideline documents in this regard.

Achieving the two carbon goals is a big test of China’s governance capability. So governments at all levels in the country should shoulder their responsibilities by, among other things, strengthening supervision and inspection of projects.

Local officials should understand the new development concept and pursue green, low-carbon development.

The higher authorities should establish working mechanisms for notification and criticism of and early warning on the inappropriate use of energy, and hold local governments and officials who fail to fulfill their responsibilities accountable.