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Talking Points on Green Economy in the context of Poverty Eradication and
Sustainable Development
I. In today’s world, green economy has become an important pathway towards
sustainable development. Since the beginning of the 21st century, especially in recent
years, many countries have been keen on developing green industries as a major
means to restructure their economies. In response to the current financial crisis, policy
makers in many countries have given higher priority to “green” concepts and ideas
and adopted “green policies” with a view to promoting long-term development in the
post-crisis era. It is widely recognized that green economy provides opportunities to
improve resource efficiency, reduce pollution, increase market demand and create
new jobs. As such, it represents an important point of convergence between
environmental protection and economic growth.
II. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to developing green economy.
On the basis of its national conditions and by drawing on international experience,
China has identified sustainable development as a national strategy, and made a
strong commitment to building a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society.
China’s National Economic and Social Development Plan 2006-2010 contains
binding targets on energy conservation and efficiency and the reduction of major
pollutants, such as COD (chemical oxygen demand) and NO2. Clear requirements
have also been made with regard to controlling green-house gas emission. Over the
past five years, China has adopted a range of economic, technological, legislative and,
where necessary, administrative measures to develop green economy by strengthening
target-based accountability, adjusting industrial structure, implementing priority
projects, promoting technological advancement, providing stronger policy incentives,
strengthening regulation and mobilizing the general public. Such efforts have
produced significant results. While China’s average GDP growth rate stood at 11.1%
per annum for the past five years, its energy consumption per GDP unit is expected to
drop by 19.1 %, total emission of COD 12.45 %, and NO2 emission 14.29 %. In
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addition, China’s renewable energy consumption has increased from 166 million TCE
(ton of coal equivalent) in 2005 to 300 million TCE in 2009, and its share in our
national energy mix has increased from 7.1 % to 9.4 %.
III. Developing a green economy entails using the idea of green development to
transform the entire process of production, construction, distribution and consumption
as we know it. It is the materialization of a sustainable pattern of consumption and
production. Given the difference in national conditions and stages of development of
different countries , it is na tural that countries have different priorities and models in
developing green economy. This is particularly true for developing countries. Due to
the lack of advanced technologies and financial resources, their priority remains to be
poverty eradication and economic development. Therefore, developing a green
economy is a prolonged, uphill battle. While the developing countries need to work
hard, the developed countries should, on one hand, spearhead green economy and
share successful experience and references with the developing world; and on the
other hand, promote trade liberalization and facilitation as a way to help develop
green economy, set and implement trade policies that encourage green economy, and
provide adequate support to developing countries in terms of finance, technology and
capacity building, so as to help developing countries achieve the transformation
toward a green economy.
IV. In the years to come, China is going to accelerate the transformation of its development
pattern, and redouble its efforts in developing a green economy and build ing a
resource-efficient and environment-friendly society. China will embrace a green and
low -carbon concept of development, fully implement the national strategy of resource
conservation and environmental protection, conserve energy and reduce GHG emissio n
intensity, develop circular economy, promote low-carbon technologies, balance economic
and social development with population growth and resource and environment conservation,
and stay the course of sustainable development. China stands ready to work with the
international community to exchange best practices and discuss major issues such as how
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green economy should relate to economic growth, optimization of economic structure,
employment, poverty reduction, ecology, environmental protection, climate change, trade
and technology transfer. China will join the global efforts to promote the development of
green economy.
