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Even before China's commitment to carbon neutrality and peak in September 2020, many programs had been implemented to save energy. One such program was the "Action Plan for Energy Conservation and Low-Carbon for Ten Thousand Enterprises" (hereafter Top-10,000 Enterprises Energy-Saving Program, or Top-10,000 Program, or Program) launched in 2011, which targets high energy users. The official assessment of this program, which began during China's 12th Five Year Plan period (2011–2015), claimed that it had achieved its goals. However, there has been no precise measurement of how much it has contributed to China's total energy conservation achievements and how enterprises responded to it. Employing the regression discontinuity design approach and Chinese taxation survey data, this study represents a pioneering attempt to assess the energy savings resulting from this program. Our study estimates that this program accounted for an average of 5.8% of nationwide energy savings. The primary methods employed by enterprises to save energy were enhancing energy efficiency and dynamically adjusting production scale. The results of our study suggest that regulatory environmental policies should not be hindered by short-term scale effects. Instead, further innovations are required to minimize the cost of energy savings. • The energy saving effect of China's Top-10,000 program is quantified • Utilization of a vast firm-level dataset employing regression discontinuity design • A pioneering assessment of the energy savings achieved through the Top-10,000 Program • Firms reduce production scale in the short-term responding to energy-saving policies • Firms expand production scale in the long-run reacting to energy-saving policies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, China enacted its "most stringent command-and-control" directive for regulating air pollution in major Chinese cities as part of the initiative to achieve the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan established by the government. This study explored the directive's effects on the public's risk perceptions of haze in the country. Specifically, we identified public views regarding haze-related risks, the factors that influence their perceptions, and the changes in such perceptions by administering questionnaires to residents of implementation and non-implementation areas in Tianjin City before and after six months–regulation application in the metropolis. The panel data obtained from the survey were then subjected to difference-in-differences analysis. Surprisingly, the analysis showed that the directive significantly reduced the public's perceptions of risk, even when we controlled for factors related to knowledge, attitudes, health conditions, and expectations from government governance of air pollution. This finding suggested that the evaluation of other control measures that prohibit all construction-related activities during winter and the subsequent formulation of optimal solution and clarification as to what constitutes sustainable energy usage. The external costs of such use should be considered in policy making. • Haze persists in the Beijing–Tianjing–Hebei region. • Urban and rural areas had nearly parallel risk perceptions before regulations. • The public prioritizes the short-term effects of regulation over its sustainability. • The regulation significantly reduced the public's risk perceptions of haze. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is now a part of daily life. When this equipment becomes waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE or E-waste), however, it needs to be properly processed, for use as a source of materials for future production and renewable energy, and to minimize both the exploitation of raw materials and the deleterious effects on both the environment and human health. A large quantity of e-waste is generated in both India and China, and both countries still suffer from an entrenched informal e-waste processing sector. Consequently, valuable materials in e-waste are disposed in open land, rather than being properly extracted for reuse and recycling. In this article we note that the major portion of e-waste in China and India is collected by the informal sector and treated with primitive methods. Additionally, illegal shifting agents also play a role by mislabeling e-waste and exporting them to developing countries. This article proposes that: the implementation of e-waste management laws and policies for proper e-waste collection, treatment and recycling, better educate consumers on the dangers of e-waste contamination, restrict the illegal movement of e-waste across borders, and support the development of a formal, regulated e-waste processing industry by funding incentive programs constructing recycling infrastructure. These measures should increase the recycling capacity and decrease the amount of WEEE contaminating the environment and endangering human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural household energy consumption is an important component of national energy consumption and plays an important role in rural social and ecological environment developments. In this paper, energy consumption of 1440 households in 8 typical counties of 8 China's economic zones was investigated. The investigation data analysis revealed significant difference of different economic zones in rural household energy consumption level and structure. For 8 studying counties, the annual average energy consumption per capita was 26.7 GJ, 10.4 GJ the lowest (Shanghang County) and 86.6 GJ the highest (Shulan County). In energy consumption, straw, biogas, fuel wood and electricity accounted for 44.33%, 23.13%, 12.79% and 9.61%, respectively. Rural families with high incomes preferred commercial energies (e.g. electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)) to biomass energy (e.g. straw and fuel wood). The traditional biomass energy is still the main energy source for China's rural household. Research results provide references to understand current situations and future development of China's rural household energy consumption, and formulate related energy and environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constrained by the dual mission of supporting industrial growth and reducing emissions, China׳s traditional, emission reduction-oriented environmental policies unavoidably face a dilemma. This study adopts the GML index to calculate China׳s industrial productivity by considering environmental factors. In addition, based on the assumption of industry heterogeneity, the author examines the non-linear relationship between China׳s environmental regulation and environmental productivity and calculated the optimal regulation environment for industries. According to this study, when impact of undesirable outputs (pollutant emissions) is considered, environmental regulation and environmental productivity are positively correlated, which to some degree validates the Porter Hypothesis. At present, environmental regulation has significant positive effects on clean production industries but shows a lag effect on pollution-intensive industries. The degree of environmental regulation and environmental productivity show an “inverted U”-shaped relation and display three thresholds. It should be noted, however, that the relationship between regulation and productivity may vary across industries. These findings have clear policy implications: rather than continually increasing the level of environmental regulation, the government should establish standards for individual industries that emphasize flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study measures the liquidity and volatility of the operation of the carbon trading and energy markets using liquidity ratio indicators and log return indicators. It adopts China's carbon trading and energy markets as the research objects, and evaluates the mean spillover effects and volatility spillover effects between the two using the vector autoregression (VAR) model and the BEKK-MGARCH model. The findings indicate that: (1) The liquidity of China's carbon trading market is better than that of the energy market. The average liquidity ratio of the Hubei and Shenzhen carbon trading markets is much lower than that of the coal market, 43016.131. It may be attributed to the fact that China's carbon trading market is currently small and easy to regulate. (2) The volatility of both the Chinese carbon trading market and energy market is small, and the absolute values of the mean log return rate are close to 0. It could be because China's carbon trading market is mainly distributed through free quota allocation, while the energy market has been mature and stable for many years. (3) There is a spillover effect between the carbon trading and energy markets in some parts of China, but the direction and degree of spillover effect vary, which may be due to differences in the economic development level, energy consumption structure, and environmental policies of each pilot carbon trading region. (4) The spillover effect between the two markets is stronger, perhaps due to China's current model of using coal as the main fuel. [Display omitted] • Use the VAR and BEKK-MGARCH models to evaluate the spillover effect. • The liquidity of China's carbon trading market is better than the energy market. • The volatility of both the Chinese carbon trading and energy markets is small. • Spillover effects exist between China's carbon trading and energy markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of China׳s installed wind power capacity in recent years is closely related to the wind energy policies issued by the Chinese government. Using content analysis and quantitative analysis methods, this paper studies the historical evolution of Chinese wind energy policies. Based on 72 wind energy policies issued in the past two decades (1995–2014), this paper analyzes the issuing organization, form, number and stringency of wind energy policies and compares different policy instruments in two periods. The results show that the number and stringency of wind energy policies fluctuated greatly from 1995 to 2014 and that more than twenty organizations had independently or jointly issued the policies. The main organization issuing wind energy policies, however, is the department that controls key economic and administrative resources and not the one that is in charge of wind energy. Of the 72 policies issued, twenty-three took the form of notices, and eleven were measures. As to the policy instrument, environmental policies are most widely applied by the Chinese government, and “regulation control” and “goal-planning” instruments are the ones most frequently adopted. Furthermore, the application of supply- and demand-type policies is inadequate, and few effective instruments have been adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the competitive uses of straw resources as substitutes for fertilizer nutrients, forage and fossil energy is critical to maximize the mitigation of climate change. Focusing on the mitigation of global warming, we developed an uncertainty model for the optimal use of straw in China based on available studies of life-cycle assessment that have determined the advantages of energy savings and reductions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) of 14 conversion technologies. The current pattern of straw use has saved China 0.75 EJ of energy and has reduced GHGs by 270.76 Mt CO 2 e on average annually. Among all competitive uses, the use of straw as forage was most environmental friendly, followed by the uses of straw as alternative sources of nutrients and energy. Simulated scenarios for policies of competing straw uses suggested that joint decision-making among administrative departments was vital to maximize the national mitigation of global warming (i.e. 1.84–2.26 EJ of energy saved or reductions of GHGs of 464.89–568.61 Mt CO 2 e annually) by considering all straw uses comprehensively instead of overemphasizing a single use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global attention and continuous investment in the field of clean energy and carbon emission reduction, the renewable energy occupies an increasingly large proportion in the power system. China, as the world׳s fastest developing country, the development of renewable energy becomes an inevitable path in the context of low-carbon economy. However, due to the intermittent and stochastic property of renewable energy, the renewable energy system cannot be widely used without the configuration of energy storage system. The aforementioned requirement precipitates the industrial application of energy storage technology becomes increasingly urgent. However, according to the present status of energy storage industry in China, there are enormous difficulties to be overcome promptly. In this work, the development status of China׳s energy storage industry is analyzed from the perspectives of technology, application and policy, by referring to a large number of statistical literatures. Subsequently, the existing problems are categorized in terms of technology, cost, promotion, policy mechanisms. In the end, suggestions to solve the above problems are put forward, aiming at facilitating the rapid development of energy storage industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical energy consumption is expected to increase in Malaysia, and illumination is the second largest electric power consumption in Malaysia. Remarkably, the majority of residential illumination is carried out with incandescent lamps which consume a high level of energy in comparison with recent high efficient technologies. Light Emitting Diodes (LED) could possibly be an option to replace incandescent lamps and even fluorescent lamps (FL). This paper outlines the overview of Malaysia׳ energy sector, policy and programs; and calculate possible savings in terms of energy, costs and environmental emissions by using LED lamps in Malaysia. Despite the capital cost of energy-efficient LED lamps, the use of LEDs might make economic sense for households due to the reduction in operational energy (OE) in certain stage. By replacement of incandescent with LED, a significant reduction in annual energy use, electricity bill, CO 2 and other greenhouse gas emission in terms of lighting can be accomplished by each household in Malaysia. It is also suggested that the governments׳ financial support and regulations assist in adopting this energy-efficient technology more rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past several years, the biomass power generation industry in China has witnessed notably rapid development. However, many biomass power generation manufacturers in China are currently making small profits or suffering losses, and the entire biomass supply chain does not function well, which not only poses a challenge for the stable operation of enterprises but also may impact the smooth development of the biomass power industry. From the perspective of supply chain risk, this paper explores the reasons for the current plight and the future obstacles that the Chinese biomass power generation industry may face. Identifying such risks as market risk, production risk, technology risk, economic risk and management risk in the upstream, midstream and downstream of the biomass supply chain and ordering the degrees of risk controllability by the government and enterprises, it is determined that joint effort by both the Chinese Government and the biomass power generation enterprises is an ideal choice for risk control coming out of the plight. However, at present, more problems should go to the government for solutions than to the enterprises. To guide the healthy development of the industry, the Chinese government should play a more prominent role in promulgating supporting policies in each stage of the supply chain and strengthening the supervision and control of biomass projects. Last, specific measures taken by the Chinese Government and the enterprises are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because China has emerged as the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter in total annual emissions, to accelerate the pace of GHG emission reduction in China is important to the success of global efforts in addressing climate change. Carbon trading is a market mechanism and key instrument in the mitigation of climate change. This paper explores the policy process and development state to date of China׳s carbon-trade market to understand the emergence and development of that market and to understand what barriers are hampering China׳s carbon-trade market development. To achieve this goal, this paper introduces and analyzes China׳s status in the international market, examines the factors driving carbon-market launching by the Chinese government, and traces the development of mandatory carbon-emission trading and voluntary emission trading. It is argued that China׳s carbon-trading market is confronted with challenges such as the absence of a functional carbon-trading market, inaccuracy of the quota allocation, an imperfect trading mechanism, and lagging legislation. At the present stage, shortcomings such as having no real-time carbon price and dominated spot transactions differentiate China׳s trade market substantially from a functional system. A quick market integration of China׳s carbon market appears remote. It is suggested that specific measures be taken to promote the development of the Chinese carbon-trading market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, China has witnessed substantial progress in urbanization and industrialization and has become the manufacturing center of the world, but has suffered from severe environmental deterioration, especially air pollution. National and provincial governments have adopted a series of policy tools aiming at energy conservation and emission reduction, varying from energy saving regulations to cleaner production policies. This paper investigates provincial energy saving and emission reduction policies by evaluating their effectiveness on local air pollution control. Relying on a panel data regression analysis on a sample of 26 provinces and four centrally-controlled municipalities over a ten-year period from 2002 to 2011, we find empirical support for the positive impacts of provincial energy saving regulations and two environmental standards on the improvement of local air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper examines the development of policy instruments that support the low-carbon governance in China. The instruments are analysed in five aspects in relation to the key policies in low-carbon governance in China, including: energy conservation, developing new energy, reforestry, developing circular economy, and industry restructuring. Each aspect is discussed in three instrument groups which are (1) law and regulations, (2) industry standard and (3) finance and taxation. This research suggests that law enforcement for the new established laws should be further strengthened and stricter supervision systems should be in place to safeguard effective implementation of low carbon policies, measures and standards, especially for those energy condensed sectors. More rigorous industry standards regarding energy efficiency should be considered to help eliminate outdated equipments in industries and promote the introduction of more climate-friendly technologies. The industrial standards should be given strong legal support in accountability, in order to enforce their complete application once in operation. New policies and instruments need to be introduced in order to reduce carbon print by landfill. The backward law and industrial standards in China should be upgraded more regularly, therefore to support the low carbon development strategy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nowadays, one of the urgent issues regarding global climate change is to discuss the future of the second period of the Kyoto Protocol. However, the divergence of views and opinions among parties in the last Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Durban in December 2011, is still large. One of the bones of contention is whether the emerging developing countries, like China, should make commitments and legally bind themselves to a Green House Gas (GHG) reduction target in near future. As the largest GHG emitting country, China and its energy and climate policies will play an important role in global climate change and will also significantly influence the other countries’ policies and the global climate negotiation. In this paper, we review the current differences among parties in the Durban Conference, and we analyze the recent situation, barriers, and future policies in China. Finally we highlight the impact and potential effect of Clean Development Mechanisms in avoiding China''s barriers regarding climate change. Results show that China is making a great effort to mitigate climate change by establishing and reforming its energy and climate policies in order to achieve a low-carbon development. At the same time, more innovation and international collaboration is needed in China to achieve this goal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Great pressure to curb carbon emission and increased need for energy have forced China to develop an “energy saving and emission reduction” (ESER) plan. ESER has become China''s basic national policy, and a guideline for China''s energy and environmental issues during the 11th Five-Years Plan (2006–2010). ESER represents a recalibration of China''s economic model, moving away from growth-at-all-cost in favor of a more “balanced and sustainable” output. In 2007, China''s GDP grew by 11.4%, but emission of COD and SO2 decreased by 3.14% and 4.66% respectively compared to 2006, energy consumption for each unit of GDP declined by 3.27% also compared to 2006. ESER is also the engine behind reform of China''s traditional administrative system which has always favored economic growth over environmental protection. The ESER accountability system sets green efforts as a decisive factor in determining the career prospects of local leaders. Also, China''s State Environmental Protection Agency has been upgraded to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, gaining cabinet status for the first time. A greener future relative to the previous three decades can be anticipated with confidence for China provided that the best practices enunciated by ESER are taken to heart by policymakers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The current situation of China's coal chemical industry faces many problems: 1) This industry causes environmental pollution; 2) employs inadequate environmental management system, wastewater pollution control standards, and energy consumption standards; 3) lacks environmental standards applicable to the coal chemical industry; 4) suffers from poor implementation of technical standards for coal use; 5) and lacks top-level design of a high salinity wastewater standard. A modern coal chemical industry demonstration area should be established to promote industrial agglomeration and development. Therefore, several suggestions are put forward to promote the modernization of the coal chemical industry: 1) The responsibilities, supervision tasks, scope, and implementation rules of local environmental law enforcement and supervision agencies should be improved and clarified at all levels; consequently, law enforcement and supervision work would be backed up by relevant laws. 2) To decrease the treatment cost of highly saline wastewater, a corresponding subsidy scheme should be formulated. 3) Research on the top-level design of the standard system for saline wastewater should be accelerated to standardize the treatment of saline wastewater. 4) Coal chemical enterprises should integrate environmental management into their daily production management system, constantly improve their management level, and reduce pollution generation and emission. 5) Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the recycling of wastes and both the separation and recovery of valuable resources as part of the treatment of wastewater from the coal chemical industry. 6) Moreover, economic policies can be used because economic leverage may be more effective than administrative orders or even regulations. 7) Finally, cooperation should be increased to promote the "green development, circular development, and low-carbon development" of the modern coal chemical industry. [Display omitted] • Blind development of coal chemical industry causes environmental problems. • "Pithead layout" leads to the prominent contradictions between the source and environment. • The environmental law enforcement and supervision system should be improved. • Disposal of high salt wastewater should be incorporated into the management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]