Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
To implement such an ambitions change, vari-
ous key areas and tasks are identified. The most
prominent issue is emission control, especially the
reduction of urban air pollution. To achieve this
goal, the re-location of major urban air polluters
will be accelerated, in addition of increasing the
quantity of renewable and clean energy in the
urban energy mix. Besides, there is also a specific
focus on the issue of energy efficiency and on
energy saving (The National Eleventh FYP for
Environmental Protection 2006-2010). Among
the more specific targets to be reached by 2010
are: 10% reduction of SO2 emissions by focusing
on the construction of desulphurization facilities
of thermal power plants, to halt the increase of
acid rain; re-cycling of up to 60% of all indus-
trial solid waste; as well as the above mentioned
enhancement of the management capacities of
environmental law enforcement teams at various
territorial levels (The National Eleventh FYP for
Environmental Protection 2006-2010). The Chi-
nese leadership also emphasizes that technological
innovations play an important role in addressing
the environmental issue. Consequently, promot-
ing environmentally related scientific research
and development in addition to promoting the
growth of the environmental protection industry
represents further critical aspects in addressing
the environmental issue (The National Eleventh
FYP for Environmental Protection 2006-2010).
In addition, as highlighted by Xiaomei Tan and
Zhao Gang, China's 'Medium-to-Long-Term Sci-
ence and Technology National Plan' announced
in 2006 also gives priority to the development of
technologies related to energy, water resources
and environmental protection, as does the National
11 th Five-Year Development Plan of Science and
Technology, by identifying four energy and envi-
ronmental related technological priorities, among
them: hydrogen and fuel cell, energy efficiency,
clean coal and renewable energy (Xiaomei Tan and
Zhao Gang, 2009). The 11 th FYP on Environmental
Protection also indicates a strong commitment for
Regarding the potential of renewable-energy and
the related technologies, Cook and Boes emphasize
that renewable-energy resources could not only
soon meet the world's energy demand, but as
renewable-energy resources are available around
the globe, this would also reduce the geopolitical
implications of energy security (Cook and Boes,
2005, pp. 127-144). It is worth noting that, adapt-
ing and fostering the development of renewable
energy resources represents as much a political-
economic issue as it presents a technological
challenge. As highlighted by Rock, a cleaner
production process requires a specific production
and technological know-how or a specific level
of technical experience which may not always
be available to developing countries, or lesser
developed countries (Rock, 2002, pp.164-5).
This can also limit the ability of adapting a more
environmental friendly economic development
strategy. Nonetheless, as emphasized by Cook
and Boes, renewable energy resources are par-
ticularly successful in offsetting greenhouse gas
emissions, albeit the specific level of offsetting
depends primarily on the type of energy produc-
tion they replace (Cook and Boes, 2005, p.142).
Hence, replacing China's overwhelmingly coal
based energy production, partially or entirely with
renewable energy resources, would certainly have
a fundamental impact in the reduction of green-
house gas emissions with positive implications not
only for the domestic situation in China but for
climate change as well. Albeit these are encourag-
ing signs, we may be rather cautious when overly
anticipating future research results, as there is no
guarantee that new discoveries will be achieved.
However, as Cook and Boes emphasize, there can
be serious gains made in both new developments
as well as in increasing the economic viability of
an existing technology. They note for example, that
advances made in photovoltaic technology over
the last twenty years made the equivalent technol-
ogy of the 1980s appear limited and primitive. In
addition, improved manufacturing technologies
were also instrumental in reducing the costs as-
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