Energy Development in the Past Ten Years

1. The Development and Problems of China’s Energy Policy and Law in the Past Ten Years: Some CommentsWANG Xi and LI WeiEnvironmental and Resources Law Institute (ERLI)School of LawShanghai Jiao Tong University

2. Energy Development in the Past Ten Years • Policy goals and Measures of Energy Development in the Past Ten Years • The Construction of the Energy Law in the Past Ten Years • Problems in Implementation of Energy Policy and Law • Conclusion

3. Ⅰ.Energy Development in the Past Ten Years • China is the world's second-largest consumer of oil and projected to move from second largest net importer of oil to the largest in 2014 . • China has built up a comprehensive energy supply system comprising coal, electricity, petroleum, natural gas, and new and renewable energy resources. • Its energy service and civil energy use conditions have markedly improved. • Its energy industry provides a guarantee for the country to reduce poverty, improve the people's livelihood and maintain long-term, steady and rapid economic development.

4. However, China's energy development faces many serious challenges. • The country's energy resource endowment is not high and its per-capita share of coal, petroleum and natural gas is low. • Its energy consumption has grown too quickly in recent years, increasing the strain on energy supply. • Fossil energy resources have been exploited on a large scale, causing a damage to the environment. • To curb excessive consumption of energy resources and achieve the comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development of the economy, society and ecology, China keeps strengthening its efforts in energy conservation and emission reduction, and strives to raise the efficiency of energy utilization.

5. --Remarkable enhancement of energy supply capability and security • --Conspicuous achievements in energy conservation. • -- Rapid development in non-fossil energy. • -- Prominent resources restraint. • -- Low energy efficiency • -- Increasing environmental pressure. • -- Grave challenges to energy security. • -- Reforms called for current systems and mechanisms.

6. II. Policy goals and Measures of Energy Development in the Past Ten Years • It is stipulated that by 2015 non-fossil energy will rise to 11.4 percent in the national total primary energy consumption, energy consumption per unit of GDP will drop by 16 percent from 2010, and CO2 emission per unit of GDP will decrease by 17 percent from 2010. • The Chinese government has made the commitment that by 2020 non-fossil energy will account for 15 percent of its total primary energy consumption, and CO2 emission per unit of GDP will be 40-45 percent lower than in 2005. • As a responsible nation, China will make every effort to fulfill its commitment.

7. China's Energy Policy • --giving priority to conservation • --relying on domestic resources • --encouraging diverse development • --protecting the environment • --promoting scientific and technological innovation • --deepening reform • --expanding international cooperation • --improving the people's livelihood

8. III. The Construction of Energy Law in the Past Ten Years • With the development of China's market-oriented reform, law is playing an increasingly important role in economic, social and political life of China, and energy affairs is no exception. • Electric Power Law (1995) • Coal Law (1996), • Energy Conservation Law (1997), • Renewable Energy Law (2005) • ---- relevant departments of the State are studying and drafting a comprehensive energy law, as well as other specific laws on petroleum, natural gas, nuclear energy, energy utilities, etc. They are also looking into amending the Electric Power Law, the Coal Law, and the Energy Conservation Law,

9. IV. Problems in Implementation of Energy Policy and Law • -- Obstacles in the government's supervisory system and enforcement ability • --The offsetting effect of related policies • --Lack of investment in energy conservation

10. Ⅴ.Conclusion • The above problems challenging China's energy development are a result of the international energy competition, and China's levels of productivity and development, as well as the country's irrational industrial structure and energy mix, extensive development and utilization of energy resources, and sluggish reform of relevant systems and mechanisms. • Therefore, China will vigorously promote the transformation of its energy production and utilization modes, continuously improve its energy policy and law, and strive to achieve a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development of its energy, economy, society and eco-environment.

11. Recently, the President Xi Jinping made a speech on energy policy of China, stating that China will actively promote a revolution in energy production and consumption. • Firstly, to promote energy consumer revolution, curb irrational energy consumption. • Secondly, to promote energy supply revolution, establish multi-supply system. • Thirdly, to promote energy technology revolution. • Fourthly, promote energy system revolution . • Fifthly, strengthen the international cooperation. • The improvement of the legal and policy framework for energy development will no doubt contribute decisively to the victory of this revolution.

12. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION Environmental and Resources Law Institute (ERLI)School of Law Shanghai Jiao Tong Universitywangxi@sjtu.edu.cn wangxi6324@163.comBlog: http://wangxi7701.blog.163.com