Archive for 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

China’s New National Energy Commission: Policy Implications

Abstract On 27 January 2010, China announced the establishment of a new institution under the State Council—the National Energy Commission. The institution is like a cabinet within the Cabinet. Premier Wen Jiabao is chairman, Vice Premier Li Keqiang is vice chairman, and a number of leaders from relevant ministries and commissions as well as the military are members. China had a National Energy Commission three decades ago, headed by two vice premiers. The two institutions, however, are not comparable. The old institution was a stand-alone ministry, with a rank of vice premier, while the new institution is a mini-cabinet by itself. The National Energy Commission is housed in the State Council. Out of 27 ministers, 12 are on board in the newly established National Energy Commission. Most notably, ministers of Foreign Affairs, State Security, Finance, Environmental Protection, Commerce, Land and Resources, and Water Resources are among the 21 members. Moreover, the military is also represented. The establishment of such a super-ministry at this time reflects Chinese leaders’ concern for energy efficiency, energy security, and environmental protection. By establishing this super-ministry, China’s leadership attempts to better coordinate energy policy in order to get intra-agency cooperation on strategic initiatives on carbon emission reduction and energy efficiency improvement. The National Energy Commission is tasked to produce China’s energy development strategy, review issues of energy security and development, and coordinate domestic energy exploration and international energy cooperation.
Date 2010 02 05
Author Bo Zhiyue
Publisher East Asian Institute
Link http://www.eai.nus.edu.sg/BB504.pdf
Series EAI Background Brief No. 504
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1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

Special Energy and Climate Issue

Abstract China’s success in promoting clean energy technology has been a hot story over the past year as the China Environment Forum team pulled together this special Energy and Climate issue of the China Environment Series. We ambitiously aimed to create; and hope our readers think we succeeded;in creating an issue that takes a snapshot of major energy trends in China and understand some of the complexities in the U.S.-China energy and climate relations. This eleventh issue is our biggest yet, due not just to our inability to say no to so many great paper proposals, but also because of the dynamism in clean energy developments in China and many exciting developments in U.S.-China energy cooperation;in both government, NGO, and business spheres. We hope you enjoy this issue! This special Energy and Climate issue was made possible through a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, as well as support from the Blue Moon Fund, USAID, Vermont Law School, Western Kentucky University, and the ENVIRON Foundation
Author Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, China Environment Series, Issue 11, 2010/2011
Publisher
Link http://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/china-environment-series-1120102011
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

Testimony Before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China: Measuring, Monitoring, and Reporting Energy and Climate Data

Abstract Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the deliberations of this Commission. My name is Deborah Seligsohn, and I am Senior Advisor to the China Climate and Energy Program at the World Resources Institute. The World Resources Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan environmental think tank that goes beyond research to provide practical solutions to the world’s most urgent environment and development challenges. We work in partnership with scientists, businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations in more than seventy countries to provide information, tools and analysis to address problems like climate change, the degradation of ecosystems and their capacity to provide for human well-being. I am delighted to speak with you today about China’s systems for measuring, monitoring, and reporting energy and climate data, how these systems have been implemented and the opportunities for continuing to build capacity and improve these systems
Author World Resources Institute; Deborah Seligsohn; April 1, 2010
Publisher
Link http://www.chinafaqs.org/files/chinainfo/deborah_seligsohn_testimony_4-1-10.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

Understanding Energy in China: Geographies of Energy Efficiency

Abstract Geographies of Energy Efficiencies is APERC’s second phase energy project on ‘Understanding Energy in China’. The first part of this report identified energy efficiency and conservation as a priority of China’s national energy policy. Our objective here has been to explore how China is pursuing energy efficiency and conservation and to what result. This report provides information on the implementation of China’s energy efficiency and conservation policies that we expect will be of interest to both Chinese and international audiences. This work is published by the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre as an independent study and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the APEC Energy Working Group, individual member economies, or other contributors. We hope that it will serve as a useful basis for discussion and analysis both within and among APEC member economies for the enhancement of energy security, the promotion of regional cooperation, and in furthering sustainable development.
Author APERC Report (Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre), Mardrianto Kadri – APERC Senior Researcher, APERC Workshop, Bali, Indonesia, 16 November 2009
Publisher
Link The full report can be found here http://aperc.ieej.or.jp/file/2010/9/26/APERC_China_2009_rev.pdf

The summary can be found here http://aperc.ieej.or.jp/file/2010/9/26/4_China_06_EWG38.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

China’s Energy Challenge: Setting the Scene

Abstract David Victor looks at the difficult road ahead for China’s “green” growth. China is poised to continue to be the world leader in coal generated energy for the foreseeable future.
Author Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, David Victor, January 2009
Publisher
Link http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/22382/_China_energy_and_environment_FACES.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

Climate and Energy Policy in the People’s Republic of China: An Overview Concerning Chinese Domestic Laws, and the Instruments and Measures of Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract This paper aims to summarize China’s policies and measures to address Climate Change, and to introduce major determinants and consequences of that policy, as well as the actors involved in the policy process. An overview of sector-based mitigation policies is also given. The report is focused on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies, as these involve major mitigation strategies and embrace many of the key components aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Author Heinrich Boell Stiftung, China, Dirk Rommeney, June 2008
Publisher
Link http://www.cn.boell.org/downloads/HBF_China_Climate_Policy.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

Growing Chinese Energy Demand

Abstract Only a few years ago Chinese government leaders were optimistic that their country could quadruple its GDP between 2000 and 2020 while only doubling energy consumption. For any other developing country this would be considered an unrealistic goal, as energy consumption during development tends to grow as fast as or even faster than GDP. Yet, China had quadrupled GDP while only doubling energy use from 1980 through 2000, so government officials reasoned they could do it again. However, China is already off track in meeting its 2000-2020 energy consumption goals, and the country is now at a point where it will be nearly impossible to prevent energy consumption from more than doubling. Energy use, instead of growing half as fast as GDP, has grown notably faster than GDP on average since 2000. Notwithstanding, China s government, as well as major energy statistics agencies including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), have been so captivated by the original, optimistic story line that their forecasts have not caught up to the reality of what is happening in China. In this report, the authors examine the period from 1980 through 2000 and explain why it was unusual for the Chinese energy industry. Then, they look at the changes in China since 2000, including in the critical electric power generating sector. Using a simple thought experiment, they illustrate that even with very conservative assumptions about Chinese GDP growth and income elasticity of electricity demand out to 2025, the country will experience much higher coal demand and emit much greater volumes of carbon emissions than forecast by IEA and DOE. This leads to some final thoughts on the implications of future Chinese energy demand on global energy markets.
Author Center for Strategic and International Studies, James P. Dorian and Malcolm Shealy, 2007
Publisher
Link http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/071211-shealy-growingchineseenergy-web.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

China Energy – A Guide For the Perplexed

Abstract The purpose of this policy analysis is to make visible the internal dynamics of the Chinese energy situation, which most observers glimpse only second hand as the impact of demand on world markets, the behavior of Chinese firms abroad and the effect of Chinese emissions on the global environment. Our hope in doing so is to facilitate energy policy cooperation between China and other countries, more rational conception of and reaction to China’s energy behavior by markets and governments, and more effective prioritization of the energy reform agenda in China, the United States, and elsewhere.
Author Trevor Houser; Daniel H. Rosen; May 2007
Publisher
Link http://www.iie.com/publications/papers/rosen0507.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable China Energy Outlook

Abstract The report “Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable China Energy Outlook” is part of the global study “Energy [R]evolution” , produced by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC). According to this report, China can achieve rapid economic growth without jeopardising the climate, through the use of renewable energy, combined with energy efficiency.
Author Greenpeace, 2007
Publisher
Link http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/Global/eastasia/publications/reports/climate-energy/2007/energy-revolution-sustainable-china-energy-outlook.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers

Innovation in China’s Energy Sector

Abstract The performance of China’s national system of innovation has improved since reforms began in 1978, but reform impact by sector is not well characterized. This case study identifies factors affecting patterns of technological innovation and adoption in eight industries in China’s energy sector (coal, oil and non-conventional hydrocarbons, natural gas, nuclear power, electric power, renewable sources, automobiles, and motor systems).Innovation performance is strongest in industries that have experienced institutional transformation and growing market competition, whereas in industries where the pre-reform legacy of central control, weak intellectual property protection, and low levels of corporate R&D persists, innovation is lagging. Government initiatives to mitigate urban air pollution by strengthening environmental regulations and reduce dependence on imported oil by funding alternatives are also influencing innovation patterns. Based on current performance of the innovation system and examples of collaboration in the energy sector, China’s ability to be a productive partner in international collaborative R&D efforts depends on the participation of local developers, domestic policy support for collaboration, and the strength of China’s own R&D enterprise
Author Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, Working Paper #61, Valerie Karplus, March 2007
Publisher
Link http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/21519/WP61__Karplus_China__Innovations.pdf
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1 Energy and Climate, 1.1 General Energy Concerns, 1.1.3 International and Foreign Think-tanks, Research Institutes, NGOs and Individual Researchers