Controlling coal consumption as a priority

Recently, the 9th Annual Forum on Climate Change and Energy Sustainable Development across the Taiwan Strait was held in Taiwan. Xie Kechang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized in his special report entitled “China's Atmospheric Pollution and Prevention” that controlling the total energy consumption and the proportion of coal consumption has become a top priority for air pollution prevention and control.

Xie Kechang said that the causes of air pollution in China include many aspects: the industrial structure is heavy, the high energy-consuming and heavy-polluting industries have grown too fast, and fossil energy, especially coal, has long dominated the energy structure; Increased fuel oil quality; large-scale construction projects, large volume of infrastructure projects, and high speed; kitchen equipment technology behind, people are accustomed to frying and stir-fry cooking; current laws lag far behind the needs of air pollution prevention and control, air pollutant emission standards system Without soundness, the emission limits are too loose; illegal and excessive discharges occur from time to time, the illegal costs are too low, and the environmental supervision capacity is limited.

In view of the serious situation of atmospheric pollution, China has been seeking a possible solution. Just recently, the State Council issued the "Air Pollution Prevention Action Plan." This will become a guide for action on air pollution prevention and control throughout the country and in the future.

The “Action Plan” sets the goal of air pollution prevention and control work, that is, after five years of efforts, the air quality in the country has been generally improved, and heavily polluted weather has been greatly reduced; the air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta has improved significantly. Strive to re-use five years or more, gradually eliminate heavy pollution, and the air quality in the country has improved significantly.

However, achieving these goals is not easy.

Xie Kechang believes that it is urgent to strengthen the scientific research and strategic consultation on comprehensive prevention and control of atmospheric pollution, and provide scientific advice and scientific and technological support for the prevention and control of atmospheric pollution.

He explained that the Chinese Academy of Engineering's Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Agriculture is conducting a major consulting project on "China's atmospheric PM2.5 pollution prevention strategies and technical approaches" to systematically analyze the atmospheric PM2.5 concentration and chemical composition characteristics and evolution trends in China. Quantitative analysis of its source and regional transportation mechanism, and proposed a phased atmospheric PM2.5 control objective, emission reduction plan, control technology approach and countermeasures in coordination with regional socio-economic development.

"It is imperative to control the total energy consumption and the proportion of coal consumption." Xie Kechang said.

In 2012, coal consumption in China increased by 2.5% year-on-year, accounting for about 70% of total energy consumption. “Coal is the main source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. If we do not control the proportion of coal, by 2017, coal consumption will increase by about 500 million tons, and the air pollution prevention and control situation will become more severe.” Xie Kechang believes that the adjustment of energy The key is to control the proportion of coal consumption, moderately control the increase in oil consumption, and increase the proportion of non-fossil energy and natural gas.

According to Xie Kechang, promoting the development and utilization of clean energy is an effective measure for air pollution prevention and control. Specifically, it includes: controlling total coal consumption, increasing the proportion of coal for power generation, reducing the proportion of burning coal in furnaces, eliminating the backward production capacity of coal-consuming industries, and developing coal-based methane production; improving the quality of fuel, eliminating yellow-standard vehicles, controlling the growth rate of motor vehicles, and developing Public transportation; increase the supply of natural gas, speed up the development of unconventional natural gas; increase the supply of clean energy, etc.

"This requires the promotion of energy production and consumption." Xie Kechang said.

He also expressed the hope that the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law could be revised as soon as possible and the environmental management system be innovated. “The government must have enough political will to adopt tough policy measures in accordance with the law to avoid ecological disasters.”