Officials from China’s biggest coal consuming province say the region will reduce its coal use by six per cent within five years - according to Chinese media reports.
Shandong, a province of almost 100 million people that sits between Beijing and Shanghai, currently consumes about 340 million tons of coal. Between 2006 and 2011 it’s coal use grew by six per cent.
The move comes after a senior retired Communist official claimed protests over pollution were now the main cause of social unrest in China.
On Monday China launched it’s first large-scale carbon trading scheme in the Shenzhen province. The pilot project could be rolled out to seven areas by 2014.
The Chinese Cabinet recently adopted a range of measures designed to combat air pollution, forcing heavy polluters, such as coal-fired power plants to make their environmental information open to the general public.
Protests
Speaking to the Sina news agency Provincial Development and Reform Commissioner Zhang Feng said Chian “must accelerate the construction of green, low-carbon industrial systems.”
Campaigners claim the moves to cut coal use are partially the result of pressure from local communities on government to act to reduce air pollution.
“It’s a much bigger departure compared to what was set by Kyoto,” said Greenpeace’s Lauri Myllyvirta. “It just shows the importance of domestic pressure is from locals.”
He suggests the province may have moved early to avoid a target being imposed by central government. However, Myllyvirta warned the target was “ambitious” considering Shandong has seen it’s coal use rising.
Pollution
Local concerns focus on air pollution from coal plants. In addition to CO2 emissions the province is also the largest emitter of sulphur dioxide.
US Environmental Protection Agency suggests exposure to SO2 for even short periods of time can lead to several respiratory effects such as bronchoconstriction and increased asthma symptoms.
Ambient fine particulate matter found in the air- minute solid particles and tiny liquid droplets suspended in the air after being emitted by cars and factories - are six times the national average.
