China Treats Sustainability and Economic Growth as Complementary, Not Conflicting, Goals: Jones Lang LaSalle Report
China’s new five-year plan sets goals for GHG reduction, water efficiency and renewable energy as well as GDP growth; details in Jones Lang LaSalle’s Global Sustainability Perspective
(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) February 20, 2012 - When a surge of manufacturing production in China resulted in greenhouse gas emissions in excess of what the country’s five-year plan called for, the Chinese government in 2010 cut off power to heavy industrial districts, forcing many plants to close temporarily. The dramatic move—unthinkable in most industrialized countries—demonstrated that, in China, sustainability goals are no less important than economic growth goals.
A new report by Jones Lang LaSalle discusses the increasing role of sustainability criteria in China’s five-year planning process, starting with the plan issued in 2006 and continuing to the current plan issued in 2011. Developed by Jones Lang LaSalle professionals working in Greater China, the report discusses how China views sustainability as not just an environmental necessity, but one of the most viable paths to business growth.
As the world’s largest nation—soon to have the world’s largest economy—China’s approach to sustainability and GDP growth is of interest to business professionals around the world. The country’s leaders have issued a five-year plan (FYP) every half-decade since 1951, and have consistently followed through on each plan. The 2006 FYP was the first to address sustainability, setting goals for energy use per unit of GDP, water use per unit of value-added industrial output and sulfur dioxide emissions. China exceeded all of those targets except one, achieving 19.1 of a mandated 20 percent reduction in the energy/GDP goal.
The 2011 FYP establishes new metrics for improvement on existing criteria, and adds new environmental goals, including:-
Reduction in energy use per unit of GDP: 16%
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Reduction of carbon emissions per unit of GDP: 17%
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Reduction of water use per unit of value-added industrial output: 30%
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Share of non-fossil fuel in primary energy consumption: 11.4%
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Strategic emerging industries as percentage of overall GDP: 8%
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