Energy Efficiency Conference in Guangzhou Provides

UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000663 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM AND EB BANGKOK FOR USAID USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG PGOV PREL CH SUBJECT: Energy Efficiency Conference in Guangzhou Provides Forum for Frank and Open Dialogue ¶1. (U) Under a U.S.-China cooperation program supported by USD 1.8 million in USAID funding - and convened by Guangzhou's Sun Yat-Sen University School of Law with the Vermont Law School and the Institute for Sustainable Communities - more than 200 government officials, scholars, and business representatives attended a conference in Guangzhou on May 11 and 12 to discuss mainland China's draft energy efficiency and draft circular economy laws. Comments by the participants were collected for submission to the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC). ¶2. (U) The conference, at which the Consul General spoke about the need for us to prove ourselves capable stewards of our limited energy resources, included panel discussions by American and Chinese experts on energy efficiency, the energy conservation law, and the circular economy law. Over 200 people attended the conference, including Sun Yat- Sen University President Huang Daren, 60 government officials, 60 scholars, 30 business representatives, 20 representatives from NGOs and research institutes, and about 30 students. ¶3. (U) Two roundtable break-out sessions focused on the draft laws, allowing all conference participants to discuss the impact of the laws on energy and environmental issues. (Note: In 2006, China set the target of lowering its energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent by 2010 as part of the 11th Five-Year Plan. To meet this goal, China is working to amend its eight-year old Energy Efficiency Law and create a Circular Economy Law. End Note.) Comments for submission to the NPC were collected during the roundtable sessions. Press coverage of the event included television and newspapers. GOLDBERG