Best Policy Practices

Best Policy Practices
China’s leaders have tried to emphasise sustainability and
environmental protection after years of breakneck economic
growth that has stretched resources and led to widespread
degradation.
But the message has been slow to filter down to local officials
accustomed to being judged on growth alone, and the
central government is still in the process of making policies to
encourage green buildings.
“Powerful economic incentive policies are not in place,”
Qiu said, adding the government should work out guidelines
on subsidies and preferential taxation “as soon as possible”.
Basic changes such as heat metres, for example, had yet
to be widely installed.
“Since a metre-based heat charging system is absent,
pricing fails to exert its regulating role in the market,” Qiu said.
Qiu also said the use of renewable energy should be
expanded, adding basic measures such as renovating walls
and replacing windows would improve insulation and result in
energy savings of 50%. – Reuters
Source: Mail & Guardian Online, http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.
aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/&articleid=296094
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