Recent Trends of Energy Consumption and Air Pollution in China
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 1
Abstract
The relationship between air pollution and energy consumption is a hot topic that is receiving increased attention by industry, regulatory agencies, as well as the public. China is currently undergoing a profound economic and social transition. Since the late 1990s, China’s energy production and consumption have undergone an unexpectedly precipitous up-and-down fluctuation, and the related air pollution has changed dramatically. In this study, energy use and the related air pollution during the past years are analyzed and discussed in detail. Further, suggestions on sustainable energy use, air pollution control, as well as abatement are proposed. By 2003, the total primary energy consumption of China had reached (MT) of standard coal equivalent. As a result, emissions of and increased to 21.58 and in 2003, respectively. Acid rain pollution worsened nationwide after 2000, with the areas of acid rain remaining stable while some seriously acid rain polluted areas worsened. This implies that more rigorous regulations, standards, and effective economic policies are needed.
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Acknowledgments
This paper is supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. However, the opinions expressed herein are those of the writers themselves and should not be construed as the official position of Tsinghua University or others. The writers would like to thank Hilary I. Inyang and Life Kaanagbara for their solicitation of this manuscript on recent trends of energy consumption and air pollution in China. Also, the writers would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on this paper.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 1 • March 2007
Pages: 4 - 12
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 7, 2005
Accepted: Sep 7, 2005
Published online: Mar 1, 2007
Published in print: Mar 2007
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