"Declaring war on haze is not only government responsibility, but needs participation by all people," said Yan Ping, an NPC deputy and chairman of Yuchai Group in an interview on March 7. The government work report this year declared war on haze. The government, enterprises and individuals all have responsibility to take measures to join the "war" against haze.

Yan analyzed the necessity of advancing green development according to China's commitment on energy conservation and emission reduction. He said, China's current commitment is reducing its carbon emission intensity by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2020 compared to 2005, and the government's GDP growth goal is doubling China's per-capita GDP by 2020 compared to 2010. Both total emissions and per-capita emissions will continue growing. Thus, regardless of global carbon budget allocation plans, it is impossible to have enough carbon emission space to duplicate developed countries' previous mode of industrialization.

Yan said, green development has become an irresistible trend, enterprises must have a strong sense of social responsibility, respect environment, promote community development and promote human development in order to have places in the world. Thus, both the government and enterprises should promote the development of green manufacturing and manufacture green products so as to be qualified for international competition.

As to how to control air pollution, Yan cited academic views, noting as far as North China is concerned, coal combustion, including coal and exhaust emission from coal-fired power plants, heating plants as well as heavy industries like iron & steel and cement is the primary emission source second to none. In some cities, motor vehicle emission is likely to be the primary emission source, too.

Yan thought:

First, to change the current energy structure, efforts should be made to gradually change coal's structure in China's energy consumption, promote the development of clean energy like nuclear energy, solar energy and natural gas energy, and reduce air pollution;

Second, efforts should be made to intensify elimination of backward production capacity, especially some high-energy-consumption and high-emission enterprises, intensify merger and reorganization, increase the level of energy utilization and reduce pollution emission;

Third, efforts should be made to renovate emission management, the China Emissions Exchange has been established in Shenzhen, which is of positive significance to controlling corporate emission pollution;

Fourth, efforts should be made to jointly advance work such as fuel quality improvement, engine emission technology development, new energy power development and obsolete motor vehicle elimination, and strictly implement the national IV emission standard for diesel motor vehicles;

Fifth, efforts should be made to strengthen the promotion and implementation of the concept of environmental protection, vigorously develop convenient, reliable and economical public transport systems, construct perfect and smooth prioritized bus lanes and rail transit network, change citizens' preferences for private car use and encourage citizens to give preference to public means of transport.

(Source: Pang Geping/people.com.cn)