South Korea: Congestion reduction

Investment in new road infrastructure is expected to help alleviate congested urban traffic.

Status: Government Initiative

References: Second National Communication to the UNFCCC (p60)

China: Energy Conservation in Government

China: Energy Conservation in Buildings

Within its 11th Five-Year Period, China plans to reduce residential and public buildings’ energy consumption by 50%, saving 50 million tons of standard coal. The federal plan for energy conservation in buildings formally mandates:
- the quick technical reform of heat-supply systems nation-wide;
- renewed efforts to promoting building energy efficiency technology and related products; and
- renovation of existing buildings in the nation’s cold northern regions, with particular focus on hotels. 

China: IFC’s China Utility-Based Energy Efficiency Finance program

CHUEE supports marketing, development and equipment financing services to energy users in the commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family residential sectors to implement energy efficiency projects in China. CHUEE brings together financial institutions, utility companies, and suppliers of energy efficiency equipment. The program is expected to promote energy efficiency, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and expand lending to small and medium enterprises in China.

China: 11th Five-Year Plan

The programming period is divided into the Eleventh Five Year Plan period running to 2010 and the period from 2010 to 2020. The energy conservation objectives and the focus of development by 2010 are essentially planned, whereas the objectives stated for 2020 are proposed. In its “alternative oil strategy,” which is part of the Five-Year Plan, Beijing has called for a doubling in renewable energy generation to 15% of the country’s needs by 2020, including major increases in wind power and biomass.

China: Tax on high-sulfur coals

In an effort to scale down coal consumption and to spur switching to cleaner burning fuels, Beijing has introduced a tax on high-sulfur coals. Other efforts include establishing 40 “coal-free zones” in an attempt to phase out coal from the city center, and formulating plans to construct natural gas pipelines.

Status: In Force; Mandatory

References: EIA Country Analysis Brief: China, http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Argentina: Law to promote hydrogen as a fuel

Argentina: Biofuels Act 26,093

The Act mandates the use of at least a 5% bio-ethanol or bio-diesel mix in the gasoline and diesel distributed in Argentina. In addition, the above act establishes the mandatory use of biofuels in a percentage to be determined by governmental entities and anticipates an increase in the above mentioned 5% rate in the future. Accordingly, the Biofuels Act has secured a market for the domestic supply of grain-based fuels. Mandatory fuel mixture shall only come in force in 2010.

Argentina: Convocatoria presentación de ideas de proyectos MDL - 2007

Mexico: Program to Improve the Air Quality in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (PROAIRE)

Includes more than 80 measures that affect transportation, industry, the service sector, natural resources, health, and education. It focuses on the reduction of ozone and particulate matter, and emphasizes environmental education and citizen participation.

Date Implemented: 2002-2010

Status: In Force; Government Initiative