Chinese sponsors of the conference are the State Planning Commission and the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of the National People s Congress. Mr. John P. Ferriter, IEA Deputy Executive Director, will lead a senior IEA team to Beijing. The Chinese side will be represented by the Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Commission and Mr. Qu Geping, the Chairman of the Environment and Resources Protection Committee, National People s Congress. China currently consumes large amounts of energy at relatively low efficiency with growing environmental impact. With rapid economic growth, the problem will be exacerbated.
Opportunities exist for energy efficiency improvements throughout China s energy sector.
The Chinese government considers coal and renewables to be two major areas with great potential for improvement. A major objective of the conference is the identification of creative financing schemes for investments in energy efficiency in China. Financing is one of the most important constraints hindering the deployment of energy technologies and investment in improved energy efficiency. Participants in the conference will also discuss ways of building institutional and legal infrastructure to promote energy efficiency in China. The key question to be addressed at the conference will be how to orient China s rapid economic development process towards a more energy-efficient and environment friendly direction, with the deployment of appropriate technologies, financed through the mobilisation of domestic and international funds.