Realize Green Economy and Boom PV Industry in China

The 13-day United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP15, came to a close finally after the Copenhagen Accord was passed unanimously under the joint efforts of leaders of 192 nations, and proactive participation of numerous experts in the fields of climate, environment and energy, as well as governmental and non-governmental green organizations and individuals. In these days, people across the world were staring at Copenhagen, a romantic city where countless classic fairy tales happened. People were anticipating whether it will come out the ever greatest story this time---pull the earth out of the serious climate and environment crises so that it can embark on a sound path of green development, and create a future when our children live a clean, comfortable and peaceful life in a world without heavy smoke, tsunami and various sudden disasters. Someone feel disappointed about the non-binding Copenhagen Accord, someone thought that it was a "failure" as it failed to reach a rigid provision that mandates specific emission reducing target for every country, and some even stood at their own position to accuse others to be the main culprit of the failure. However, all of these thoughts are just the emotional gap caused by the too high expectations. If we take into account that there are so many countries with different social and economic problems that need to be solved, and there are so many historical, cultural, ethnic, and regional differences, then, people will have more tolerance, deeper understanding and more patience on the results of the Copenhagen conference. In fact, world leaders have reached consensus in at least three important areas through the Conference. First of all, climate change is a common challenge of the whole mankind. In terms of the increasingly serious climate headaches and environmental issues, endless quarrels and groundless accusations among different interest groups and different countries and regions, are of no avail to tackle them. We must join hands and talk frankly in an effort to find the countermeasures by which we can take care of interests of our own, other countries, and even all mankind. In a sense, the event itself is a success, because almost all nations came to COP 15 to discuss equally. Secondly, for the status of the earth and the distress of human beings, we should have the courage to recognize the responsibility for history, and meanwhile afford the missions for future. Therefore, developed countries are supposed to take the lead in obligations of cutting emissions, and provide adequate funds and technical assistance for other countries in economic development, social stability and prosperity, and people's living. On the other hand, the developing countries should make their own emissions more transparent and even available for doing statistics, monitoring and assessing. This will win the trust of other countries and thus helpful in opening international exchanges, dialogues and cooperation. Third and the most importantly, no matter developed or developing countries, no matter where it is located, it is a common awareness that we shall completely shift the current reliance on traditional fossil energy, and the production model of large energy consumption and big waste. Instead, we shall lead a low-carbon life through largely developing the renewable and clean energy, raising energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. This is the sole way for us to save the planet, and to save the destiny of our own country and people. In this sense, the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference was a success worthy of recognition. It gave all mankind a signal of green leap, and wrote a great chapter in human history of material, spiritual, political and ecological civilization. In order to help China’s economy walk in a low-carbon path, in other word, go green, a logical task of top priority is to proper the photovoltaic industry. Our traditional energy sources are mainly coal, so people often interpret low-carbon economy as the growth with low efficiency and small speed, and even define it as the decline of living standards. This is a complete misunderstanding. Photovoltaic is not only a typical renewable and clean new energy source, but also the most promising alternative energy that can replace the tradition fossil energy in future. To develop photovoltaic industry by priority will help adjust the energy mix. Better energy mix in return will provide the society with more high quality energy and effectively guarantee the economic growth and improve people's life under the premise of no increased carbon emissions. Giving top priority to the development of photovoltaic industry can meanwhile promote the employment increase, as well as social stability and prosperity. It is also a breaking point to lead the financial capital to the new energy industry, which will help the country to shake off the negative impact of the international financial crisis, so that China's financial system will go back on a healthy and stable development track. In a word, the photovoltaic industry, a pioneer in low-carbon green economy, is the leading green industry in China’s future economic development strategy. It will not result in a decline in living standards; in comparison, it will largely enhance both the life and cultural quality of people. Although for various reasons, China has maintained to be the world's No. 1 for two consecutive years in photovoltaic cell production and continued to see a good momentum in this, the PV application market is still unsatisfactory, thus a majority of the products are exported and sometimes we are even subjected to the problem of "anti-dumping". If we exert great efforts in popularizing photovoltaic power generation system nationwide while promoting the development of photovoltaic production, it will help start the domestic demand markets early; eventually the photovoltaic industry in China can not only contribute to the green economic growth, but also go abroad in a more orderly, healthy and stable way, making more important contribution to the global economic development. Not long ago, the Chinese government has put the development of low-carbon economy into the Twelfth Five-year Plan on National Economic and Social Development which proposed that we should transform the economic development model, adjust the industrial structure, optimize the energy mix, and improve energy efficiency in an effort to promote low-carbon economic development. During the speech on the Copenhagen conference, Premier Wen Jiabao also clearly stated that, solar energy and hydropower will become the energy mostly utilized in future of China. It is the wise and penetrating viewpoint, and also the first time that the leader of Chinese Communist Party and the state spoke clearly and highly of the role of the photovoltaic industry. Now it is time to discuss deeply on how to realize the green economy and boom the photovoltaic industry in China. Hopefully, government organizations at all levels, the public, entrepreneurs and employees of photovoltaic companies will seriously take the spirit of the Copenhagen conference, grasp the true meaning of green economy, work together to solve problems, and truly drive the PV industry in China to the high tide of rapid development.