At a conference on energy (2014 China International Energy Forum) held in Beijing Wang Min, an expert from 'Beijing University's China Center for Economic Research', presented the results of a study which concludes that heating in the Chinese capital costs citizens five years of life shortened, due to air pollution. The Chinese Ministry of Health in another report says that from 350 to 500 inhabitants die prematurely due to polluted air.
In China, coal has covered 70% of energy production in the last 30 years. In 2013, China consumed half of the coal used in the world, 3,7 billion tons. Wang Min wrote that coal is responsible for 85% of sulfur dioxide, 67% of nitric oxide and 70% of smoking dust. Again according to Wang, it is necessary to reduce energy consumption and dismantle the government monopoly as well as price controls. Energy prices - he added - must reflect social costs and stimulate energy saving and non-polluting sources.
Attachments: The China Daily article
