China misses energy reduction targets

China missed its energy consumption reduction target last year, state media reported. Only Beijing and five other provinces hit the target of reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by 4% and pollutant emissions by 2%. "From a nationwide perspective, it is certain that last year's energy-consumption reduction goal could not be achieved," said Han Wenke, director of the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission. The overall goal for the current Five-Year Plan, which runs until 2010, is to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20% and key pollutant discharges by 10%. Figures are not yet available for the entire year but energy consumption actually rose by 0.8% during the first half of 2006.