Greenpeace: Chinese power firms slacking on emissions reduction

International environmental NGO Greenpeace accused Chinese power companies of holding back efforts to reduce pollution in a report, the South China Morning Post reported. The report, citing data from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the China Electricity Council, said the mainland’s top power providers, which produce almost 60% of the country’s electricity, are dragging their feet when it comes to energy efficiency and meeting government targets for renewable energy use. The biggest three mainland power companies – China Huaneng Group, China Datang and China Guodian – produced more greenhouse gases last year than the United Kingdom, Greenpeace claimed. Chinese power companies produce nearly twice as much carbon dioxide per kilowatt of power than Japanese power companies. "Climate change is a daunting challenge for all parts of Chinese society," said Yang Ailun, Greenpeace’s climate campaign manager. "As major polluters, China’s power companies must play a decisive role in helping move China away from intensive coal dependence."