The State Council has issued a decision on strengthening energy-saving efforts.

On the 31st, Xinhua News Agency authorized the release of the "State Council's Decision on Strengthening Energy Conservation Work." The decision points out that energy issues have become an important factor restricting the economic and social development of our country. It is necessary to fully recognize the importance of energy work from a strategic and overall perspective, place high importance on energy security, and achieve sustainable energy development. The decision proposes that the fundamental way to solve our country's energy problems is to adhere to the principle of simultaneous development and conservation, with a priority on conservation, vigorously promote energy conservation and consumption reduction, and improve energy utilization efficiency. The decision specifies that by the end of the "11th Five-Year Plan" period, the energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP (calculated at 2005 prices) should be reduced to 0.98 tons of standard coal, a decrease of about 20% compared to the end of the "10th Five-Year Plan," with an average annual energy conservation rate of 4.4%. The overall unit energy consumption of major products in key industries should reach or be close to the internationally advanced level at the beginning of this century. The decision requires a vigorous adjustment of the industrial structure, promoting the rapid development of the service industry, actively adjusting the industrial structure, optimizing the energy use structure, and accelerating the establishment of an energy-saving industrial system. It is necessary to strengthen industrial energy conservation, promote building energy conservation, enhance transportation energy conservation, guide commercial and residential energy conservation, focus on rural energy conservation, and promote energy conservation in government agencies. The decision emphasizes the need to establish a responsibility system for energy conservation targets and an evaluation and assessment system. The National Development and Reform Commission should decompose the energy consumption reduction targets for unit GDP set in the "11th Five-Year Plan" outline to each province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the central government. Provincial governments should decompose the targets step by step to each city, county, and key energy-consuming enterprises, implementing a strict target responsibility system. Energy consumption indicators should be included in the comprehensive evaluation and annual assessment system for the economic and social development of various regions, serving as an important assessment content for local government leadership teams and leaders during their terms in office to implement the scientific outlook on development. The decision stipulates the establishment of an energy conservation assessment and review system for fixed asset investment projects. Projects that have not undergone energy conservation review or have failed to pass the energy conservation review shall not be approved or authorized, eliminating energy waste from the source.