China moves to phase out incandescent bulbs

BEIJING -- A three-step plan to eliminate the use of energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs and subsequently reduce emissions was revealed by China's government on Wednesday.

It was announced at a ceremony organized by the National Development and Reform Commission to mark the country's ban on imports and sales of incandescent bulbs with a wattage of 100 watts or greater on Oct 1 in accordance with a plan unveiled by the NDRC last November.

NDRC deputy director Xie Zhenhua said at the event that China will save 48 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually, equivalent to a reduction of 48 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, if all 1.4 billion of the country's incandescent bulbs currently in use are replaced with energy-saving lamps.

Lighting accounts for about 13 percent of the country's total electricity use, according to Xie.

"This is another positive measure taken by the government to ensure the completion of China's energy-saving and emission-reduction goals set for the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15), as well as a move to actively deal with global climate change," the NDRC deputy director said.

The government has pledged to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 16 percent while slashing carbon emissions by 17 percent before 2015.

China is among a vanguard group of countries, including Argentina, Australia, the Philippines, EU countries and the United States, that are effectuating bans on incandescent lights, said Renata Lok-Dessallien, UN resident coordinator and United Nations development program resident representative in China.

"Building on the foundations already laid, China's efforts in low-carbon growth, if sustained and fully implemented, will make it a global leader in the fight against climate change," Lok-Dessallien said.

A ban on imports and sales of 60-watt-or-greater incandescent bulbs will take effect on October 1, 2014, while the same rule will apply to incandescent bulbs with wattages of 15 watts or greater starting October 1, 2016, under the plan.

The government may adjust the final phase of the plan according to a mid-term evaluation that will be completed on Sept 30, 2016.