Chinese companies are becoming more involved in the renewable energy sector. "We are starting to see a growing level of awareness of climate change among people" in China,” said Barbara Finamore, China program director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, a New York-based environmental organization.
One example is Wang Shi, chairman of China Vanke Co., who founded the Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology (SEE) in 2004 with 60 other business leaders to promote awareness and action on climate change and other environmental issues. "Low carbon is a new idea, but it’s spreading very fast," said SEE’s secretary general Yang Peng.
Zhang Yue, chairman of Broad Air Conditioner Co., has made emissions reduction a primary focus of his company. His company boasts its air conditioners have only 20% the carbon-dioxide emissions of electric models.
However, the eagerness of Chinese companies doesn’t stop within the country, but it is carrying over internationally. Many Chinese companies are now looking further into Africa’s RE projects, but it is doubtful that the reasoning is concern for climate change or carbon emissions. With programs like the China-African Development Fund, many more Chinese companies are jumping on board to partner with African companies to exploit Africa’s RE potential and the potential of generated revenue.
If the RE trend in China was in part due to climate change, the government would offer more direct regulations instead of investment funds. Thus far China has pledged to reduce its carbon emissions, but has refused to commit to an outright figure. Yue said he is pessimistic about the overall level of awareness present in China. "Public understanding of energy conservation and emissions reduction is still woefully behind," he said.