“White pollution”,a term used by Chinese to describe the huge consumption and wastage of plastic,is finally getting reduced in China. After a nationwide ban on the use of ultra thin plastic bags(those thinner than 0.025 mm) for more than a year,National Development and Reform Commission(NDRC)-the country’s top economic planning body,has said that the ban has saved between 2.4 million and 3 million tonnes of crude oil,and would also cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 9.6 million tonnes annually.This in one hand,has reduced the pollution and on the other hand,addressed the energy crisis very effectively.Although the ban has been limited to supermarkets,it has become increasingly common to see shoppers in Beijing and Shanghai bring their cloth bags to stores.

In addition to this,the government of China has also announced subsidies for the purchase of energy-efficient home appliances,and launched large scale energy conversion campaigns in Beijing and Shanghai to replace incandescent bulbs with energy friendly alternatives.

My salute to Chinese move!!

[Source:The Hindu]