The greenhouse effect has resulted in global climate anomalies, and reducing carbon dioxide gas emissions is the key for a blue sky. In February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol formally came into effect, with the 38 signatory countries agreeing to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5.2% from 2008 to 2012, relative to average emission levels in 1990. It was at this time that “carbon emissions trading” was also implemented.
Carbon emissions trading” can help reduce emissions
Carbon emissions trading is an initiative set up under the Kyoto Protocol to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with international law. Six kinds of greenhouse gases were agreed for reduction, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the most prominent of these. Therefore, transactions carried out under this initiative are calculated in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) and as a result is commonly known as “carbon emissions trading”.
The Macao International Environmental Cooperation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF 2009) will be held on April 2-4. One of the forums held will be the “Energy Saving, Emission Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium”, in which eight speakers from the People’s Republic of China, the European Union, Portugal, Hong Kong and Macao will extensively discuss the latest developments in carbon emissions trading with participants.
Wang Zhishi, member of the General Council of the Environmental Protection Committee and Director of the Technology Research Center of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Macau, stated that Macao has successfully adhered to the Kyoto Protocol, as it is suitable for Macao. It shows that Macao has been working alongside the global community and enthusiastically participated in global energy-saving and emission reduction projects. It was especially successful in reducing emissions, namely those from incinerators and power plants. Emission reduction devices have been installed and, as a result, emissions have dropped significantly.
The effectiveness of power plant emission reduction facilities
Mr. Edmond Sassouvi Etchri, speaking on behalf of the Macao Electricity Co. (CEM), said, CEM has been investing in environmental protection projects, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of its operations in Macao. CEM has been making all efforts to ensure that its environmental protection goals are carried out in accordance with the local and international standards.
In 2004, CEM installed a “Selective Catalytic Reduction System” in the Power Plant and as a result, chimney exhaust emissions from the burning of diesel have been significantly reduced. The investment of two billion patacas in this project aims to effectively reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides resulting from diesel generators. Once installed, test results revealed that there had been a significant reduction in the emission of nitrogen oxides of 95% in the six electricity generators.
CEM has, in recent years, installed environmentally-friendly double-cycle electricity generation units, a set of twenty-four hours online emission monitoring systems, a wastewater treatment plant and a waste oil incinerator and has worked alongside the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau to monitor the air quality in Macao. At present, emissions from the Power Plant have been greatly reduced, in accordance with international standards.
