Jim Yardley, The New York Times

March 5, 2007

Beijing: Prime Minister Wen Jiabao conceded Monday that China was failing on important energy and pollution goals and declared that the country must become more energy-efficient and quickly improve environmental protection to safeguard the long-term health of its booming economy.… “We must make conserving energy, decreasing energy consumption, protecting the environment and using land intensively the breakthrough point and main fulcrum for changing the pattern of economic growth,” Mr. Wen told the opening session of the Communist Party-controlled national legislature. … Environmental protection and energy conservation have earned an higher profile from government leaders in recent years as it has become evident that China¬ês economy is devouring its resources and polluting its land and air. The most recent five-year plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product. … Read the full story [PDF].