From GreenPeace China:  Bioenergy (aka biomass energy) is using organic matter (plants, etc.) as fuel via technologies such as gas collection, gasification (converting solid material to gas), combustion and digestion (for wet wastes). If implemented properly biomass can be a valuable source of renewable energy, but much depends on how the biomass fuel is produced.

China's remaining exploitable reserves of petroleum and natural gas are merely 7.7 percent and 7.1 percent of world averages, while those of coal are 58.6 percent of the world average. At the current rate of extraction, China's proven reserves of these resources could last 15, 30, and 80 years, respectively, compared with world averages of 45, 61, and 230 years.

"China’s trade with Africa has jumped to top $50 bn this year, compared with just $11 bn in 2000, when Beijing and the African nations first announced their partnership. It’s expected to top $100 bn by 2010.

"The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's (IMAR) government has been aggressive in developing renewable energy resources for both grid-connected and off-grid applications. Over the past 10 years, more than 120,000 households have been electrified with small wind generators in the range of 100 to 300 W.

"Initial U.S.-China cooperation for rural electrification activities in China focused on the development of solar home system applications for western China. Generally, solar home systems in China for individual households start at 5 Watts and can be 150 W or larger. A typical solar home system in northwestern China consists of a 20-Wp crystalline silicon PV module, a charge controller, a 38-AH sealed lead-acid battery, two 8-W compact fluorescent lamps, and necessary wiring.

BEIJING - "Meteorological disasters take about 3 to 6 percent off China's GDP every year," Qin Dahe, director of the China Meteorological Administration, told reporters at a conference in Beijing in November, 2006. "We have to consider the effects of global warming on the natural and economic systems."Droughts, floods and other weather disasters stunt China's economy by up to 6 percent every year, the country's chief meteorologist said, warning of the potential costs of global warming for the Asian boom economy. "

"Consumption now exceeds production of most natural resources in China. Conservation concession is an innovative approach to public-private partnerships in conservation and involves a contractual partnership between the national government and non-governmental sector (such as an institution, a private business, or a community) whereby the non-governmental entity manages State-owned land for purposes of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation. This emerging approach is being increasingly adopted in Central America, South America, New Zealand and Indonesia.

"The development of the model for sustainable rural development involves identifying local sources of private capital while helping residents of rural areas come together to design, develop and operate their own business ventures. This rural financial capacity includes building, identification of project portfolios, and outreach to local and international financing institutions to support rural Chinese business ventures. The Rural Finance Program has expanded activities to begin pilot projects in China’s southwest Guangxi Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, both of which are poor mountainous areas with great importance in biodiversity conservation. Demonstration projects have been launched in Changshui Village and Shitou Township in Yunnan Province and Rongshui Township in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"Biomass is a significant source of energy in China today, particularly in rural areas. However, most current use of firewood and agricultural residues for cooking and heating brings with it detrimental effects of indoor air pollution and associated adverse health impacts. In addition, the time spent collecting biomass fuels creates a burden on women and children, which reduces their time available for more productive activities.

"China will grant subsidies to bioenergy-producing companies when the international crude oil prices fall below the oil alternative's production cost and last for a long period. The move is part of a package of measures released recently to boost the development of the bioenergy sector and reduce the country's dependency on oil.  Bioenergy refers to ethanol, biochemical diesel and other products, which are made from plants and could be used as the driving power of engines. According to the document from the Finance Ministry, promising a subsidy to the production company when international oil prices fall could ensure its sound development and attract more investment in the sector.

"New sources of energy are needed as world oil supplies begin to decline. About 35 percent of the world's energy comes from oil. In 2004, consumption of oil jumped 3.4 percent to 82.4 million barrels per day. This represents the fastest rate of increase in 16 years, driven primarily by China's growing energy needs, according to the Washington-based research and advocacy group Worldwatch Institute. Many petroleum experts believe that global oil production will peak in the next few years and begin a permanent decline.

"The large-scale extension of bioenergy is a strategic choice for China. As the economy keeps booming, China is now increasingly thirsty for energy, especially some fossil fuels, like gasoline and diesel.  Since 1993, China has become a net importer of oil.  In 2005, 136 million tons of oil flowed into China, accounting for 6 percent of the world's total. China is now after the United States to be the second biggest oil consumer of the world – 317 million tons of oil was used in the same year. China produced 181 million tons of oil in 2005. However, it cannot fill the huge gap between domestic supply and demand. At the beginning of the 21st century, China launched its extension of gasohol, setting some cities in Heilongjiang and Henan as pilots. Since 2005, gasohol has been widely extended in five provinces, including Jilin, Liaoning, Henan, Anhui and Heilongjiang, and some other areas in Hebei, Jiangsu and so on.  "Why don't the police punish drunken driving? because the drinker is not the driver, but the car." It is a popular brainteaser nowadays in Heilongjiang, Anhui, Henan and some other provinces of China.  In fact, what the cars "drink" is gasohol.