Objective

To develop the mutually agreed partners’ agreement, to establish project organization and project plan, to develop the project website and to organise kick-off meeting.

Description

Activity 1 has focus on

1. Developing the mutually agreed partners agreement, based on the approved action proposal and related action budget.
2. Establishing project organization. The action organization includes steering committee, project working group and the project working teams. The project steering committee will be responsible for monitoring the overall progress of the project and to provide contacts. The steering committee consists of high-level representatives of SenterNovem and all partners. SenterNovem will take the leading role in steering committee. The project working group and working teams will be responsible for all daily project tasks and for reporting to the Steering Committee. SenterNovem will be the leader of the working group, and the members will be from all partners.
3. Developing action website. The project website will be developed in both English and Chinese versions. The Website will act as a platform or meeting point, and it will be updated after each activity of the action. The objective of development of this website is to spread VA knowledge, exchange ideas and gain supports and suggestions from public for the implementation of VA communication on the progress of the action. WU will be responsible for the website of English version, and NJEPB will be responsible for the website of Chinese version.
4. Kick-off meeting. During the period of activity 1, relevant documents for the launching meeting will be prepared, including EU documents for beneficiaries, action plan, activity quality control and organization of project. Activity 1 will also include one day kick-off meeting. Representatives from SEPA, all 14 companies, three local NGO’s as well as public and national & local mass media are invited to take part in this meeting. Specifically local Development and Reform Committee of Nanjing (local DRC) will attend this kick-off meeting. During the kick-off meeting, the consortium agreement will be signed by the authorized representatives of the project partners.

Outcome

1. Folders of EU documents for beneficiaries;
2. Project website in both English and Chinese version;
3. Relevant documents for project launching meeting;
4. Establishment of project steering committee, project working group and project working teams;
5. Signature of partners’ agreement;
6. Meeting minutes and inception report;

Responsible

SenterNovem, with contributions from all partners.

Objective

To get target group insight and know-how on voluntary agreement, particularly on setting up realistic and ambitious targets in voluntary agreement, and promote communications between project partners and target groups.

Description

Activity 2 will take place as soon as the launching meeting ends. It includes one day training course for the target groups. Both EU and China partners will present the basic knowledge and experiences on adopting voluntary approaches.

Key content of this training course is that SenterNovem will systematically present the EEPS (Energy and Emission Potential Scan) approach for setting up targets in voluntary agreements, based on the experiences and best practices in the Netherlands. This EEPS approach and related Dutch Energy Care, Energy Care Reference, Energy Care Checklist and Energy Potential Scan approaches will be used in activity A4 of setting up targets for each individual company.

There will also be intensive discussions between project partners and participants from the target companies, and this will improve the communication and contacts between project experts and target groups.

Outcome

1. Training modules of the EPS;
2. Building communications and network between project experts and target groups;
3. 14 participants from target companies are trained on know-how of voluntary agreement.

Responsible

SenterNovem, WI, WU, NJEPB, with contributions from all partners.

Objective

To provide basic comparisons of energy efficiency and emissions between the target companies and similar companies in both EU and China.

Description

In activity A3, benchmarking of energy efficiency and industrial emissions at both national and international levels will be conducted by both EU and China partners.

WI will provide basic data on EU’s energy efficiency, relevant industrial emissions and internal industrial environmental management in relevant best companies in EU that should be comparable to the target companies in Nanjing, Xian and Kelamayi.

EMCC will provide basic data on China’s energy efficiency, relevant industrial emissions and internal industrial environmental management in relevant best companies in other regions of China that should be comparable to the 14 target companies.

The benchmarking of energy efficiency and industrial emissions at both national and inter-national level will be conducted by NJRIEP, with support of SenterNovem, WU and WI. The benchmarking and EPS outputs will provide crucial information to set up targets in the negotiated LTA covenant between three local authorities and 14 target companies.

Outcome

1. Overview of EU’s energy efficiency and industrial emission and case studies on best practices of? industrial environmental performance;
2. Overview of China’s energy efficiency and industrial emission and case studies on best practices of? industrial environmental performance;
3. Benchmarking of energy efficiency and industrial emissions at national and international level including EEPS-study by target companies.

Responsible

WI, EMCC, NJRIEP, with contributions from SenterNovem, WU and three local EPB’s.

Objective

To set up mutually agreed targets that will be included in voluntary agreement and to sign LTA’s between local authorities and target companies.

Description

In activity A4, KMEPB, XAEPB and NJEPB will negotiate with target companies on setting up targets that will be key element of the long-term agreement. Three local NGO’s and other relevant stakeholders will participate in the negotiations.

In activity A4, the results from EEPS (Energy and Emission Potential Scan) and other useful approaches will be used in the target setting. The negotiated target needs to be both realistic and ambitious. The negotiations will include target-oriented measures, such as good house keeping (quick results), measures with a short pay back time and projects with longer pay back time (mostly process integrated or replacement investments). The targets and related measures and projects developed in this activity will be further elaborated in the energy efficiency improvement plan and emission reduction plan in activity B2.

Activity A4 will require intensive discussions between project partners, negotiations between LTA partners and NGO stakeholders’ participation. During the negotiations EU partners will provide EU experiences on negotiations of voluntary agreements and technical support on the basis of the requirements of Chinese partners. Both SenterNovem and WI will provide relevant samples of voluntary agreements to KMEPB, XAEPB and NJEPB for reference purposes. As soon as the draft LTA’s are ready, KMEPB, XAEPB and NJEPB will send them to EU partners for getting comments and suggestions for improving the agreements.

Activity A4 ends with the signing of 14 LTA’s between local authorities and companies. As soon as the activity A4 ends, an internal evaluation (evaluation I) will be conducted by the project steering committee.

KMEPB, XAEPB and NJEPB will play key role in the negotiations on targets with the target companies as well as the preparation and signing of the LTA’s with organisational and technical support from the other partners.

Outcome

1. Mutually agreed targets and related measures (good house keeping projects, energy management approaches with the installation of additional measurement equipment, improved process equipment and adoption of new technology, etc.).
2. Fourteen signed LTA’S
3. Project (interim) evaluation report I

Responsible

KMEPB, XAEPB and NJEPB with contributions from other partners.

Objective

To work out recommendations for incorporating CDM clauses as further incentives for signing and implementing LTA’s in China.

Description

In activity B1, the possibility of incorporating CDM clauses as further incentives for signing and implementing LTA’s will be assessed . The Clean Development Mechanism facilitates climate friendly investment in developing countries by granting tradable emission reduction certificates for projects that lower greenhouse gas emissions.? The procedures to certify a project are rather complex and thus accrue high transaction costs particularly on the side of the project developer. Companies that seek to attract CDM investors may be inclined to take on voluntary commitments if this means that they receive support and advice in the development phase of CDM projects.

However, linking the establishment of CDM projects with the signing of LTA’s to lower CO2 emissions can jeopardize the certification of projects under the CDM, as developers need to demonstrate that the emission reduction is additional to any that would occur in the absence of the CDM project activity. Incorporating a CDM clause into LTA as an incentive to sign voluntary agreements thus requires careful consideration of legal specificities of the international climate change policy regime.

WI will be the leader of this activity with support from SenterNovem and WU. Chinese partners and particularly SEPA will provide suggestions and comments during the implementation of this activity.

Outcome

Recommendations for incorporating CDM clauses as further incentives for LTA’s in China.

Responsible

WI with the support from SenterNovem, WU and SEPA.

Objective

To build up China’s own capacities for implementation of LTA’s by means of planning and adoption of energy-efficiency improvement and/or emission reduction measures.

Description

In this activity participatory planning approaches will be applied and stakeholders will be intensively involved in the LTA planning process. Target companies will present their potential capacity for improving their environmental performance by using EEPS approach. Project partners will present best practices and possible solutions for the similar companies in other areas. So, the target companies will have the ideas how far they are from the best practices. In addition, communities and relevant industrial sectors will also participate in the planning process. The energy efficiency improvement and/or emission reduction plan based on EEPS results will ensure that the targets set by LTA will be achievable. The final version of the plans of the 14 target companies will be submitted to local EPB for getting approval.

In this activity LTA’s are in the implementation phase. Both LTA partners (the representatives of local authorities and target companies) should take their duties and responsibilities as set by the agreements. Local authorities will ensure their promises and target companies will implement the energy efficiency improvement plan and emission reduction plan. This will ensure that the target set by the LTA can be achieved. Project partners will be available for providing services and consultancy for the target group and ensure that the target group will have enough energy saving and emission reduction options to implement the LTA successfully. Project partners will also provide consultancy to target companies for helping them to set up internal monitoring system. Through the two advisory and supervision visits of Ter Avest/Zhang (see activity D.2) face-to-face explanations and illustrations can be provided upon request halfway between the annual workshops.

At the end of activity B2, the two-day 1st workshop will take place in Xian. The EU partners will present the European experiences in different sectors on energy saving and emission reduction. The Chinese partners will present China’s experiences and needs for improving energy and reducing emissions. Specifically local Development and Reform Committee (local DRC) of Xian will attend this workshop.

Outcome

1. Fourteen energy efficiency plans and/or emission reduction plans;
2. Workshop presentations on EU-China energy efficiency improvement and emission reduction including case studies

Responsible

NJRIEP, EMCC, WU, WI and SenterNovem, with contributions from all partners.

Objective

To evaluate the progress of implementations of long-term agreements.

Description

Six months after the start of implementation of LTA the target companies will provide the required input for internal monitoring reports. These reports will also include monitoring of the progress on implementation of LTA measures and projects.

KMEPB, XAEPB and NJEPB will review the internal monitoring reports and evaluate whether the targets set by the LTA’s have been achieved.

Stakeholders and public will also have access to the monitoring reports. Both EU and China partners will review the monitoring reports carefully and provide recommendations and suggestions for improvement.

NJRIEP and EMCC will lead the monitoring and are responsible for approving the monitoring reports.

Outcome

1. Fourteen internal monitoring reports;
2. Recommendations and suggestions for improvement.

Responsible

NJRIEP and EMCC, with contributions from all partners.

Objective

To discuss and exchange ideas, and collect information about the factors that determines success and failure in implementing LTA’s.

Description

The workshop aims at exchanging ideas on how LTA’s can be effectively implemented, highlighting the relation between existing command-and-control approaches and voluntary approaches (relating to political, institutional, financial, economic, technological and social aspects). Special attention will be paid to the roles of local authorities, communities and industrial sectors in LTA’s. The workshop will also provide insight in the nature and impact voluntary approaches on industrial environmental performance, industrial production and local environmental quality.

The workshop will take two days in Kelamayi. All partners and target groups will attend this workshop and present their ideas, results and/or experiences so far. In addition, SEPA, local environmental departments, NGO’s, industrial sectors and research institutes will be invited to attend this 2nd workshop. Specifically local Development and Reform Committee (local DRC) of Kelamayi will attend this workshop.

At the end of activity C2 an internal evaluation will be conducted by project steering committee.

Outcome

1. Workshop presentations and proceedings;
2. Minutes of workshop;
3. Recommendations for implementing LTA’s in China
4. Project (interim) evaluation report II

Responsible

Kelamayi EPB, WU, WI with contributions from all partners.

Objective

To develop China-specific LTA Manual as tool kit for spreading LTA’s throughout China.

Description

In activity C3 the project working team will develop a China-specific VA manual for guiding the implementation of LTA’s to other Chinese cities and other Asian countries.

Both NJRIEP and EMCC will take the leading role in the development of this VA manual. SenterNovem, WU and WI will provide support, suggestions and feedback.? In addition, SEPA will review this VA manual and provide comments for improving this manual.

Outcome

Draft version of China-specific VA Manual.

Responsible

NJRIEP, EMCC, WU with support from SEPA and all partners.

Objective

To collect comments on the draft version of VA Manual for spreading voluntary approaches in China.

Description

SEPA, as an associate partner of this project, will chair this activity. Together with SEPA and other ministries a conference will be organized for discussing the draft version of VA Manual for spreading voluntary approaches in China. The project working group will present the draft version of VA manual. External experts to be invited by SEPA, NDRC and project partners will attend this workshop. Conference participants will be from national and local environmental departments, local DRC’s, research institutes, universities, industrial sectors and NGO’s. National/local mass media will be also invited for reporting this conference. Particularly NDRC will also attend this Beijing conference for successfully disseminating and promoting LTA’s throughout China.

During the workshop, 25-30 MoU’s (letters of intent) on LTA between local authorities and relevant companies will be signed for the further implementation of VA’s in China. The workshop will take two days and will end with the collection of comments for revising the draft version of VA manual.

Outcome

1. Comments for revising draft version of VA manual;
2. Revised VA manual;

Responsible

SEPA with contributions from NDRC and all partners.

Objective

To advise and supervise Chinese target cities and companies including evaluation of the progress of planning and implementing environmental measures and projects.

Description

Activity D2 will be carried out as interim check halfway between annual workshops. This action is based on the principle “trust but verify” that has proved to be crucial in the management of Dutch LTA’s.? Mr. Erik ter Avest of SenterNovem will take the lead of this internal project advising and supervision visit. Dr. Mingshun Zhang of Wageningen University China Office will also participate in this activity. Overall project leader Ter Avest and internal Chinese project leader Zhang will visit the three target cities halfway in year 1 and year 2 for the following purposes:

1. To check how Chinese partners and target companies execute action schedule (in line with budget and planning).
2. To check the progress and quality of actions that have been carried out by Chinese partners and target companies;
3. Direct visit to selection of target companies (and/or other relevant stakeholders) for getting better insight of VA implementation carriers and barriers.
4. Advising partners and target companies for guidance and assistance on specific VA issues upon their request.

Outcome

1. Various advising and supervision reports on crucial VA-issues;
2. Internal interim evaluation of project progress to be used for preparation of annual workshops

Responsible

SenterNovem assisted by WU China office

Objective

To get the VA Manual known and applied in other parts of China and in various other Asian countries (addressing awareness, interest, desire and action in the field of VA’s).

Description

The Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production of WI will distribute the VA Manual among the participants of the Policy Reinforcement of Environmentally Sound and Socially Responsible Economic Development in China (ProDev). Guiyang local government policy makers and major ministries of China take part in this project, and part of the international CSCP network on sustainable consumption and production.

Furthermore CSCP will introduce the VA Manual to the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) network in Asia (including for instance India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam). The CSCP will distribute the material produced by the project at as many venues as possible, where members of the NCPC will attend.

For guidance of these activities CSCP will prepare a powerpoint presentation on the benefits of the VA implementation process and the guidelines reported in the VA Manual. CSCP will also integrate this approach in its products wherever possible (guidelines on sustainable consumption and production policy instruments, capacity building programmes for policy makers in the developing world, sector guidelines to encourage resource efficiency and sustainable consumption, etc.). This effort will enhance the sustainability of this action.

Outcome

1. A powerpoint presentation on the VA benefits and guidelines;
2. Awareness raising among local and high level policy-makers in other regions of China on the benefits of the VA approach (at least  two presentations at various venues);
3. Awareness raising among NCPC members in Asia on the benefits of the VA approach (at least two presentations at various venues).

Responsible

WI (CSCP).

To evaluate whether objectives of this project have been achieved.

Description

Subsequent to the final conference the project evaluation will take one day. The project steering committee will evaluate all activities in this action and check whether all action objectives have been achieved in time. Particularly, experiences and lessons learnt from this action will be summarised and target groups will be invited to participate in this evaluation.

For providing additional input for activity D4 an external evaluation will be conducted through sub-contracted services. This external evaluation will be facilitated by independent experts from SEPA.

Outcome

1. External evaluation report;
2. Final overall project evaluation report

Responsible

SenterNovem, WU and project steering committee