Hangzhou Launches Emission Permit Trade       

On April 8th, 2009 Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province officially started the emission permit trade.
   The fixed trading price of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) emission permits in Hangzhou changes upon different sectors of enterprises.
   Enterprises in Hangzhou used to be authorized to discharge freely by Zhejiang provincial environmental administration if their emissions were able to meet the requirement of discharge standards.
   The emission permits trade is aimed to encourage enterprises to upgrade their technology for emission reduction. Through lowering emission, enterprises will possibly have remaining emission permits than purchased. They can sell out the remaining permits under the supervision of relevant departments.
    Recently the Jiangsu provincial government announced a regulation on compensated use of emission permit for main pollutants in the region surrounding the Taihu Lake. (CCR2009 No.8) The Hubei provincial government also commenced officially on March 18th the trade of emission permit for key pollutants in Wuhan Optics Valley United Properties Rights. (CCR2009 No.10)