China’s bold reform policies of the 1980’s showed

that energy and GDP growth can be decoupled

1,000

800
GDP
1980 = 100

600

400
Energy
200

-
80

82

90

98

00
84

86

88

92

94

96

02

04
19

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

20

20

20
Source:  NBS, China Statistical Yearbook, various years; China Statistical Abstract 2005; growth estimates 
extrapolated from mid­year production data for 2005.
However, energy usage has grown much faster than GDP since
2001, a reversal of 20 years of energy efficiency. (Estimate for
2005 shows continuation of trend.)

170
160
Actual Energy
150
2001 = 100

140
130
GDP
120
110
Energy Target
100
90
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Source:  NBS, China Statistical Yearbook, various years; China Statistical Abstract 2005; growth estimates 
extrapolated from mid­year production data for 2005.
 
2
Another way to look at the data from previous graph.
2.7 36
Energy Consumed (billion tce)

2.4 32
actual energy energy target

GDP (trillion 2000 RMB)

2.1 28
1.8 24
1.5 GDP target 20
1.2 16
actual GDP
0.9 12
0.6 8
0.3 4
0 0
00

02

04

06

08

10

12

14

16

18

20
20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20
Year
Source:  NBS, China Statistical Yearbook, various years; China Statistical Abstract 2005; growth 
estimates extrapolated from mid­year production data for 2005; targets announced by NDRC.