China’s ambition to shift to a greener economy is expected to provide more than CNY2 trillion in investment opportunities over the next five years for the country’s burgeoning energy-saving sector, according to the five-year plan released by the Chinese government to promote the energy-saving and environmental protection industry, one of the country’s seven “strategic industries”. The plan is aimed at generating a total output of CNY4.5 trillion from the energy-saving and environmental protection industries by 2015. It is expected to stimulate more than CNY2 trillion in investment opportunities across the industry. The plan highlights important areas of the sector, including the application of semiconductor lighting, industrial waste utilization, water desalination and the promotion of related technology and infrastructures. Xie Zhenhua, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said recently the nation will invest more than CNY2 trillion in promoting energy-saving and low-carbon projects by 2015. There is a potential to save 400 million tons of standard coal equivalent by 2015, which could stimulate investment of more than CNY1 trillion, according to the plan. Investment in sewage and garbage treatment operations, as well as de-sulphuring and de-nitration could exceed CNY800 billion by 2015. The output of environmental services could surpass CNY500 billion during the same period.