Development Commission Chairman Appointed Director of New State Council Energy Department

Ma Kai, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Chairman of the National Coordination Committee for Climate Change of China, was named Director of a new energy department under the State Council to which other ministries will report, according to Chinese news media reports (1, 2). Ma’s new post will have vice-ministerial rank.

Central government authorities have increased the influence of NDRC with Ma’s appointment, and have consolidated under a single authority control over renewable resources, climate change policy, and development policy. The Renewable Resources Law stipulates that the State Council department in charge of energy is responsible for implementing unified development of renewable resources.