While US Vice President Dick Cheney denigrates the idea of energy conservation, China’s leaders have adopted a new five-year plan that commits the country to cut energy use by one-fifth, industrial pollution by one-tenth, and industrial water consumption by one-third. A 12% tax increase has been imposed on gas-guzzling cars, along with reductions for cars with small-engines, and a new 5% tax is being levied on wooden flooring and even chopsticks, which are estimated to use two million cubic meters of timber each year.