China's energy consumption per unit GDP dropped by 4.59 percent in 2008, according to a notice jointly issued by China's National Bureau of Statistics, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and National Energy Administration on June 30. The energy consumption per unit of industrial added value dropped by 8.43 percent, and power consumption per unit GDP fell by 3.30 percent.

Shanxi, Beijing and Tianjin have decreased energy consumption the most, dropping by 7.39 percent, 7.36 percent and 6.85 percent respectively; while Hainan, Xinjiang and Sichuan recorded the smallest decrease in energy consumption, dropping by 2.55 percent, 3.15 percent and 3.55 percent respectively.

In 2008, of China's provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions, those with the lowest energy consumption per unit GDP were Beijing, Guangdong and Zhejiang, while those with the highest energy consumption per unit GDP were Guizhou, Qinghai and Ningxia.