NRDC China Environmental News Alert

NRDC has been working in China for over twelve years on such issues as energy efficiency, green buildings, clean energy technologies, environmental governance and public participation, and green supply chain issues. This China Environmental News Alert is a weekly compilation of news from around the world on China and the environment.

July 18, 2009 - July 24, 2009

U.S., China to collaborate on building efficiency

Following his visit to China last week, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced Thursday that the United States and China will collaborate to develop more energy-efficient buildings. Among other initiatives, the joint venture will evaluate lighting, insulation, and China's burgeoning eco-cities.

Reuters (July 20, 2009)

China holds key to climate change deal: UN's Ban

Only with China's cooperation can the upcoming Copenhagen climate talks result in a meaningful agreement, said UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon in Beijing Friday. Ban is visiting China for four days, during which he will focus on climate change legislation and preparation for the December climate talks.

AFP (July 24, 2009)

U.S. says China must "pay" to cut greenhouse gases

As both developed and developing countries complain of unfair burdens imposed by climate change legislation, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said on Monday that China and other developing countries must take responsibility for their greenhouse gas emissions. Locke also added that American consumers should pay for the emissions caused by the products they consume.

Reuters (July 20, 2009)

China's ambitious energy goals

Praising China's ambitious energy-saving targets, Julian Wong, senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, said in this interview that despite its heavy reliance on coal, China will likely soon take the lead in green technology. (Full audio of the interview is available at the above link.)

Public Radio International (July 17, 2009)

Weaknesses in Chinese wind power

Despite China's impressive progress in building up its wind power capacity, some analysts warn that up to 30 percent of Chinese wind farms are not actually productive. In some cases, wind farms in remote areas are too far away to be connected to the electricity grid; in others, low-cost production of turbines has led to concerns about the quality of the energy produced.

Forbes (July 20, 2009)

Will global warming melt the permafrost supporting the China-Tibet railway?

When it was completed in 2006, the China-Tibet railway was hailed as a feat of engineering, but the rapid warming of the permafrost on which much of the railway was built could mean disaster for the $4-billion structure. With one estimate predicting that one-third of the glaciers on the Tibetan plateau will be gone by 2050, the railway's stability looks less than watertight.

Scientific American (July 21, 2009)

More rural areas turn to biogas

Aided by funding from the Asian Development Bank, biogas and low-emissions energy projects are proliferating across much of rural China. For Wu Ailing, a farmer in Shanxi province, the developments mean she uses biogas instead of coal to cook meals, and animal wastes are converted into fertilizer for her crops.

China Daily (July 20, 2009)

ABB, Siemens orders boosted by China's demand for green power

Hit hard by the economic recession and falling demand, some American and European power-grid builders are getting a boost from China's growing demand for green energy technology. An accelerated process of planning and construction is among the factors cited as helping to buoy the Chinese market for advanced technologies. 

Bloomberg (July 23, 2009)

Will the recession derail China's slow train to sustainability?

Some analysts worry that China's recent trend towards progressive environmental measures could be endangered by the economic downturn. Ambitious goals for renewable energy and green-focused stimulus packages, however, offer hope for a rejuvenation of the green sector, rather than a collapse.

Green Futures (July 16, 2009)

Australia joins with top Chinese university to fight climate change

A Chinese and an Australian university have established a joint venture into the development of low-emission energy technologies. The cooperation between Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Australia's Curin University of Technology was hailed as a step forward both for clean energy innovation and for Sino-Australian relations.

Xinhua (July 20, 2009)

Interview: U.S. top greenhouse gas emitter, counting imports

If the greenhouse gas emissions released by imported goods is taken into account, then the United States is the largest emitter in the world, far ahead of China. By contrast, measurements that count the amount of GHG emissions caused manufacturing of goods for export typically feature China as the world's largest emitter.

Reuters (July 23, 2009)

Chinese clean tech firm targets $350 million fund

Chinese private equity firm Nature Element Capital will invest in China's environmental sector, providing funding for companies focused on wind power component parts and waste-heat recovery. The firm plans to invest up to $350 million in the projects. 

Reuters (July 21, 2009)

China should not overestimate new-energy vehicles: experts

Chinese automotive experts downplayed the urgency of new-energy vehicle production, instead emphasizing the necessity of increasing the efficiency of existing models of cars. Analysts say that though China, the world's largest car market, has been making efforts to build up new-energy infrastructure, the shift to completely new forms of cars could take too long to be effective.

Xinhua (July 21, 2009)

Suntech, China Huaidian to develop solar projects

The joint effort between Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. and China Huadian New Energy Development Co. Ltd. aims to develop 500 megawatts of solar projects in China in the next three years. The installations will be located in China's western provinces, Jiangsu province and Shanghai.

AP (July 22, 2009)

Le combat de Ma Jun contre la pollution de l'eau en Chine

This profile of Ma Jun, one of China's foremost environmental advocates, highlights the challenges he faces in attempting to bring environmental information to the public. Alex Wang, NRDC's Senior Attorney based in Beijing, is quoted as saying that Ma Jun's work is crucial in making it unacceptable to violate environmental protection regulations in China.

Le Monde (July 22, 2009)

Sector snap: solar shares jump on China subsidies

The Chinese government's announcement of its Golden Sun solar-subsidy program on Tuesday boosted solar stocks, and analysts hope the program will benefit the solar industry around the world. In the next to three years, China expects to install 500 megawatts of pilot projects.

AP (July 21, 2009)

China Shenhua approved to buy land in Australia, Review says

In its first overseas venture, major Chinese coal producer Shenhua will buy about 2,000 hectares of land in Australia, according to the Australian Financial Review. Shenhua aims to begin mining coal in New South Wales by 2013. 

Bloomberg (July 21, 2009)

China CNPC aims to double gas production by 2015

CNPC, China's main oil and gas company, aims to double its natural gas production to 120 billion cubic meters by 2020. The company also plans to expand its oil and gas pipelines, and prove 400 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves per year during the next ten years.

Reuters (July 17, 2009)

Editorial: Holmes: Missing the mark on economic talks with China

In this editorial, Kim R. Holmes praises China's skepticism regarding President Obama's recent attempts to establish global climate change legislation. China's reluctance reflects its desire to preserve its economy more than its indifference to the environment, Holmes argues, and advises the United States to emulate China's caution.

Washington Times (July 23, 2009)

(CENA prepared by Kit Thayer)

See our bilingual (English and Chinese) blog dedicated to discussion of China's environmental law, policy and public participation at http://www.greenlaw.org.cn.