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. 

March 6, 2010 - March 12, 2010

China, India give nod to climate deal

Su Wei, China’s Chief Negotiator for climate change, submitted written authorization for China to be listed as a nation associated with the Copenhagen Accord; India associated with the accord the same day.  The Accord calls for voluntary limits on greenhouse gas emissions, sets a goal of limiting global temperature increase to 2 degrees centigrade, and also states that developing countries will be given $30 billion over the next three years to help mitigate and address climate change.  China and India will join over 100 other countries that have associated with the accord. 

People’s Daily Online (March 10, 2010)

US urged to step up climate bid

At a National People’s Congress press conference earlier this week, Xie Zhenhua, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission and chief representative for climate change, declared that the United States should make more radical pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Although admitting that the Obama administration has been more active than previous administrations, Xie stated that America has still failed to reach international expectations.  China hopes to increase dialogue and cooperation with the U.S. and other developing countries, so that a legally binding agreement can be reached at the next Conference of the Parties in Mexico this December.  Minister Xie also touched upon the sensitive topic of transparency, claiming that China plans to release a report on greenhouse gas emission reduction programs every two years for international consultation and analysis.  However, these programs will not be subject to “invasive examination” by other countries.

China Daily (March 11, 2010)

Related Article from Associated Press: China tells US to do more on climate change

Climate change is a fact, says China

Senior Chinese government officials have taken a stance against climate change denial.  They have described the view that climate change is not human-made as “out of step with mainstream thought.”  These comments were made during the National People’s Congress.  Xie Zhenhua of the NDRC also said, “Climate change is a fact based on long-time observations by countries around the world.”  He also said that responsibility for climate change rests heavily on the Western world due to the industrialization phase in the 19th century. 

ABC News (March 11, 2010)

Smelter that poisoned soil and children restarts production in Shaanxi
Dong Ling Lead and Zinc Smelting Company, which owns a lead smelter that was attributed to the cause of 600 cases of lead poisoning in children in Shaanxi province, has decided to resume operation of its Shaanxi plant.  The reopening of the factory has sparked strong opposition from local residents, who claim that lead pollution has not only affected the community health, but also contaminated ground soil, negatively impacting agriculture—the main source of employment for residents in the area.  Residents were given a small “allowance” last month, but many feel they continue to face pressure to remain silent.   

Asia News (March 6, 2010)

City governments fined for Yellow River pollution
The governments of Xi’an and Xianyang in northwest Shaanxi Province have been fined a total of 500,000 yuan (73, 530 USD) for polluting a tributary of the Yellow River.  These cities are the first to be punished by the provincial environmental protection department since new water pollution measures took effect in January.  The measures require city governments be fined 100,000 yuan for every milligram per liter of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in local river water; high COD levels are attributed to excessive discharges.  Shaanxi has also set up 62 sewage treatment plants to minimize pollution in Weihe River.

China Daily (March 11, 2010)

I.B.M. opens energy lab in Beijing

As another sign of China’s imminent leadership in green technology, I.B.M. has opened a lab in Beijing to develop smart grid software.  I.B.M. has realized China’s growing market is a good place to develop green tech solutions and expects the new Energy & Utilities Solutions lab to turn in revenue of at least 400 million dollars over the next four years.  China has already budgeted 7.3 billion dollars for smart grid-related energy projects, such as the electric car.  Products will be first developed for China and then will go to other global markets.

New York Times (March 8, 2010)

China starts work on Guangdong strategic oil reserves

In anticipation to help meet energy security demands, China has started preliminary work on emergency oil reserves in Guangdong province.  This is part of a three-phase project to build emergency reserves, with reserves to also be constructed in northeast China and western Xinjiang province.  China’s demand for oil has doubled over the last decade to 8 million barrels a day last year, and in 2009 over half of oil needs were met by imported shipments.  The reserves to be constructed will help safeguard China from high crude oil prices and foreign dependency.

Bloomberg (March 8, 2010)

Joint efforts against water pollution

Authorities in the Yangtze River Delta are calling for cross-region environmental legislation to better the water quality of China’s third-largest freshwater lake, Taihu Lake, which has been badly polluted for years.  The lake has suffered from blue-green algae blooms due to pollutants discharged into the lake.  The legislation would cover two provinces and one municipality in the Taihu basin area.  However, the differing interests among these governments have hindered progress in cleaning up the lake.  Director of the Shanghai municipal environmental protection bureau has submitted a proposal to the National People’s Congress to set up a central commission to protect Taihu Lake, and the mayor of Wuxi, an affected city in Jiangsu province, has supported the proposal.

China Daily (March 10, 2010)

Related Article from China Daily: Wuxi aims to become ecologically sound city

China supports nuclear power development in orderly way

 A Chinese official said on Monday that nuclear power should be developed with correct regulations and in an orderly way for human resources and technology.  Nuclear power, if developed cleanly and safely, could play a crucial role for China in environmental protection, as well as economize China’s energy structure.  China has 11 nuclear power units already in operation, and 21 units are under construction with an installed energy capacity of 23 gigawatts. Safely using nuclear power could seriously help fight climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

Xinhua (March 8, 2010)

Plastic bag ban embraced by Chinese

On June 1st, 2008, the Chinese government banned the free use of plastic bags in shops and supermarkets all over the country.  Xie Zhenhua of the NDRC stated that plastic bag use has been reduced by two-thirds, meaning about 270,000 tons of plastic has been saved.  This ban was immediately accepted by Chinese consumers, and estimates show that use of plastic could be reduced by 400 thousands tons per year in all retail, which would save petroleum by 2.4 million tons and reduce CO2 emissions by 7.6 million tons.

CCTV (March 11, 2010)

BP looks to a cleaner, greener energy future

The British energy giant BP has added a new function to its website:  an online calculator that counts individual energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.  Chen Liming, the president of BP China, hopes that the calculator can help people better understand how people’s daily actions can affect their energy consumption and the environment.  By the end of 2009, BP had invested $4 billion in developing renewable and alternative energy such as solar, wind and biomass energy, as well as carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. BP has increased cooperation in China with renewable and clean energy, given China’s huge energy market potential and need for energy security.

People’s Daily Online (March 8, 2010)

Beijingers get back on their bikes

Conventional bicycles used to rule the streets of China, as 4 out of 5 commuters formerly used bicycles as their main form of transport.  However, recent statistics show that only 1 out of 5 commuters use bikes today.  At the same time, electronic bicycles—a more travel efficient and environmentally friendly alternative—have also become increasing popular in Beijing and other metropolitan centers.  Popularizing electronic bicycles, as opposed to personal cars, has not been easy, though, as the growing middle class in China continues to see the car as a status symbol.

BBC News (March 11, 2010)

(CENA prepared by Sabrina Orlins)

* The links and article summaries in this post are provided for informational purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

 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. 

Comments