China Environmental News Alert
Posted July 31, 2009 in Greening China
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 25, 2009 - July 31, 2009
China and Copenhagen
In light of the upcoming climate negotiations to be held in Copenhagen in December, CENA will focus in the future on providing weekly updates on China's domestic climate and energy policies and its positions on the international climate negotiations.
China wants climate deal this year: U.N.'s Ban
After meeting with Chinese Premier Web Jiabao and President Hu Jintao Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said China wants to reach an agreement at the Copenhagen climate talks. Ban also expressed hope that the climate summit set to be held in New York in September would provide another stepping stone to international agreement.
Reuters (July 29, 2009)
China, U.S. renew commitment on global climate change treaty
Representatives from China and the United States signed an MOU Tuesday expressing both nations' commitment to supporting international climate talks and cooperating on the development and use of clean-energy technology. Though few specific details were established, the agreement was hailed as a step forward for bilateral cooperation. (The report is available here.
Bloomberg (July 29, 2009)
China says rich nation CO2 cuts key to Copenhagen
Following the signing of the climate MOU by Chinese and American officials, Xie Zhenhua of China's NRDC said Wednesday that rich nations must commit to significant mid-term emissions-cutting targets if the Copenhagen talks are to succeed. Though Xie did not specify a reduction percentage, he said last month that mid-term targets were more meaningful than the long-term targets which have been the focus of many industrialized nations.
Reuters (July 29, 2009)
China's three biggest power firms emit more carbon than Britain, says report
According to a report published by Greenpeace, in 2008 China's top three power companies emitted more carbon dioxide than did the whole of Britain. The report recommended introducing a tax on coal and increasing the targets for renewable energy in the country's overall power mix, emphasizing China's potential to become "the world's superpower" in energy efficiency.
Guardian (July 28, 2009)
China sets feed-in tariff for wind power plants
China has set a fixed price for energy generated from onshore wind power plants, replacing the public bidding process that caused some investors to worry about profitability. The new pricing system, which has also been under consideration in the U.S., is hoped to spur profitability of and investment in wind power projects.
BusinessGreen (July 27, 2009)
China moves to install energy-saving bulbs for public lighting
China aims to install 120 million energy-saving light bulbs by the end of the year, an official said Friday. The bulbs use about 60-80 percent less electricity than the incandescent lamps currently in wide use, and if all incandescent bulbs in China were replaced, CO2 emissions could be reduced by 48 million tons per year.
Dow Jones (July 24, 2009)
The Chinese government's efforts to close down small, inefficient power plants are ongoing, but face challenges as China's power needs continue to grow. According to officials, 54 gigawatts of coal- and oil-burning power plants have been shut down since 2007; many more such closures are needed if China is to meet its goal of reducing its reliance on coal.
Wall Street Journal (July 31, 2009)
China reports slight improvement of water quality nationwide
According to a statement released by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, this past year saw slight but widespread improvement in the quality of the country's water sources. Tougher penalties were cited as part of the reason for the improvement: in 2008, 15,000 enterprises were punished for pollution of water sources.
Xinhua (July 30, 2009)
China cities set water price in bid to conserve
Cheap water supplies in China are contributing to a looming water shortage in the country, and many Chinese cities are raising residential water prices to encourage conservation. Chinese water costs on average just one-tenth of the European price, and price hikes have generated "strong pubic reaction" in some cities.
Wall Street Journal (July 31, 2009)
1,000 protest over China chemical plant pollution: residents
In China's central Hunan province, more than 1,000 residents of the city of Zhentou gathered to demand more compensation for damages and sickness caused by a chemical plant there. The plant, which released large amounts of highly toxic heavy metals into the local environment from 2004 until its closing in March, was classified as not serious by recent government inspections, though residents expressed doubt about that assessment.
AFP (July 31, 2009)
Govt taken to court over pollution
The interest group All-China Environment Federation has brought a suit against the government of Qingzhen in Guizhou province over pollution of the city's drinking water sources. The judge in the case said she hoped the case-the first of its kind in China-would encourage government responsibility for environmental impacts of projects, and also encourage greater accountability to the public.
China Daily (July 31, 2009)
China channels 1-bln-yuan green fund to rural areas
A Ministry of Environment Protection fund of 1 billion yuan aimed at cleaning up rural areas is expected to provide aid to 9 million villagers, according to an official. The fund will support projects like waste disposal and sewage treatment and also provide financial rewards to environmentally friendly villages.
Xinhua (July 29, 2009)
Ecuador signs contract to export oil to China
Ecuador will export 3 million barrels of crude oil per month to China as part of a deal signed Thursday for which Ecuador will receive $1 billion as an advance payment. The deal comes as China is rapidly expanding its access to overseas oil resources and securing sources for its continually growing energy needs.
Reuters (July 23, 2009)
N. China city delayed reporting pollution
More than 2,600 residents of the northern Chinese city Chifeng were sickened after the city government failed to promptly disclose information regarding the pollution of the drinking water supply. Heavy rain last Thursday caused pollution of the city's reservoir, but citizens were not warned about the water until Sunday, and some say many illnesses could have been avoided by more timely warnings.
China Daily (July 30, 2009)
NE China city to launch hybrid power buses for Summer Davos
Visitors to the "Summer Davos" Forum in the Chinese city of Dalian will be able to travel on hybrid buses that consume 30 percent less fuel and discharge 20 percent less emissions than standard Chinese buses. Half the cost of each hybrid is subsidized by the government, which is planning trial initiatives of the busses in 13 other cities.
Xinhua (July 28, 2009)
Seedy solution: China tries to keep nature from raining on the Asian Games
Cloud seeding, the process of injecting silver iodide, dry ice and liquid nitrogen into a cloud to either induce or prevent rain, will be used during the 2010 Asian Games, set to be held in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. Yet the imprecision of the process and its frequent unintended results (such as a thunderstorm caused instead of dry weather) make cloud seeding a controversial form of weather control.
Scientific American (July 24, 2009)
China's wind farms profitable?
Though China's wind power capacity has dramatically increased of late, many Chinese wind farms are facing a lack of profit. Inadequate wind resources, long waits for equipment and isolated locations all contribute to poor earnings, although the government's newly introduced feed-in tariff is hoped to soon spur profit.
UPI (July 28, 2009)
E-China: the bicycle kingdom is going electric
Electric bicycles and scooters present a cheap, greenhouse gas-emission-free transportation alternative to cars in China, yet electric bikes are by no means pollution-free. Lead pollution from the bikes' batteries and emissions-intensive production processes are significant concerns, but for now the bikes' booming popularity shows few signs of diminishing.
AP (July 27, 2009)
A conversation with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu
Following his visit to China last week, Energy Secretary Steven Chu in this audio interview highlights the importance of climate change action and the dangers of continuing on a "business as usual" route. Chu sees one of his most important tasks as convincing both China and the U.S. that "if we cooperate [on climate issues] we can get there a lot faster." (An audio recording of the interview is available at the above link.)
The Takeaway (July 24, 2009)
Isabel Hilton, editor of China Dialogue, highlights an argument made by many developing countries: when the West was developing, it emitted massive amounts of greenhouse gases; should not developing nations be allowed to have their own industrial stage without being penalized for its emissions and those of industrialized nations? Hilton posits that such debates do not help foster solutions, and that real progress on climate change can only come from cooperation between developed and developing nations.
Guardian (July 29, 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.
