China Environmental News Alert
Posted August 7, 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.
August 1, 2009 - August 7, 2009
China and the March to Copenhagen
In light of the upcoming climate negotiations in Copenhagen, CENA will be expanding its focus on China's climate and energy policies and the international climate negotiations.
China sees progress on climate accords, but resists an emissions ceiling
In a briefing Wednesday, China's climate ambassador Yu Qingtai stressed western countries' long history of industrial pollution and reiterated his country's opposition to an absolute limit on China's greenhouse gas emissions. However, Yu retreated from an earlier Chinese call for 40 percent emissions reductions from developed countries and praised China's investment in the development of renewable energy.
New York Times (August 6, 2009)
Related Article: Billions from stimulus tagged to cut emissions
India and China to work together on monitoring Himalayan glacier recession (original Chinese source)
The economic recession is not the only worry for the leaders of the two Asian giants: Chinese and Indian officials met to discuss growing concerns about the effects of global warming on the Himalayan glaciers, which are rapidly receding. The Himalayan glaciers are the origin of seven of the world's major rivers, including the Ganges and the Yangtze; officials hope to reach an agreement for cooperation before the December summit in Copenhagen.
Financial Times (Aug 3, 2009)
China closes factory after cadmium pollution protest
Following protests last week in China's central Hunan province over pollution from a chemical plant there, the plant was closed, two local environmental officials were suspended and the head of the plant was detained. Pollution from the plant is blamed for at least two deaths and for causing elevated levels of cadmium in more than 500 local villagers.
Reuters (August 3, 2009)
According to one estimate, almost one-fourth of projects approved last year by local Chinese governments violated environmental regulations. With a large percentage of such projects located near densely populated areas or waterways, protests by local residents (such as the one that took place in Hunan province last week) can be the last block to potentially harmful projects.
China Daily (August 4, 2009)
First training class launched for private entrepreneurs to address climate change (original Chinese source)
In collaboration with multiple international and domestic organizations, the first training class for private enterprises addressing climate change took place last week in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. This training program, in which more than fifty private entrepreneurs participated, is part of the UN's Global Contract to address climate change.
China Business Times (Aug 3, 2009)
Southern China oil refinery moved over environment concern
In a move an official hailed as demonstrating the high value Guangdong province places on ecology, a planned oil refinery project will move to a more remote location after outcry over its environmental impact. The refinery faced criticism from environmental groups in neighboring Hong Kong, who expressed concern about its effect on air quality.
AFP (July 31, 2009)
China energy efficiency "improves in first half"
China's average energy consumption decreased by 3.53 percent in the first half of 2009 from last year, working towards the government's goal of reducing average energy consumption by 20 percent from 2006 to 2010. Stimulus package spending directed towards energy efficiency projects is credited with helping realize the decrease.
AFP (August 2, 2009)
Related Article: China's energy intensity cuts good news for the climate
Public utility official sacked over N China tap water pollution
Following last week's news that the government of the northern city of Chifeng delayed reporting water supply contamination, Chifeng's chief public utility officer was fired Tuesday. The polluted water sickened more than 4,000 residents last week; a deputy official was also fired Tuesday.
Xinhua (August 4, 2009)
21 still in hospital after ammonia leak sickens 246 in N China
Northern China's Chifeng city was again struck by chemical concerns after an ammonia gas leak there on Wednesday morning. The leak, which occurred during transportation of 30 tons of liquid ammonia by truck, sickened 246 people, though the city's Environmental Protection Bureau said the leak did not contaminate the environment.
Xinhua (August 6, 2009)
High-emission vehicles banned from entering Shanghai
Exhaust emissions account for more than half the pollution in Shanghai, and new restrictions on high-emission vehicles aim to curb pollution by prohibiting some 200,000 high-emission vehicles from entering the center of the city. High exhaust emission, heavy emission concentration and low emission stability are among the criteria used to classify vehicles.
Xinhua (August 2, 2009)
China's capital tightens vehicle exhaust controls
Since last summer's Olympics, Beijing's air quality has been a widely publicized issue, both in China and abroad. Now, with Beijing's cars numbering 3.7 million, a new regulation restricts travel within the city limits to vehicles that meet exhaust emission standards. Like that of Shanghai, Beijing's restriction applies to vehicles registered outside the city.
Xinhua (July 30, 2009)
China's installed wind power capacity doubles in H1
Since last year China's installed wind power capacity has doubled to 11.81 gigawatts, ranking China fourth in the world in terms of capacity. Though not all installed capacity power is transferred to the grid, the increase represents a step towards fulfilling China's goal of 15 percent renewable energy use by 2020.
Xinhua (August 2, 2009)
China builds wind energy observation network
A nationwide network of 400 wind observation stations will evaluate potential sites for wind power plants, the China Meteorological Administration said Monday. Data gathered by the stations will be used to assess the viability of each site for wind power projects.
Xinhua (August 3, 3009)
"973" program studies evolution of the ecological environment on the Chinese continental shelf (original Chinese source)
The Ocean University of China announced the "973" Project, which will study the evolution and future of the continental shelf's ecological environment. A significant step in monitoring the human impact on climate change, the 29 million-yuan project will provide data to inform China's international and domestic climate debate.
Science Times (July 31, 2009)
Shrimp cocktail helps make biodiesel
Scientists at Hua Zhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, China have developed a way to use shrimp shells to expedite the production process of biodiesel. The shrimp shell catalyst reduces the large amounts of pollution created by standard biodiesel production processes, and is faster and cheaper than some conventional catalysts.
LiveScience (August 4, 2009)
Agricultural development project for climate change adaptation brought to Ningxia (original Chinese source)
With help from the World Bank, the Chinese Ministry of Finance successfully obtained funding from the Global Environment Facility to start China's first "Agricultural Development Project for Climate Change Adaptation" program. Starting in Ningxia Province, the 5 million-yuan grant will implement the project in five other provinces across the nation to improve the agriculture industry's ability to address climate change.
Ningxia Daily (Aug 5, 2009)
Water crisis in parched northern China
The recent delay in the completion of the South-North Water Diversion Project, a major initiative designed to redistribute China's water resources, has resulted in hardship for already dry northern China. Hebei province, a region already plagued by global warming and drought, will have to provide water to Beijing while the central canal is completed.
AFP (August 4, 2009)
Climate change in China: "I want more rain"
In Gansu, one of China's poorest provinces, climate change is not an abstract science but rather a painful reality. As rain grows scarcer and sandstorms increase in frequency, migration is the best option for those who can afford it; for those who cannot, crop failures and encroaching desert are a constant threat.
Oxfam News Blog (July 31, 2009)
Rural renewable energy architecture applies subsidies (original Chinese source)
China's Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction of Housing in Urban and Rural Areas announced its ambitious plans to develop renewable energy construction at the county and village level. For construction of public facilities such as schools and hospitals, solar technology will be implemented for water heating and other aspects of construction.
China Industrial and Economic Info Web (Aug 3, 2009)
Energy demand strains power network
A summer heat wave and construction projects for the 2010 World Expo are pushing Shanghai's power grid to its limit. Though the grid's peak supply capacity reaches 24.1 gigawatts, the city's population of 19 million continues to grow, and greater power demand is expected in the lead-up to the Expo.
Shanghai Daily (August 3, 2009)
International Forum: "carbon tariff" interferes with climate change cooperation (original Chinese source)
The recent rejection of France's "Carbon Imports Tariff" at an unofficial EU conference reignited the political sensitivities surrounding carbon emissions and climate control in China. This writer argues that tariffs orchestrated by developed nations are in fact not created with fairness in mind, but rather motivated by trade protectionism.
People's Daily (Aug 3, 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.
