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.

October 16, 2009 - October 23, 2009

China and the March to Copenhagen

Climate cooperation to help ties, Hu tells Obama

Speaking via telephone on Wednesday, Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Obama discussed the importance of closer cooperation on climate change and its potential to further improve relations between the world's top two greenhouse gas emitters.  As a comprehensive climate agreement remains elusive and experts around the world begin to consider alternative outcomes from Copenhagen, bilateral exchanges and agreements between China and America will receive increased attention in the global climate change community.

Reuters (October 21, 2009)

Related Article from NY Times:  China and U.S. try to speed global climate strategy

China to move 15,000 from smelter

After more than 1,000 children tested positive for lead poisoning, officials in Jiyuan city in central Henan province announced that 15,000 residents will be relocated away from the toxic-emitting lead smelter blamed for the poisoning.  The total cost of relocation is estimated at 1 billion yuan (146 million USD), and it is to be paid by the lead company, which will continue operating.  Villagers are weary of these promises from local government, however, as a timetable for relocation has yet to be released.

BBC News (October 19, 2009) 

India and China agree to united front on climate change

On Wednesday China and India signed a broad five-year climate deal that served both to underline a common position on the global climate deal and to solidify bilateral cooperation on climate issues.  The agreement clarified that both nations believe developed countries should take the lead in curbing climate change by reducing domestic emissions and providing financial and technological assistance to poorer countries; at the same time, China and India should use joint efforts to cut growth in CO2 emissions, boost the use of renewable energy sources, and develop "clean coal" technology, among other solutions.

Christian Science Monitor (October 22, 2009)

China urges metals firms to build plants abroad

Amidst predictions that China's 2009 apparent steel consumption will rise about 120 million tons, or 26 percent, from 2008, senior government officials in China are encouraging Chinese producers of steel and non-ferrous metals to build plants overseas.  The attempt to trim capacity in carbon-intensive industries such as steel and base metals production is an effort to tackle waste, pollution, and excess supply.

Reuters (October 19, 2009)

Foundation set up to protect China's "Mother River"

On Tuesday the China Yellow River Conservation Foundation was created to promote environmental protection programs, fund scientific research, and sponsor international cooperation on preserving China's "Mother River."  Supplying about 10 percent of China's 1.3 billion people with water, the Yellow River is in serious danger from industrial sector pollution, as well as damaging living sewage from residents living nearby the river system. 

Xinhua (October 18, 2009)

Official sounds alarm of soil erosion in China's infrastructure construction

Zhang Xuejian of the Chinese Soil and Water Conservation Department in the Ministry of Water Resources said China must pay close attention to increased frequency of soil erosion problems related to large-scale construction of infrastructure projects across the country.  Posing a danger to natural ecological environments, soil erosion threatens food supply and security in nearly 15.27 million hectares in China.

Xinhua (October 20, 2009)

Chinese president stresses development of renewable energy

After a three day visit to a wind energy project in Shandong province, Chinese President Hu Jintao reiterated the need for China's companies to research renewable energy sources and to improve the country's energy structure.  When completed, the model project in Shandong will produce more than 95 million kilowatt of electricity for the local community.

Xinhua (October 19, 2009)

Rising seas threaten Shanghai, other major cities

Due to global warming's accelerated melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets, sea levels across the world are raising twice as fast as projected in previous years.  Chinese cities such as Shanghai are in particular danger due to massive populations and highly concentrated industrial, financial, and shipping centers located right on the coast.  Looking to London and Venice as examples, Shanghai is considering building bigger barriers to prevent storm surges and other protective remedies. 

AP (October 18, 2009)

Hong Kong:  shipping 'major source of pollution'

A recent study from Hong Kong's University of Science and Technology has linked emissions from ships in container ports with increased sulphur dioxide levels in the atmosphere.  Although power generation remains the largest source of sulphur emissions in Hong Kong, this atmospheric pollution from ports is particularly concerning due to the close proximity of these ports to major population centers in Hong Kong.

Portworld (October 21, 2009)

Electric cars find power in governments

China, France, and the USA continue to support development of electric vehicles, which the three governments believe could greatly reduce global warming and dependence on oil.  After setting aside billions of yuan in funding for "new energy" vehicles, China sees an opportunity in the car industry despite its lagging behind in traditional vehicles.

Wall Street Journal (October 18, 2009)

Beijing's air is cleaner, but far from clean

Boasting 221 "blue-sky days" in which the average air pollution index was below 101 on a scale from 0 - 500, Beijing city officials have enacted various programs and plans to improve air quality in the post-Olympic capital.  This article examines the controversial methods China uses to report air particulate matter, and the obstacles Beijing faces to keep its skies bluer than before.

NY Times (October 16, 2009)

Decline in Burmese timber smuggling across Chinese border, figures show

Conservationists were pleased to note that cross-border trade of illegally logged wood from Burma to China has decreased by more than 70% between 2005 and 2008.  The Global Witness report attributed this drastic decrease to improved Chinese border controls, but the complicated, transnational problem of illegal logging and trade is still far from solved.

Guardian (October 22, 2009)

China drought brings rivers to historic low

Sustained drought across southern and central China has brought several rivers to all-time lows, causing severe damage to harvest and threatening water accessibility for millions of people.

NTDTV (October 22, 2009)

China Clean Energy finishes new biodiesel plant

A new biodiesel plant was constructed in Fuqing City by China Clean Energy this week, designed to produce up to 100,000 tons of biodiesel annually.  This major investment by China Clean Energy illuminates the growing market for clean technology in China and abroad.

Cleantech Group (October 22, 2009) 

(CENA prepared by Stephen Leonelli)

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.