NRDC China Environmental News Alert
Posted February 27, 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.
February 21, 2009 - February 27, 2009
U.S. has dual task on climate change
In order to achieve its goals in tackling climate change, the Obama administration will need to launch a major push both at home and abroad, especially in China, to develop concrete solutions. NRDC China Program Director Barbara Finamore speaks on NRDC's work in developing agreements to help China pursue economic growth without harming the environment.
Washington Post (February 21, 2009)
NRDC's Alex Wang speaks with The Oregonian about China's prospects for environmental sustainability. China's current pollution levels and its efforts to turn green have real implications, both environmental and economic, for regions across the globe.
The Oregonian (February 23, 2009)
Climate envoy's cooperation call
U.S. special envoy for the environment Todd Stern, in an interview with China Daily, urged China and the U.S. to "greatly intensify and accelerate" cooperation on climate change at the national level. Stern said that both sides agreed to further cooperation in clean coal technology, carbon capture and storage, hybrid and electric vehicles, energy efficiency and renewable energies.
China Daily (February 23, 2009)
Also see: "Great potential for Sino-US co-op on climate change"
China's increasing carbon emissions blamed on manufacturing for west
A new scientific report shows that half of China's recent rise in carbon dioxide emissions was caused by the manufacturing of goods for other countries. The report cites these "off-shored emissions" as an issue of contention that needs to be resolved at the upcoming Copenhagen summit.
Guardian (February 23, 2009)
China shuts chemical plant after water polluted
Chinese authorities closed the Jiangsu chemical plant accused of the toxic chemical spill that contaminated water supplies to 1.5 million people in Yancheng. The incident is the most recent in a string of high-profile industrial accidents along major Chinese rives.
Associated Press (February 21, 2009)
Also see: "City still in shock over water danger"
Report: China energy consumption per unit GDP falls 4.59% in 2008
A new report by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that China's energy consumption for 2008 fell at a rate slightly higher than its previous estimate. China vowed to reduce consumption by 20 percent in the five year period from 2006 to 2010.
Xinhua (February 26, 2009)
Ministers agree to launch negotiations on tackling toxic mercury
At the close of the UN Environment Program's (UNEP) Governing Council in Nairobi, the world's environment ministers agreed on a global crackdown on mercury. In addition, ministers expressed support for the notion that investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency could help spur economic recovery.
Xinhua (February 20, 2009)
Watchdog to inspect pollution along Yangtze River
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection plans to launch a large-scale pollution inspection of the Yangtze River in which major polluters will be "severely punished." The probe will involve monitoring of water quality and will determine the amount of sewage and individual pollutants running into the Yangtze River.
China Daily (February 18, 2009)
Jilin to roll out electric buses with 300-km battery range
Jilin Province plans to put into use seventy electric buses with double the maximum range of conventional electric cars. The new fleet of buses will also save significant amounts of money, with the capacity to travel 100km for only 35 yuan opposed to 120 yuan by the previous buses.
Xinhua (February 20, 2009)
Official says water, air pollution in China still serious
Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Zhang Lijun urged the country to press enterprises harder on pollution control. He said Tuesday that many Chinese lakes, rivers, and air are still seriously polluted despite pollution control efforts.
Xinhua (February 24, 2009)
China to curb pasture degradation in Tibet by 2030
In its latest effort to protect the ecology of Tibet from climate change, China's State Council approved a plan to revive the region's degraded pasture. Average temperatures in Tibet have risen faster than expected in recent decades, at a rate of 0.32 degrees centigrade every ten years, fuelling worries about whether Tibet's diverse ecology will be able to survive climate change.
Xinhua (February 21, 2009)
Energy ties fuel friendly relations
In a recent trip to Saudi Arabia and four African nations, Hu Jintao said that China should deepen friendly relations with these counties, most particularly with energy cooperation. Saudi Arabia is China's largest source of oil imports; in addition, Hu Jintao has greatly focused on closer energy ties with Africa.
China Daily (February 23, 2009)
China ramps up subsidies for energy-efficient light bulbs
China's finance ministry announced Tuesday that it plans to subsidize the sale of 100 million energy-efficient light bulbs in 2009, double the amount from last year. China is currently the world's largest producer of energy-saving light bulbs.
Associated Press (February 26, 2009)
China can build 'green economy' by 2030
MicKinsey & Company, a global management consultancy firm, said in a recent report that China has the potential to build a green economy by the year 2030. The report said that China is expected to reduce both oil and gas imports by up to 40 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by investing in commercially available technologies.
China Daily (February 26, 2009)
Bohai Sea to sport a clean look
In a new NDRC marine environmental protection plan, China outlined plans to spend 126.7 billion yuan on cleaning up the Bohai Sea. The Bohai Sea is currently one of the most polluted in the country, largely from improper sewage treatment and contamination from toxic heavy metals.
China Daily (February 27, 2009)
'Use wastewater' to clean rivers
Leading political advisors in Guangzhou Province say they want to use recycled water from leading wastewater disposal plants to clean the Pearl River's tributaries. The plants are capable of producing 10,000 cubic meters of recycled water, but only a small portion is currently being used.
China Daily (February 24, 2009)
(CENA prepared by Jason Portner)
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.
