NRDC China Environmental News Alert
Posted June 5, 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.
May 28,2009 - June 5, 2009
Pollution index up and running
China's first Pollution Information Transparency Index has been officially launched by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE). The assessment, part of efforts to strengthen public awareness and supervision of environmental issues, evaluates pollution information disclosure performance in 113 Chinese cities
China Daily (June 4, 2009)
Chinese executives sentenced for polluting lake
Three company executives were sentenced to prison for dumping waste including arsenic in a Yunnan lake, a sign that China is taking industrial pollution more seriously. Natural Resources Defense Council lawyer Alex Wang speaks on the need to take preventative action to stop dumping of industrial waste.
Reuters (June 2, 2009)
Central environment authorities to open hotline for direct complaints
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection is opening a tip-off hotline to act as a channel for complaints about environmental pollution. The hotline will take calls about emergency environmental issues, cross-provincial pollution, and for problems that local authorities fail to solve.
Xinhua (June 4, 2009)
China is said to plan strict gas mileage rules
Chinese officials have drafted a set of new automotive fuel economy standards requiring automakers in China to improve fuel economy by an additional 18 percent by 2015. The plan, aimed at reducing China's heavy reliance on imported oil, would be even more stringent than those recently outlined by U.S. President Barack Obama.
New York Times (May 27, 2009)
China ready to roll with $440bn green energy plan
China will soon finish drafting a $440 billion incentive package to boost solar and wind power. Although details have yet to be released, the new incentives for solar farms and rooftop panels may be introduced as early as next month, with the investment expected to come from China's economic stimulus package.
BusinessGreen (May 29, 2009)
Related Article: China puts its faith in solar power with huge renewable energy investment
Green rules to eye on Chinese firms aboard
China has outlined a set of mandatory environmental measures for Chinese companies with projects overseas. If approved, the guidelines will require outbound investors to review projects' potential environmental impacts before they begin and will require companies to follow international environmental treaties as well as green regulations in host countries.
Xinhua (May 29, 2009)
Related Article: China plans environmental rules for companies investing overseas
China cuts sulphur dioxide, water pollution in '08
China cut its emissions of sulphur dioxide 5.95 percent in 2008, while Chemical Oxygen Demand, a measure of water pollution, dropped 4.42 percent. China has promised to cut the two pollutants by 10 percent between 2006 and 2010.
Reuters (June 3, 2009)
U.S. envoy sees climate partnership with China
U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern indicated Wednesday that the United States wants to forge a partnership with China to address global warming. Although no formal document will be signed during his meetings in China this week, Stern sees his trip as one piece of an extended interaction on issues including energy efficiency, electric vehicles and carbon capture and storage.
Reuters (June 3, 2009)
New energy seen as new growth engine
National Energy Administration (NEA) deputy director Liu Qi said that China aims to make its "new-energy industry a new engine of development" by investing trillions of yuan in nuclear, solar, wind, biomass power and clean coal technologies.
China Daily (June 2, 2009)
China warms to greener refrigerators and air-cons
China plans to raise market shares of energy-efficient air-conditioners and other home appliances to over 30 percent by 2012 by subsidizing sales. The move aims to save 75 terawatt hours per year, the equivalent of 75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
China Daily (June 2, 2009)
Related Article: China announces green air conditioner producers eligible for subsidized promotion
With aims of increasing solar power's competitiveness, China will place a preferential tariff of 1.09 yuan per kilowatt hour that will pay energy companies that use solar power for their generating capacity.
Wall Street Journal (June 3, 2009)
US: Climate change negotiating team to come to China
U.S. Senator John Kerry indicated Thursday that John Holdren and Todd Stern will come to China in the next two weeks to negotiate climate change cooperation. Kerry, after meeting with Chinese officials for the past week, described them as "the most constructive and productive" talks he has had with China over climate change and has expressed confidence that a deal will be reached at Copenhagen.
Xinhua (May 29, 2009)
Related Article: China vows 'constructive' role in climate protection
China to act on climate, warns of "unfair" demands
While promising to step up actions to fight climate change, China climate ambassador Yu Qingtai cautioned that "unfair" demands by rich nations could sabotage the upcoming Copenhagen talks. Yu accused rich nations of introducing proposals beyond what was discussed at the 2007 Bali climate talks and argued that nations should focus on what was already agreed upon.
Reuters (June 2, 2009)
Wind power gets set for huge thrust
China's wind power installed capacity is expected to exceed 30,000 megawatts by the end of 2010, according to NEA official Shi Lishan. With the wind power sector seeing over 100 percent growth per year, China has recently passed India to have the world's fourth largest wind power capacity.
China Daily (June 3, 2009)
Related Article: Foreigners swept aside as wind power blows through China
In China, Pelosi calls for cooperation on climate
U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao Wednesday to discuss cooperation on energy and environmental problems. Both sides expressed a need for cooperation in fighting climate change between the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
New York Times (May 27, 2009)
Editorial: China has no other choice than to pursue sustainable development
In a Guardian editorial, China's special representative on climate change, Xie Zhenhua, explains the country's current efforts to move towards a low carbon future.
Guardian (May 27, 2009)
Supertower offers glimmer of hope in polluted Chinese city
Due for completion in October 2010, Guangzhou's Pear River Tower will be the most "energy efficient superskyscraper ever built." The building, expected to use 58% less energy than a standard building, will be fitted with photovoltaic cells and wind turbines, giving the possibility that it could be enhanced to create surplus energy.
Guardian (May 27, 2009)
Plastic bag ban works in cities, not rural areas
China's ban on plastic bags since June 1st last year has been largely successful in cities, with 65 to 70 percent fewer bags handed out. However, the ban has largely untouched rural areas due to the difficulty in monitoring small vendors.
China Daily (May 30, 2009)
Motorists to pay more for new fuel in Shanghai
In order to reduce air pollution in the run-up to its World Expo, Shanghai will supply motorists with better quality gasoline and diesel. The fuel will contain five times less sulfur than the current standard and would reduced emissions by 50 percent for light-duty vehicles.
China Daily (May 28, 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.
