NRDC China Environmental News Alert
Posted April 3, 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.
March 28, 2009 - April 3, 2009
U.S. praises China's climate efforts; urges more
U.S. special envoy for climate change Todd Stern praised China's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions at the U.N. climate talks in Bonn, but said that Beijing still must do much more. Stern specifically praised China's policies in creating energy intensity and renewable energy targets, auto standards, and energy efficiency standards for large enterprises.
Reuters (March 29, 2009)
China vies to be world's leader in electric cars
China will implement a plan aimed at turning it into the world's leading producer of hybrid and all-electric vehicles in three years. The plan calls for China to raise its annual production capacity to 500,000 hybrid or all-electric cars and buses by the end of 2011, up from 2,100 in 2008.
New York Times (April 1, 2009)
Green energy projects increase
When speaking to China's CPPCC, National Energy Administration head Zhang Guobao stressed the need for China to adopt more new clean-energy technologies into China's energy scheme and invest more in their development, or risk lagging behind the world in a clean-energy economy. China has already significantly increased investment in solar, wind, and nuclear technology in recent years, although coal still fulfills about 80 percent of China's energy needs.
China Daily (March 30, 2009)
Related Articles: China resorts to wind for green power
China energy arm plans to up nuclear capacity
China is revising its energy plans to nearly double its 2020 nuclear power capacity goals. China wants to increase nuclear capacity to 75,000 megawatts as the power source is becoming an increasingly attractive clean alternative to dirty coal.
AFP (March 30, 2009)
Beijing to set new vehicle rules
Beijing is expected to announce new vehicle restrictions on Friday to further improve traffic conditions and air quality. The new restrictions will build off of the current post-Olympics system, which are seen by the government as a success.
Xinhua (April 2, 2009)
Controversy simmers as China oil refinery plan decision nears
An upcoming environmental impact assessment (EIA) report will determine the fate of an oil refinery project in Guangdong. The refinery is the latest project to inspire protests from Chinese citizens becoming increasingly vocal about pollution and environmental worries.
Reuters (March 31, 2009)
China combats solar downturn with subsidy
In an effort to help the solar industry from recent price drops, the Chinese Ministry of finance will provide a new subsidy for solar instillations. The subsidy will affect large instillations of 50 kilowatts or greater to encourage the expansion of solar energy.
Environmental Leader (March 31, 2009)
"Going dark" activities light up environmental awareness among Chinese
Roughly 20 Chinese cities switched off lights of major buildings for the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour, a global event in which governments, businesses, and individuals turned out their lights for one hour in an effort to raise awareness for global climate change and the importance of conserving energy.
Xinhua (March 28, 2009)
Halfway through: China's energy-saving policy analysis
A government report delivered by Wen Jiabao highlights China's progress in energy efficiency in the past year, with energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 4.59 percent. Wen stated that the government will now focus primarily on industry, transportation and construction to achieve its energy savings goals.
Alibaba (March 31, 2009)
Beijing reports 80% 'blue sky days' in first quarter
Beijing had 73 "blue sky days" in the first three months of 2009, six more than this time last year and 24.3 days more than the average of the last decade.
Xinhua (March 31, 2009)
Recent signs that China is serious in tackling pollution give hope that the country may be an example of how economic development and environmental protection can go hand in hand. Director of the World Bank in China David Dollar praised the country's progress on increasing forest cover and reducing air and water pollution in the last decade.
BBC (April 2, 2009)
13 officials punished over river pollution
Thirteen Henan Province officials were persecuted for contributing to the heavy arsenic contamination in the Dasha River. The river was severely contaminated after a chemical company illegally dumped toxic waste water on August 26th.
Xinhua (March 30, 2009)
Chinese satellites begin UN environment service
Two Chinese environment and disaster monitoring satellites officially began operating to provide data for the UN-SPIDER program. The satellites will greatly increase China's ability to monitor the environment.
Xinhua (March 31, 2009)
Developed countries urged to commit more in fighting climate change
Su Wei, China's top negotiator for the UN climate change talks in Bonn, urged developed countries to support developing countries in fighting climate change. He said that the success of the Copenhagen summit hinges on whether developed countries can commit to giving climate-friendly technologies and sufficient funds to developing countries.
Xinhua (April 1, 2009)
China can act as role model on water management
A senior UN official praised China's management of its water resources and said that China can act as a role model in addressing challenges concerning global water resources. The official specifically praised China's expansion of water services in Dalian and the transfer of water from the Yangtze River to the Yellow River.
Xinhua (March 30, 2009)
Rainforest in SW China felled for rubber plantations
Yunnan's rainforest in Xishuangbanna is being decimated at a rate of 150,000 hectares per year, mostly to make room for rubber plantations. As a result, the rainforest in 2003 was recorded as 50 percent smaller than its original size.
Shanghai Daily (April 3, 2009)
Forest project launched to protect coastal N China's environment
Greening Foundations of China recently launched a joint forest project with Japan to protect Tianjin's coastal environment. The project will result in the planting of 200,000 trees over the next three years.
Xinhua (April 1, 2009)
China passes 500 mark for UN clean energy projects
China has approved more than 500 UN-backed energy projects, the most of any country. The projects yield tradable carbon credits for investors in wind farms, solar power, small hydro, biomass or the cleaning of industrial gases.
China Daily (April 1, 2009)
China, EU to jointly build energy institute
China and the EU officials signed the financing agreement that finalizes plans to build the China-EU Institute of Clean and Renewable Energy. The institute, which will provide education and act as a research platform for post graduate and doctoral students, aims at increasing the capacity for achieving China's renewable energy and energy efficiency goals.
Peoples Daily Online (March 31, 2009)
Environmental resources exchange opens in Wuhan
China's first environmental resources exchange, which will facilitate transactions of companies' pollutant quotas, recently began in Wuhan on Friday. The exchange is meant to help small businesses with pollution control and enable the government to amass funding for conservation efforts.
Xinhua (March 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.
