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.

April 11, 2009 - April 17, 2009

China outlines plans for making electric cars

Senior Chinese officials Friday outlined a plan to turn their country into the world's largest producer of electric cars.  Opposed to the United States' approach of giving corporate subsidies, China will focus more on consumer choice by providing subsidies for buyers.

New York Times (April 10, 2009)

Related Article: Nissan to participate in China's electric car program

Local government requires green procurement

China's State Council yesterday asked local governments to buy more energy-efficient products and announced that it will exert tougher rules to enforce the compulsory procurement of energy-saving products.  The order reveals that Chinese leaders are not satisfied with the little implementation of the procurement list by local governments.

China Daily (April 14, 2009)

Related Article: China orders governments to go green

Green building companies help country save energy

Energy-efficient buildings are seen as an important means to achieve China's goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent.  China has already constructed a total of 2.85 billion square meters of energy-saving buildings, 16.1 percent of existing construction space, and those in the industry see that number expanding. 

China Daily (April 13, 2009)

China to cut 10% sulfur dioxide emission by 2010

China's recently released National Human Rights Action Plan reveals goals to reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD) and sulfur dioxide emissions by 10 percent by 2010.  Also included in the plan, is a goal to increase consumption of renewable energy sources to 10 percent of the total by 2010.

Xinhua (April 13, 2009)

China wind power installed capacity 'to rise 64 pct'

China's wind power capacity will grow 64 percent this year to 20 million kilowatts.  Chinese experts believe that by about 2020, wind power will surpass nuclear as China's third-largest source of electricity.

Xinhua (April 10, 2009)

China's MEP tells polluters to clean up their acts

China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) is launching a campaign against heavily polluting, high energy-consuming and resource-intensive industries to prevent pollution in areas that provide drinking water.  In addition, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will not approve such projects and will strictly verify environmental assessments.

China Daily (April 15, 2009)

Shanghai district to pilot carbon credit trading plan

Shanghai's Pudong district will begin a carbon credit trading pilot program in an effort to help offset emissions from the district's top polluters.  The program will include over 300 companies who make up more than 80 percent of Pudong's total pollution.

Xinhua (April 17, 2009)

China faces a water crisis

China's water supply challenges are enormous, with 13 percent of China's farmland facing drought and a quarter of the population without access to safe drinking water.  From a combination of its economic growth, heavily polluted waters, and climate change, China faces a looming water crisis.

Business Week (April 15, 2009)

Editorial: Tough climate change policy would benefit China

It is in China's benefit to act quickly to create a bold, comprehensive climate change policy and act quickly to build an energy-efficient, low carbon economy.  China's new policy should express China's willingness to commit to greenhouse gas reductions and eventually enact economy-wide caps on total emissions. 

China Daily (April 13, 2009)

Editorial: What do China's record car sales mean?

China has so far sold more cars than the United States for three months in a row, giving rise to questions about what this means for China's environment, fuel prices, and infrastructure.  The unprecedented rise in vehicle ownership will no doubt put added pressure on China's polluted skies if a large enough share of the country's vehicles are fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

United Press International (April 14, 2009)

Editorial: Can China catch a cool breeze?

China has invested heavily in renewable energy, most notable wind power, and has the potential to move towards a clean energy economy.  But the country still gets 80% of its energy from coal and is building urban sprawls around the country, giving rise to the question of whether China can clean itself up in time. 

The Nation (April 15, 2009)

More fund invested to fight rural environment

China's Ministry of Environmental Protection is seeking to increase its financial and technology support for environmental protection for rural areas and will offer economic incentives to encourage local governments to curb pollution.  The move comes as a response to the large number of environmental complaints coming from rural areas and the increasing worry that a deteriorating environment in the countryside could threaten food production.

China Daily (April 13, 2009)

Home appliances going green

China's home appliance industry is increasingly embracing energy-saving technology as more and more consumers consider energy-efficiency along with performance and price. 

China Daily (April 14, 2009)

Three people stand trial for lake pollution in SW China

Three chemical company executives stood trial Tuesday for their roles in dumping arsenic into Yangzonghai Lake in Yunnan Province.  Before the contamination last June, the lake provided drinking water for 26,000 people.

Xinhua (April 14, 2009)

Liaoning to build world's longest water diversion tunnel

China recently finished construction of the world's longest water diversion tunnel.  The 85.3 kilometer tunnel in Liaoning Province will provide water to more than 10 million people in seven industrial cities. 

Xinhua (April 16, 2009)

HK gov't continues to promote solar energy development

Addressing a conference on "Promoting the Technology and Industry of Photovoltics," a Hong Kong official said that the municipality will continue to work closely with the electronic and photovoltaic industries to promote research and development in solar energy.

Xinhua (April 14, 2009)

China, Japan cooperate to build Yangguan shelterbelt in Dunhuang

China and Japan Monday began a cooperative project to plant the Yangguan shelterbelt, a row of trees designed to prevent desertification and promote ecological protection in the area.  The project marks the second cooperative green project between China and Japan in Dunhuang, Gansu Province since 2004. 

China.org.cn (April 15, 2009)

10 major infrastructure projects begin in Beijing

Beijing will begin construction of ten major infrastructure projects this month, with projects mainly focused on Beijing's Southwest corridor and ecological conservation.  The construction will include a number of water conservation projects, such as a canal and a reservoir supporting the south-to-north water transfer project. 

China Daily (April 17, 2009)

Efforts underway to protect endangered monkeys

A mountain-top hotel in the Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve will be demolished due to concerns that its garbage is harming the endangered grey snub-nosed monkey.  After years of protection policies, its population has risen from 200 to 850.

Xinhua (April 11, 2009)

(CENA prepared by Jason Portner)

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