Pentagon must 'Buy American', barring Chinese solar panels and other environmental news

NRDC has been working in China for fifteen years on such issues as climate, energy efficiency, green buildings, clean energy, governance and law, health, 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.
January 8, 2011- January 14, 2011

Pentagon must 'Buy American', barring Chinese solar panels
New York Times (January 9, 2011)
A recent military authorization law was recently passed that includes a “Buy American” provision, barring the purchase of any Chinese made solar panels by the Defense Department. The provision originated in the House as a reaction to the claims that China was engaging in unfair clean energy protectionism. In total, the United States accounts for $1.6 billion of the world’s market for solar panels. The provision was carefully written to ensure that it complied with the free trade rules of the World Trade Organization. 

UK, China sign MoU to strengthen low carbon growth
Energy Business Review (January 12, 2011)
China and the UK have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on progressing low carbon growth in China. The UK will provide policy analysis and expertise on subjects ranging from low-carbon planning, market mechanisms, carbon labeling, and low carbon standards. Both countries are working towards establishing a UK-China Low Carbon Co-operation Committee and Action Plan in the spring of 2011. 

Obama, Hu to focus on energy cooperation, not disputes: US diplomat
Platts (January 11, 2011)
U.S. Department of State officials are downplaying the prominence of clean-energy trade disputes and China’s rare earth export quotas in Chinese President Hu Jingtao’s upcoming state visit to Washington. Obama is slated to be hosting the Chinese President on January 19 for a state dinner. Instead, the two statesmen are hoping to discuss more positive facets of the Chinese-American clean energy relationship, including the joint US-China Clean Energy Research Center and various other collaborative energy security efforts. 

China supplants the U.S. as country with most installed wind-power capacity
CRIEnglish (January 13, 2011)
Statistics have shown that in 2010, China officially surpassed the U.S. in total installed wind power capacity. In 2010, China installed 16 GW of new wind power, accounting for a 62% annual growth rate. China’s current total installed capacity sits at 41.8 GW, while the United States has a total installed capacity of 40.2 GW. The installations made in 2010 in China will account for 31.3 million tons of coal saved per year, reducing carbon emissions by over 90 million tons. A potential 1.5 trillion yuan ($227 billion) worth of wind energy investment could be in line if the State Council approves an upcoming emerging energy industrial development plan.

Official suspended in lead scandal
China Daily (January 10, 2011)
An official for the Anhui Environmental Protection Bureau has been suspended after recent examinations have found over 200 children with lead poisoning in Anqing city. Conclusive evidence has been established linking a nearby battery plant to the rash of poisonings. Further examination revealed that the plant had failed to handle pollution problems, even after being asked to close in August of 2010. The company then began resuming operations without informing government officials, despite having not addressed the pollution. 

China expands pollutant list, sets 2011 target
Reuters (January 13, 2011)
China will add two new pollution indicators to its emissions control list and will set a new objective to curb emissions in the upcoming year. Ammonia nitrogen and nitrogen oxide will now be included in the major pollutant’s monitoring list, in which officials hope to reduce emissions of each pollutant by 1.5 percent this year. China will also set higher emissions standards for various heavy polluting industries, including paper making, textile, and chemical producers. 

Chinese ministry to protect arable land
China Daily (January 8, 2011)
The upcoming 12th Five Year Plan will include the creation of a permanent arable land protection zone to guarantee the future of the country’s food security. The area is expected to include at least 104 million hectares of preserved arable lands, with the possibility of adding an additional 1.8 million hectares through land compensation and reclamation. Rapid urbanization and natural disasters have significantly decreased China’s available arable lands, with 122 million hectares remaining as of 2008. 

NE China province bans logging in China's largest forest for 10 years
Xinhua (January 10, 2011)
China’s Heilongjiang Province has placed a ten year ban on logging in the Greater and Lesser Hinggan Mountains. Located in the northeast of China, the mountain range contains China’s largest forest at over 430,000 square kilometers. Within the portion of the forest that extends into Inner Mongolia, lumbering will be reduced by more than half, and completely banned in 2020. Officials expect forest reserves to increase by 400 million cubic meters by 2020, with a carbon exchange capacity of 732 million tons. 

China launches crackdown on fake seeds, pesticide
Xinhua (January 7, 2011)
China’s Ministry of Public Security has initiated a campaign to halt the manufacturing and sale of fake seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers. Concern for potential crop viability and environmental degradation associated with counterfeit manufacturing. The 38 cases handled thus far have involved $2.2 million worth of falsified goods.   

(CENA prepared by Phillip Yang)
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