3/5/10

Environmental China, February 25th to March 4th, 2010, Issue 49

OPINION

Will U.S. companies be shut out of clean-tech markets by China and other competitors? (New York Times, 3/4/2010) The United States must make long-term investments in clean energy development or risk being shut out of a $2.3 trillion industry, a new report by a liberal think tank has found.

Toyota and China. It’s a small world after all. (China Law Blog, 3/4/2010) News Flash: Chinese do not like being treated as "second class citizens." It appears Toyota has failed in this most basic of business propositions. I have written of how I am of the view that foreign companies doing business in China would be wise to employ their highest and best environmental standards, and not "dumb them down" for China.

Why the international community is so concerned with China’s development (Xinhua, 3/3/2010) China's three-decade fast development has brought in-depth, profound changes to Chinese society and arrested global attention, and the world community has paid keen attention to China.

True cost of cheap Chinese goods (Delta Farm Press, 3/1/2010) China’s vast manufacturing areas are among the most polluted on earth, a distinction that has been abetted in part by companies in the industrialized nations seeking the cheapest possible per unit costs while overlooking the terrible corollary costs.

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

Pig carcasses buried amid outbreak (China Daily, 3/5/2010) Authorities buried more than 40 pig carcasses on Thursday after the rotting remains were found in Sihui of Guangdong province, amid fears of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the city.

One man’s battle against pollution (China Daily, 3/5/2010) Every day before sunrise, Zhang Zhengxiang leaves home to walk along Dianchi Lake, one of the major attractions in Yunnan province. The 62-year-old retired farmer carries a camera, tripod and telescope to record the pollution encroaching on the country's sixth-largest freshwater lake.

River agency win Water Prize (Straits Times, 3/4/2010) The agency behind China's Yellow River has been awarded this year's Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize for its water-management policies. In its 11-year history, the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC) put in place flood control measures along the 5,464km river, which used to burst its banks and cause devastation, earning it the name 'China's Sorrow'.

Debate on GM food continues (China Daily, 3/4/2010) Debate over the safety of genetically-modified (GM) food continues in China, as the government steps up its efforts to develop GM crops to ensure grain security.

Kidney damage in 12 percent of Chinese children exposed to melamine-contaminated dairy products (Science Daily, 3/2/2010) While the majority of children who were affected by consuming toxic melamine-contaminated products in China recovered, kidney abnormalities remained in 12% of the affected children, according to an article inCMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Rare Buddhist flower found under nun’s washing machine (Telegraph, 3/1/2010) The Udumbara flower was found in the home of a Chinese nun in Lushan Mountain, Jiangxi province, China.

Development threatens Hong Kong bird migration (The Independent, 2/27/2010) Tens of thousands of birds, including rare and endangered species, flock each year to an unlikely haven sandwiched between high-rise Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the towering frontier of mainland China.

China’s infertility rate on the rise (Asia News Network, 2/27/2010) China appears to be suffering from rising infertility levels, with a number of regional surveys showing up to 10 per cent of couples who have regular sex being unable to conceive within a year, reproduction experts have said.

Looming water crisis in China threatens growth, report says (BusinessWeek, 2/25/2010) China’s growth may be imperiled unless the country addresses a deepening water crisis, according to a report released by the Asia Water Project in Hong Kong today.

CORPORATIONS

China Everbright Bank launches zero-carbon credit card (ChinaCSR, 3/5/2010) In cooperation with Beijing Environment Exchange, China Everbright Bank has formally launched a zero-carbon credit card.

China coal: Beating the energy trap (Technorati, 3/4/2010) China recently signed a MOU of $60 billion, with an Australian Coal major Resource House for a 30 million tonne coal supply deal.

Research report on Chinese Environmental Protection Industry (OfficialWire, 3/4/2010) In 2009, the sales value of Chinese special equipment manufacturing industry for environmental protection and social public security was CNY 133.39 billion, rising by 17.71% YOY; the sales value of Chinese discarded resource and waste material recovery and processing industry reached CNY 121.76 billion, increasing by 16.97% YOY, realizing the highest growth rate in this year.

China Industrial Waste Management to present at Rodman & Renshaw Annual China Investment Conference (PRNewswire, 3/4/2010) China Industrial Waste Management, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CIWT) ("China Industrial Waste Management" or the "Company"), a leading environmental services and solutions provider inChina, today announced that Mr. Jinqing Dong, the Company's Chairman and CEO, and Mr. Darcy Zhang, Investor Relations Director, will present at the Rodman & Renshaw Annual China Investment Conference to be held on March 7-9, 2010.

China’s Geely researching new energy cars (Reuters, 3/3/2010) China's Geely Automobile Holdings (0175.HK) is researching new energy cars, joining its rivals in developing clean tech vehicles as Beijing gets ready to roll out incentives to promote such technology.

Wal-Mart pushes energy efficiency on Chinese suppliers (Environmental Leader, 3/1/2010) Wal-Mart Stores is working with its Chinese suppliers to address energy efficiency and environmental impacts, reports the Washington Post. The retailer, fresh off a major announcement last week to cut its supply chain emissions 20 million metric tons by 2015, has more than 10,000 suppliers in China.

Investors commit to join China-Singapore Eco City (Network World, 3/1/2010) The first investors have signed on for the Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) at Tianjin Eco-City, a landmark bilateral project between China and Singapore.

Hainan toxic cowpeas concern spreads, more provinces ban sale after tests reveal toxic pesticide contamination (People’s Daily, 2/28/2010) More Chinese provinces have banned the sale of cowpeas grown in south China's Hainan province as concern about "toxic cowpeas" spreads.

GOVERNMENT

China studying environment tax to curb pollution (BusinessWeek, 3/4/2010) China, the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is actively studying an environment tax to help curb pollution.

China may start its first city-wide carbon cap and trade system (Business Week, 3/4/2010) China may start its first city-wide carbon cap-and-trade system by June as the world’s biggest polluter seeks to rein in emissions, a project adviser said.

China looks to master its control over the weather (National Post, 3/4/2010) China plans to step up its use of the weather modification techniques that brought sunny skies for both the Beijing Olympics and last year's giant military parade on National Day.

Beijing’s mirage: A water park in a water-starved city (Probe International, 3/4/2010) As Beijing’s water crisis continues to worsen, government officials say they intend to transform the city’s famed Olympic Water Cube into a massive water park, featuring seven-story water slides and a wave machine. Operators of the stadium say the project will cost 200-million yuan ($29-million).

Low-carbon lifestyle finds support (Xinhua, 3/3/2010) Chen Yu was surprised when he registered Tuesday for the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.

China’s low-carbon stocks rally on policy outlook (Bloomberg, 3/3/2010) China’s low-carbon technology makers and agriculture producers rose the most in Shanghai trading on the prospect the government may announce energy-saving policies this week, boosting the outlook for earnings.

China drafts 10-year ‘green energy’ plan (BusinessWeek, 3/2/2010) China plans to have "clean energy" account for 15 percent of its total consumption under a 10-year renewable energy promotion program soon to be made public, a state-run newspaper cites the head of the country's National Energy Administration as saying.

China official wanted toxic bean case hushed up (AP, 3/2/2010) The discovery in Chinese markets of tons of beans treated with a highly toxic pesticide has prompted an indignant response from an official responsible for the safety of the produce, despite a public outcry over recent food safety scandals.

Polluted water affects 55,000 people in central China (People’s Daily, 3/2/2010) About 55,000 people in central China's Hubei Province were relying on emergency water supplies after a local river was contaminated, local authorities said Monday.

Loopholes in pesticide regulation (China Daily, 3/2/2010) A highly toxic pesticide that had been banned but was found in tons of cowpeas from South China's Hainan province is still on sale on the island, exposing loopholes in pesticide management regulations.


Beijing to invest 1.5b in Tibet environment (China Daily, 3/2/2010) The Chinese central government will allocate a further investment of 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) by the end of 2015 to help protect and preserve the ecological environments in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Xinhua reported Tuesday.


China shows interest in melting arctic sea ice (Greenfudge, 3/1/2010) For some, the melting of Arctic sea ice is a sure sign of global warming and habitat loss. For others, it simply means a chance to reap more economic and strategic benefits. China fits one of these descriptions. Can you guess which one?

China needs more hydropower projects to fight climate change (People’s Daily, 2/28/2010) China should build more large hydropower projects so it can live up to its promise to the international community, Wang Shucheng, vice chairman of the Finance and Economic Committee under the National People's Congress (China's top legislature), said on Saturday.