12/17/09

Issue 39, December 11th to December 18th, 2009

OPINION

Green Leap Forward has a great series of posts on China’s involvement at Copenhagen.

The Monitor’s View: China can’t be cool to Obama demands on global warming (Christian Science Monitor, 12/17/2009) The world will hardly know if global warming is being curbed if the largest emitter of carbon – China – isn’t releasing accurate data about its pollution.

To seal a deal, we need justice (Chinadialogue, 12/17/2009) An agreement seems beyond reach at Copenhagen. Ma Jun blames an inability to balance the need for efficiency with the principle of equity.

A Quiet Revolution: China’s Climate Future (The Green Leap Forward, 12/16/2009) If you’re searching for vision at this week’s Copenhagen climate conference, take a look between the lines at what China’s saying on global warming. From increasing the share of renewable energy to promoting a new “low-carbon mentality” among its citizens, China has made a name for itself as the first industrializing country — ever — to make serious efforts to limit the contribution of its economic development to climate change. By some estimates, these measures will reduce China’s emissions by an amount greater than the total reductions achieved by all parties under the Kyoto Protocol.

Is China ready for cap and trade? (Chinadialogue, 12/15/2009) Can countries without national curbs on greenhouse gases adopt emissions trading schemes? It’s a debate that splits China’s environmental entrepreneurs. Cao Haili reports.

Offshore wind makes sense for China (Renewable Energy World, 12/14/2009) One of the thorniest issues that should be addressed at the COP 15 conference in Copenhagen is how large developing nations such as China can continue to grow their economies without producing catastrophic levels of carbon emissions. We believe that a central part of the answer must be renewable energy, and that China should do what it can to encourage renewable energy technology transfer from nations with renewables experience such as Scotland, which continues to build leading-edge capabilities in this increasingly critical area.

China diverting toxic waste to North Korea, emerging information suggests (New Energy and Environment Digest, 12/14/2009) China has taken considerable steps in recent years to address electronic waste management practices unsafe for the individuals involved and harmful to local land and water supplies, as NEEDigest has previously reported.

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

Most throw cold water on China warming theory (Los Angeles Times, 12/17/2009) Reporting from Beijing - In the debate over global warming, some historical meteorologists in China pose a contrarian view.Their theory, in a nutshell? Some like it hot.

Farmer from ‘Cancer Village’ fights factory pollution (Epoch Times, 12/17/2009) Two years after his daughter died from leukemia thought to be linked to local pollution, Feng Jun, the girl’s father, did the only thing he could: file a lawsuit. That was in March this year. There have now been five hearings, and nothing has changed.

Dams and development threaten Mekong (New York Times, 12/17/2009) Basket loads of fish, villagers bathing along the banks of the river, a farmer’s market selling jungle delicacies — these are Pornlert Prompanya’s boyhood memories of a wild and pristine Mekong River.

How fishing changed China’s environment examined (Georgetown University News, 12/17/2009) In his new book, "Fishing Wars and Environmental Change in Late Imperial and Modern China" (Harvard University Press, 2009), Micah Muscolino looks at the history of fisheries in the east coast Chinese city of Zhoushan.

Jam will lead to more pollution: Experts (China Daily, 12/16/2009) Despite success in slashing the number of heavy pollution days in the city this year, Beijing still faces an environmental debt from its mounting traffic congestion, air pollution specialists warned yesterday.

Choking in China’s polluted city (CNN, 12/16/2009) On the road into Linfen, the cars seem to disappear into dense smog that clings to vanishing buildings.

The sun shines through a murky haze, if at all. The smells of industry are pungent. Just a few minutes outside and your eyes start to sting, your throat starts to hurt. You may feel dizzy or nauseous.

Chinese frugal tradition helps global carbon fight (Xinhua, 12/16/2009) The 65-year-old is one of hundreds of millions elderly Chinese who continue their frugal ways in an era of fast economic growth and greatly improved living conditions. For them, frugality means not only saving money but also cherishing precious daily resources. "Being able to afford the water bill does not mean you can waste water," He Shulan tells her daughter and son-in-law.

Why do Shanghainese people not care aout our planet? (CNNGo, 12/16/2009) For those who come to Shanghai for the first time, what strikes them the most is not only how tall the skyscrapers are, but also how smoggy the skies can be. With the UN’s 2009 Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen still in the news, it seems almost politically incorrect to not talk about the environment; however, according to QQ.com, environmental issues barely make the daily list of concerns for average Shanghainese person.

Smog sinks Hong Kong’s famous skyline (AFP, 12/16/2009) On top of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, groups of tourists find themselves staring down at an apocalyptic vision of a towering city shrouded in a menacing grey smog.

One woman’s fight against pollution in China (AFP, 12/16/2009) After years of campaigning to clean up the sludge-filled rivers and acrid air of central China's Henan province, Tian Guirong no longer has a bed to call her own and says she fears for her life.

Glaciers in southern China receding rapidly, scientists say (Los Angeles Times, 12/15/2009) Yulong Snow Mountain, which used to be a brilliant white, is now mostly gray, worrying those who study it and see it as a sort of canary in a coal mine.

CORPORATIONS

China’s rising appetite for bullion and base metals (Commodity Online, 12/18/2009) No country in the world has such a rising appetite for base metals like copper, aluminum, lead and precious bullion metals such as gold, silver and platinum like China. The dragon country is going all out to amass massive quantities of base metals and bullion in its reserves.

China mulls European solar projects (Wall Street Journal, 12/18/2009) State-owned China Energy Conservation Investment Corp., the nation's flagship developer of clean and renewable energy, is in talks to invest and operate solar utility projects in Spain, Italy and Germany, a company executive said Wednesday.

Vega’s China venture to use special torrefaction technology in ten manufacturing plants (MarketWire, 12/17/2009) VEGA PROMOTIONAL SYSTEMS, INC. (PINKSHEETS: VGPR) recently announced the Company has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement to build multiple manufacturing plants throughout China to produce alternative energy using torrefaction technology.

Challenges for China’s recycling industry (CCTV, 12/17/2009) Towns and villages across China are facing the problem of mountains of rubbish. Experts say this waste material is one source of carbon emission in the country. CCTV reporter takes a look one small effort going on just outside Beijing to manage this problem.

China to invest $40 billion in water infrastructure (SmallCapInvestor, 12/17/2009) I ran this excerpt from Samuel Coleridge’s 18th century poem back in October when I discussed the global scarcity of drinking water. Today I’ve included it again because I’m adding a water stock to my SmallCapInvestor PRO portfolio that has the potential to help solve China’s water shortage, and post huge gains for investors.

The Green Rush is on in China (NPR, 12/16/2009) A new gold rush in China is actually a green rush — an urgent drive to develop green technologies. One group of Western companies, the Cleantech Initiative, suggests China's market for renewable energy could eventually be worth as much as $500 billion to $1 trillion a year.

Pepsi facilities in China, Chile deploy Orion energy systems technology (CNNMoney, 12/16/2009) PepsiCo International has chosen to install technology from Orion Energy Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:OESX) at its Nanchang, China, and Santiago, Chile, facilities -- projects that will reduce energy waste and associated energy costs.

China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline benefits all sides (People’s Daily, 12/15/2009) The China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline starts from the border between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, runs through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and finally ends at Horgos City in China. It is a double-line pipeline, including line A and line B, and has a length of 1,833 kilometers. Line A was tested and put into operation at the beginning of December 2009. According to the project's construction plans, both lines will be completed and begin transporting natural gas in 2010.

Pigs potty-trained to reduce water pollution (The China Post, 12/14/2009) In response to the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)'s new levy to impose a water pollution fee on factories and farms starting next July, hog farms — a major water polluter — are potty-training their livestock to abate the potential costs added by the levy.

Sparks fly as China quarrels over battery-powered bikes (Reuters, 12/14/2009) China's vast population of battery-powered bikes is the focus of uproar after new rules ignited public fears, and hopes among some, that these pack mules of the nation's economic boom could be run off the road.

Can China turn cotton green? (Miller-McCune, 12/14/2009) That "all-natural" cotton T-shirt in your closet? The one with the eco-friendly message brightly printed on the front? Ounce for ounce, it could be the most environmentally toxic item of clothing you own. From the water and agrichemicals lavished on cotton grown in some of the world's driest regions (approximately one-third of the pesticide and fertilizer produced worldwide gets sprayed or dusted on cotton), through multihued rivers of waste streaming from textile mills to landfills bulging with castoff clothing, the life cycle of the humble cotton tee has left ecological wreckage in its wake.

Caterpillar announces remanufacturing joint venture with China Yuchai to promote China’s sustainability and environmental preservation initiatives (PRNewswire, 12/14/2009) Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), through Caterpillar (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (Caterpillar China), and China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE: CYD), through its main operating subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd. (Yuchai) have signed a joint-venture agreement to establish a company to provide remanufacturing services for Yuchai diesel engines and components and certain Caterpillar diesel engines and components.

UK company bribed Chinese official (Times Online, 12/14/2009) A British environmental consulting company which lists “integrity” among its corporate values bribed a Chinese official with £15,000 to win contracts, according to official reports of a court case in Shanghai. Environmental Resources Management (ERM) is said to have paid off an influential bureaucrat in the city’s environmental protection office who is now on trial.

GOVERNMENT

It is not China’s style to let the green inspectors rummage around (The Times, 12/18/2009) For nations of a nervous disposition, there is an ocean of difference between “transparency” and “scrutiny”: a commitment to the first is a sop, a commitment to the second is a surrender.

China to invest over 3 trillion yuan in environment: report (AFP, 12/18/2009)

China is to invest more than three trillion yuan (440 billion dollars) in environmental protection over five years from 2011, state media said Thursday, as the country battles widespread pollution.

Hindi-Chini camaraderie at Copenhagen (Business Standard, 12/18/2009) It has been a prickly year for China-India ties with the Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute poisoning bilateral rhetoric. In Copenhagen, Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai is back in vogue with the two sides holding meetings up to six times a day, according to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

China begins construction on world’s longest sea bridge (Mother Nature Network, 12/17/2009) The bridge, which includes an underwater tunnel, will span 50 km and provide a Y-shaped link between Hong Kong, Macau and China.

China continues grip on coal (UPI, 12/17/2009) While the Chinese government is embracing energy efficiency and investing in new green technology, China continues to burn coal at record rates.

Copenhagen climate summit: China is optimistic about a deal (Telegraph, 12/17/2009) Today world leaders, including Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, will gather in Copenhagen. Deal or no deal, they know that there must be a global effort to tackle climate change. China is upbeat about the prospect.

Xie overcame toxic spill to become China’s top climate official (Bloomberg, 12/16/2009) Xie Zhenhua was head of China’s state environmental protection agency in 2005 when a toxic spill almost ended his career. Four years later, Xie leads a Chinese delegation at odds with the U.S. at Copenhagen’s climate talks.

Tibetans to invite Chinese scientists and environmentalists for discussion at Copenhagen (Tibet.net, 12/16/2009) The Tibetan delegation has invited around 10 Chinese scientists and environmentalists based in Denmark for their participation in a panel discussion on 'Nomads: Climate Change and Human Rights, scheduled Thursday, 17 December.


China’s Lanzhou makes plans to reduce mass transport emissions (Cleantech, 12/16/2009) Lanzhou, China’s rapid transit system is going to be cleaning up its act, thanks to some recent support from the Asian Development Bank, according to Ecoseed. The $480.3 million project is expected to decrease transportation time and cost, as it cuts down greenhouse gas emissions.

Nuclear power expansion in China stirs concern (New York Times, 12/15/2009) China is preparing to build three times as many nuclear power plants in the coming decade as the rest of the world combined, a breakneck pace with the potential to help slow global warming.

China’s 2020 emissions based on sound science: expert (Xinhua, 12/15/2009) China's recently announced carbon intensity target is a notable goal based on sound science, said a Chinese climate expert attending the ongoing UN-led climate talks here.

China’s first solar energy village project launched (People’s Daily, 12/14/2009) The "Sunny Village" project, China's first pilot project centering on comprehensive utilization of solar energy, was recently launched in Xingtai City, Hebei province. The project is located in the Xingtai Development Zone's Baiquan Village. With a total investment of 6 million yuan, the first phase involves 100 wind and solar energy street lamps, 100 wind and solar energy landscape lamps and the application of photovoltaic solar energy technology in the construction of a residential building.

Water pollution plagues China (Free Speech Radio News, 12/14/2009) Water pollution is one of China’s most severe environmental problems. According to environmental monitors it affects almost 70% of the country’s rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The Chinese government has tried to implement a number of laws to address the problem, but a series of recent reports by Greenpeace has shown that the situation is only getting worse - and they're blaming major companies for continuing to dump their waste. From Beijing, FSRN’s Shuk-Wah Chung has more.

Heat on China to break impasse at Copenhagen (The Australian, 12/14/2009) Australia has appealed to China to step up to the leadership role expected of a global superpower, as a standoff between the US and China deadlocked the Copenhagen climate change talks.

Chinese vice premier calls for safe, environment-friendly river shipping (Xinhua, 12/12/2009) Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang urged efforts to ensure safe and environment-friendly river shipping to facilitate regional economic expansion.

U.S. climate negotiator ‘lacks common sense,’ Chinese diplomat says (New York Times, 12/11/2009) Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei lashed out today at U.S. climate negotiator Todd Stern, calling "extremely irresponsible" his recent pronouncement that no American climate change funding would go to China.

Shanghai to impose wider ban on smoking in public venues (People’s Daily, 12/11/2009) Shanghai is to impose a wider ban on smoking in the city's public places beginning March 1 next year, according to a draft amendment to the existing anti-smoking law approved by the city's top legislature.

Riverside Chinese city builds a waterborne passenger transport system (CCTV, 12/11/2009) Wuhan, a city perched in the middle reaches of the Yangtze, China's longest waterway, is building a waterborne passenger transport system to ease road traffic congestion.

IEA raises China oil demand outlook, probes gasoline use riddle (Dow Jones Newswires, 12/11/2009) The International Energy Agency raised its forecasts for China's oil consumption in 2009 and next year, but said Friday it has yet to solve the mystery of why the country's gasoline demand is subdued when car sales are surging.

Government promises new homes for central China sunken village (Xinhua, 12/11/2009) A total of 154 people will have new or renovated homes under a government-funded plan to reconstruct a central China village that was damaged by subsidence caused by rampant gypsum mining, local officials said Friday.

12/13/09

Issue 38, December 4th to December 11th, 2009

OPINION

Green Leap Forward has a great series of posts on China’s involvement at Copenhagen.

Growing China industry helps clean energy boom (WWF, 12/11/2009) Clean energy technology is on track to become the third largest industrial sector globally with a rapidly increasing share taken up by China, predicted a WWF report released at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen today.

How to cooperate on climate (Chinadialogue, 12/10/2009) A deal between the American state of California and China's Jiangsu province provides a promising model of international partnership. Linden Ellis reports.

Young China’s long green march (Chinadialogue, 12/09/2009) The work of the country’s largest youth environmental movement is only beginning, writes Huo Weiya. Students’ sense of not doing enough provides an impetus to keep going.

Profit from China’s terrible problem (Street Authority, 12/09/2009) An unprecedented level of industrial expansion during the past two decades has not only made China wealthy. It's made the country really dirty. Now comes the clean up.

Why the best legacy of Copenhagen could be a stronger China (Treehugger, 12/08/09) The slight prospects for a deal at Copenhagen are already being pinned largely on the US and China. But with Obama's hands tied behind his back partly by the US Congress, with China already demonstrating leadership on renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts, and with both the developing and developed world hanging on Beijing's every word, the success or failure of Copenhagen will in large part depend upon China.

Zhu Zhu pets made in China disaster versus American Green Toys (Everything PR, 12/07/2009) Zhu Zhu Pets are made in China, in the least safe environment you can imagine. They are designed for children aged 4 and up, although on several sites the manufacturer recommends this product for children aged 3 – recommendation that does not comply with their own testing reports, made available by the company AFTER our editorial yesterday. According to this report, the toys were first tested in April 2009 – it is very possible that one toy in particular doesn’t comply with these safety norms, considering how many were recently produced to satisfy the public demands.

China’s big investment in alternative energy source for US is worrisome (Lubbock Avalanche Journal, 12/04/2009) China's big leap into the U.S. renewable energy market by putting up more than a billion dollars for a wind farm in West Texas is disturbing on several levels.

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

Climate change creates environment of poverty in China (Xinhua, 12/10/2009) In the last four years, global warming has been blamed for worsening droughts around Liaoning, with a summer drought in 2006,a spring drought in 2007 and an autumn drought in 2008.

New book chronicles China’s green movement (China Daily, 12/10/2009) China's first bilingual collection on climate change and environment protection, a joint effort of China Daily journalists and columnists, has been published this week in conjunction with the Copenhagen summit.

Chinese see environment as biggest security threat (Newsweek, 12/10/2009) What does China see as its greatest threat? Beijing may finger the U.S., but a new poll of Chinese public opinion shows that people on the ground are more worried about the environment and domestic woes than geopolitical ­enemies.

China to resettle at least 440,000 for water project (AFP, 12/09/2009) China will resettle at least 440,000 people to make way for a massive and much-delayed project aimed at diverting water to meet growing demand in the parched north, state media said Wednesday.

Beijing explores new ways to dispose of bio wastes (CCTV, 12/09/2009) There have already been around 400 tons of leaves that have fallen alongside the streets of Shijingshan District this winter. Instead of being mixed with domestic waste and buried on landfill sites like in the past, the leaves have been used to feed oxen and sheep at a livestock farm whose owner came to sanitation stations and asked for the leaves.

Berkeley lab experts assist in the greening of China (Science Daily, 12/08/2009) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists Lynn Price and Nan Zhou expected the long banquet and endless toasting. What they did not expect on a recent trip to a cement plant in central China was a three-hour variety show by the factory employees, complete with folk dancing, song-and-dance numbers and comedians. Even more surprising were the lyrics to one of the songs: "I started to listen closely and realized they were singing about closing inefficient factories, next year's clean production targets and so on," said Zhou.

Macao finds water saving campaign is worth its salt (Xinhua, 12/08/2009) Irene Kan sighs with relief when she reads the "green" classification for the salinity of Macao's drinking water. The 25-year-old office clerk in downtown Macao checks tap water salinity level on the Macao government website every day.

Higher lung cancer risk in eastern China: study (Reuters, 12/07/2009) People in eastern China likely have a higher risk of developing lung cancer than those in western China because of extensive burning of biomass fuels in homes and factories, according to a study.

CORPORATIONS

Chinese car market overtakes that of United States (AP, 12/11/2009) China has overtaken the U.S. as the world's biggest market for automobiles, the first time any other country has bought more vehicles than the nation that produced Henry Ford, the Cadillac and the minivan.

Longest power project completed in China (CCTV, 12/11/2009) Stretching nearly 2,000 kilometers, the power-transmitting project covers the longest distance in the world. The project starts in Sichuan province, where rich water resources there will be used to generate electricity.

Peanut shells, corn stalks: China’s alternative to coal? (Taiwan News, 12/11/2009) Mountains of peanut shells are spread out across Shengchang Bioenergy's property on the outskirts of Beijing. Local farmers drive in and out, unloading dried corn stalks in exchange for a small fee.

China’s Longyuan in strong debut (Financial Times, 12/11/2009) Shares in China Longyuan Power Group, Asia's largest wind power generator, rose 9.4 per cent on their Hong Kong debut yesterday to HK$8.93 in a sign of robust investor appetite for the renewable energy sector.

Evergreen only plans to grow in China (Boston Herald, 12/11/2009) Evergreen Solar Inc. - championed as the state’s green energy leader - now says that it’s only going to expand in China. To survive, spokesman Chris Lawson said, Evergreen needs China’s deep subsidies and cheap labor.

China ups ante on carbon emissions with new Picarro contract (Venture Beat, 12/10/2009) Picarro, maker of a system that measures the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to a surprisingly accurate degree, has landed a major contract to provide the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) with twice the number of systems as expected.

China’s rail program receives $1 billion boost in funding from ADB (Asian Development Bank, 12/10/2009) The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is to receive up to $1 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a landmark program to support cleaner, safer and more energy efficient railway services in poor southwest regions of the country.

Chinese Environmental Protection Industry, 2008-2009 – new report released (PRNewswire, 12/10/2009) From January to November of 2008, the sales value of the special equipment manufacturing industry for environmental protection and social public security was RMB 103.410 billion, growing by 27.66% YOY. The growth rates of special equipments for environmental protection and social public security fell by 9.66% YOY and 12.08% YOY.

Siemens seeks China growth (Wall Street Journal, 12/09/2009) Siemens AG, hoping to capitalize on China's growing demand for green technology, said Tuesday its environmental business accounted for a significant proportion of around 2 billion yuan ($293 million) worth of new orders it has signed in the past few days with Chinese firms.

Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline nearly operational (The Seattle Times, 12/09/2009) A natural gas pipeline linking Turkmenistan and China is nearly operational and President Hu Jintao will attend an inauguration ceremony during a visit to the central Asian nation this weekend, a senior Chinese diplomat said Thursday.

Skystar Bio-Pharmaceutical acquires exclusive aquaculture vaccine technology and provides operational update on facility development (MarketWire, 12/09/2009) Skystar Bio-Pharmaceutical Company (NASDAQ: SKBI) ("Skystar" or the "Company"), a China-based producer and distributor of veterinary medicines, vaccines, micro-organisms and feed additives, today announced that it has purchased an exclusive aquaculture vaccine technology from and signed a collaborative research and development agreement with China's Fourth Military Medical University ("FMMU") for RMB 8 million (approximately US $1.2 million), granting Skystar exclusivity on the patent through 2012.

Chinese eco-farm turns chicken poop into usable power (ABC, 12/09/2009) Billed by state media as an ecological farm, it was first set up nine years ago by a private Chinese agribusiness firm to raise chickens and supply Chinese consumers with organic eggs. With the use of imported technology, this pioneering eco-farm now turns chicken poop into biogas and electricity and plays a role in China's effort to reduce its carbon emissions. In its own way, this farm is part of China's search for a model of sustainable agriculture with clean energy.

Dow Corning wins award for corporate social responsibility in China (Webwire, 12/09/2009) Dow Corning Corporation, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, has won the 2009 American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award.

Husky Energy finds big gas field off China (Reuters, 12/08/2009) Husky Energy Inc (HSE.TO), Canada's No. 3 integrated oil company, said on Tuesday it has tapped into another big gas field off China's coast similar to its massive Liwan discovery in 2006, one of the biggest-ever gas finds off the country's shore.

CNOOC may double oil, gas production off South China (Bloomberg, 12/07/2009) Cnooc Ltd., China’s biggest offshore oil explorer, may double its crude oil and natural gas production in the western part of the South China Sea to meet rising energy demand in the country.

Chana Auto launches China’s first electric only powered vehicle (People’s Daily, 12/07/2009) Benni-I electric cars, China's first electric-only powered vehicles, started rolling off the production line at Chana Auto Company's Chongqing Yubei Plant December 6. This model will be officially put on sale in the second half of next year, said Chana Auto president Xu Liuping.

China’s Shandong to get 10 million tons/year crude via Rizhao pipeline (Dow Jones, 12/07/2009) Independent refineries in China's Shandong province will be receiving 10 million tons a year of crude oil from the Middle East by mid- 2011, easing a shortage of feedstock for production of fuel oil, the China Chemical Industry News said Monday, citing an official from the local industry association.

Chinese group to build biomass geothermal plants in Pakistan (Power Group, 12/04/2009) China's A-Power Energy Generation Systems and Shenyang Power Group (SPG), a subsidiary of A-Power, have signed agreements with Pakistan Amraas International on two separate distributed generation projects in Pakistan.

China’s Sinopec secures gas from Exxon Mobil (BBC, 12/04/2009) China's second biggest oil and gas company has secured a 20-year supply of gas from Papua New Guinea.

GOVERNMENT

China boosts auto trade-in subsidies (CCTV, 12/11/2009) Something else that's likely to boost car-sales, although this time through higher subsidies encouraging car owners to trade what they have for a new model. With older models often less energy efficient, this move could both drive up sales in new cars while helping protect the environment.

China’s Hu to woo Central Asia energy suppliers (Reuters, 12/11/2009) Chinese leader Hu Jintao will mark a new milestone in Beijing's quest for control over Central Asia's energy resources when he inaugurates a new gas pipeline from Turkmenistan next week.

China’s human rights development moves ahead with abolishment of shooting execution (Xinhua, 12/11/2009) A northeastern Chinese province announced Thursday that shooting as a means of death penalty execution had become something of the past within its jurisdiction.

China races to invest in green energy (Washington Times, 12/11/2009) Regardless of the outcome of this month's climate talks in Copenhagen, China is sprinting ahead in an effort to develop renewable energy sources - especially solar and wind power - to ease its reliance on carbon-rich coal.

China’s pollution to double by 2050, US not to fund emission control costs (Domain-b.com, 12/10/2009) The US chief negotiator at the UN climate summit said the US would not hand over money to China and other developing nations to subsidise their efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. He also said the developing nations would not be allowed to be exempted from demands that they burn less fuels.

China delays controversial incinerator after protests (Reuters, 12/10/2009) Authorities in China's southern city of Guangzhou have put off plans to install a garbage incinerator after hundreds of people protested, saying its location posed a health hazard.

Chinese province uses Japan loans in ecosystem improvement for inland lake (Xinhua, 12/10/2009) The northwestern province of Qinghai is progressing with ecosystem improvement for the Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland lake, with Japanese government loans, local economic planning agency said Thursday.

China struggles to fuel its nuclear energy boom (Reuters, 12/10/2009) China is driving ahead with an ambitious program to expand its atomic energy capacity over the next decade, raising questions about its ability to find the uranium it will need, at home or abroad.

China to continue resource products pricing reform (Xinhua, 12/10/2009) China will continue resource products pricing reform next year to promote energy saving and emissions reduction while efforts would be made to guarantee that people's livelihood not affected by price fluctuations, a senior economic planning official said Thursday.

Governments turn to cloud seeding to fight drought, but money and science post obstacles (LA Times, 12/10/2009) On a mountaintop clearing in the Sierra Nevada stands a tall metal platform holding a crude furnace and a box of silver iodide solution that some scientists believe could help offer relief from searing droughts.

Chinese delegation pushes population control at Copenhagen (Lifenews.com, 12/10/2009) The Chinese delegation to the international climate change summit isn't pushing reducing carbon emissions or promoting recycling as a way of protecting the environment. Instead, Chinese officials say population control is an important part of promoting environmental policies.

China: Climate change or hot air? (BusinessWeek, 12/09/2009) On the wooded hills outside the city of Harbin in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, Chinese developers are building towering wind turbines that will spin day and night to generate clean electricity. The project represents the hope that China, which recently surpassed the U.S. as the world's largest source of greenhouse gases, has truly embraced environmentalism.

China to close steel mills failing environmental limits (Bloomberg, 12/09/2009) China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, set new environmental and power standards for steelmakers and threatened closures to curb pollution and overcapacity.

Carbon-trading scheme undermined by Chinese projects (The Epoch Times, 12/08/2009) As the Copenhagen climate conference opens, the existing mechanism for carbon trading is drawing close scrutiny. The Chinese authorities’ misuse of the carbon credit scheme, CDM, has come to the surface, challenging the effectiveness of the global carbon trade in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewables to supply one-third of China’s energy by 2050 (Reuters, 12/06/2009) China's renewable energy strategy through 2050 envisions renewable energy making up one-third of its energy consumption by then, the China Daily said, as the upcoming Copenhagen conference on climate change highlights the world's dependence on fossil fuels.

China’s costly climate goals: report (AFP, 12/04/2009) China will need to invest up to 30 billion dollars a year to meet its goal of curbing greenhouse gas emissions, the state press said Friday, citing an academic study.

China denounces carbon tariff idea ahead of Copenhagen (Reuters, 12/04/2009) China's official news agency has denounced proposals for "carbon tariffs" on goods from big greenhouse gas emitting countries, saying on Friday that the idea could trigger trade battles with poor countries.

China jails officials over dam collapse cover-up (Reuters, 12/04/2009) China has sentenced 13 low-level officials to jail for an iron mine dam collapse just before the Olympic Games opened in Beijing last year, which was hushed up despite killing at least 43 nearby villagers.

12/6/09

Issue 37, November 27th to December 4th, 2009

OPINION

Making energy efficiency pay off (China International Business, 12/04/2009) Consider this: to produce one unit of GDP, China uses an amount of energy two-and-a-half times the world average. This places energy efficiency as a key priority for China, both in simple bottom-line and environmental terms. It also creates great opportunities for market-based solutions.

China has not lowered subsidized tariffs for wind projects (Financial Times, 12/04/2009) Sir, Your report “UN halts funds to China wind farms” (December 2) refers to the unsubstantiated accusation that the Chinese government has fiddled policy to attract Clean Development Mechanism investment. From what we hear, this is a hot topic of debate within the CDM’s executive board as it meets in Copenhagen this week, in advance of the climate summit.

China’s climate games (DNA India, 12/04/2009) Chinese officials have demonstrated often enough that they are the ultimate 'climate change' artists. At the Beijing Olympics of 2008, and during the celebration earlier this year to mark the 60th anniversary of China's founding, Beijing's weather modification bureau officials demonstrably changed the skies over the capital city from a muggy grey to a shining blue, to the wonderment of the world.

Can China be a world leader in green alternatives? (China Worker, 12/03/2009) We see a glimpse of the possibilities to stem climate change in the development of China’s solar and wind industries today, which have grown rapidly. But these developments are being held back and distorted by the demands of global and Chinese capitalism, causing investment bubbles, overcapacity (unbelievably) and extreme imbalances.

Two faces of China’s coal industry (Chinadialogue, 12/02/2009) A project in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, could eventually clean up the planet's fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. Jonathan Watts reports.

Can China go green? (BBC, 12/02/2009) Jonathon Porritt reports from China, where, amidst the toxic power stations and burgeoning numbers of cars, he finds some extraordinary and pioneering green solutions.

China is tackling climate change better than the US – Discuss (Huffington Post, 12/02/2009) As the two titans of greenhouse gas emissions announced their first climate pledges last week, the US and China didn't look like were trying hard to impress anyone or one-up each other. Their modest, if politically pragmatic commitments represented the end of a years-long back-room bilateral game of carbon poker, full of bluffing, posturing, the heckling of India and US Congressmen, and now, a couple of mediocre hands. Neither side looks like a winner yet.

China’s Cophenhagen (The Energy Collective, 12/01/2009) It is a long-held truth that China will inevitably stride on to the centre stage of world affairs as it grows in power and influence. China has no doubt become a major player in trade, development and the environment. More crucially for the topic at hand, China became the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2007, overtaking the United States for the honor and in the last two years has only widened the gap. As one of the largest contributors to climate change Chinese consent is clearly crucial to any agreement (however limited) in Copenhagen and its now necessary successors. However, does this all add up to make China the linchpin of Copenhagen? In short, no.

China’s best party school? (China Environmental Law Blog, 11/30/2009) The Panyu waste incineration plant protest in Guangzhou last week was important for a number of reasons, but one of the most thoughtful takes on the event comes from an unlikely source, the Communist Party of China’s Guangdong Party School.

Lessons from China’ Three Gorges Dam (Asia-Pacific Journal, 11/30/2009) The world’s largest hydropower project has reached its final dimensions. Peter Bosshard draws conclusions from the Three Gorges experience.

Storming the clouds (Chinadialogue, 11/27/2009) Chinese scientists claim to be able to control the weather. But is geoengineering more than wishful thinking? And, if so, should we be worried? David Adam reports.

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

Chinese media take environment awareness mission to Copenhagen (Xinhua, 12/04/2009) At least 20 Chinese media organizations are to send correspondents to Copenhagen to cover the climate change summit this month, as the nation's interest in environmental issues intensifies.

Building Jiangsu (China International Business, 12/04/2009) From a distance it is easy to mistake the thousands of leafy, vegetable-like flowers protruding from the surface of Jiangsu's Tai Lake for common weeds. Yet, far from being harmful, these plants — water hyacinths, actually — serve a very practical purpose. To Zhu Puping, an associate research fellow at the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the carefully laid-out clusters of lush foliage scattered around the lake are a matter of pride.

Birth defects rise from lack of tests (China Daily, 12/04/2009) Experts say a lack of pre-marital physical checks and pollution have pushed the number of Beijing babies with birth defects to 1.6 percent this year, twice as many as 10 years ago.

Many decline offer to escape lead (Global Times, 12/03/2009) Many villagers who may still be at risk of lead poisoning problems from nearby factories are refusing to accept an offer by the government of Jiyuan, Henan Province to relocate to a safer location.

China should adapt to climate change: meteorologist (AFP, 12/03/2009) China's top meteorologist has warned climate change could cause "incalculable" damage to the country and that efforts should focus on adapting to global warming rather than slowing it.

Home of rare birds under threat as study predicts large reductions in mudflats (China Daily, 12/02/2009) Experts in Shanghai have warned that rising sea levels could pose a serious and immediate threat to wild birds living near the city. A joint study by researchers at Fudan University and the Nature Conservancy China Office shows Dong Tan, an important habitat for migratory birds at the mouth of the Yangtze River estuary, could be reduced by almost a half in the next 100 years.

HIV tests turn blood into cash in China (New York Times, 12/02/2009) A young, boisterous crowd gathered in front of the Purple Tribe nightclub on a recent Friday night, but hardly anyone was interested in going inside.

Hong Kong’s carbon footprint ‘second highest in world’ (AFP, 12/01/2009) Hong Kong has the second highest carbon footprint per capita in the world, due to the city's high consumption patterns and large volume of imports, according to a survey released in Norway.

US man wanted for ecoterror sentenced in China (AP, 11/30/2009) An American man wanted for ecoterrorism attacks in the western United States has been sentenced to three years in a Chinese prison for making illegal drugs.

Chinese panda couple head for Australia (Xinhua, 11/27/2009) A giant panda couple left their southwest China home on a passenger plane Friday for a 10-year stay in Australia, which will be the first time for the endangered species to live in the southern hemisphere.

CORPORATIONS

China wind firm, shipbuilder brave tough IPO market (Reuters, 12/04/2009) Asia's largest wind power generator, Longyuan Power Group Corp, and China's biggest shipbuilder, China Shipping Industry, will each raise over $2 billion in initial public offerings in Hong Kong and Shanghai, testing market appetite strained by a glut of recent listings.

Sino Agro Food, Inc. announces its “Green and Natural” product trials meeting expectations (Business Wire, 12/03/2009) Sino Agro Food, Inc. (Pink Sheet:SIAF), an emerging integrated, diversified agriculture technology and organic food company with subsidiaries operating in China, is pleased to announce its retail trials for its "Green and Natural" line of Dairy products, produced by the Company's subsidiary ZhungXing Cattle Husbandry Co. Ltd., has met Management's sales expectations for the Month of October.

Capstone Turbine names two distributors in China for fast-growing biogas market (CNN Money, 12/02/2009) With China wanting more electricity from renewable sources, Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST), the world's leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, has added two distributors in China focused on securing biogas applications in landfills, agriculture and wastewater treatment plants.

Yangcheng gets environmentally-friendly electronic park (ChinaCSR, 12/02/2009) A letter of intent has been signed between the Yandu District in Yancheng, Jiangsu, and the China Electronics Enterprises Association department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, on the building of an environmentally-friendly electronic park in Yandu.

China grain output may drop 37% on climate change (Bloomberg, 12/02/2009) China’s output of grains could decline as much as 37 percent in the second half of this century if measures to counter the effects of climate change aren’t actively implemented, a weather official said.

Fair wind blows for China’s Longyuan Power (Asia Times, 12/02/2009) China Longyuan Power Group's imminent sale of US$2.3 billion in shares to the public and its listing on the Hong Kong exchange could hardly have been better timed by what is the country's largest investor in wind power farms.

‘Green’ production making inroads in China (Computer Products, 12/01/2009) A new shade of green is gradually sweeping across China's export manufacturing industry, one that took a while to take root. Companies are riding the environment-friendly wave.

Synthesis energy systems and East China engineering corporation to collaborate on U-GAS(R) technology projects (PRNewswire, 12/01/2009) Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. ("SES") (Nasdaq: SYMX), a global energy and gasification technology company, and East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd. ("ECEC") (Shenzhen Listed code: 002140), a subsidiary of China's largest chemical engineering group - China National Chemical Engineering Corporation ("CNCEC"), today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement to work together on the engineering, design, procurement and construction of SES' U-GAS® gasification projects within China.

China Forestry announces strategic shift in near term investment criteria (Globe Newswire, 11/30/2009) China Forestry Inc. (OTCBB:CHFY), a timber investment group in the People's Republic of China, cited the limited opportunity to generate revenue from its timber holdings during the current global economic slowdown in today announcing a strategic shift in its near term investment criteria.

Green Technology Chinese Power Grid 2010 exhibition announced (TMCnet, 11/30/2009) “Low-carbon economy” refers to an economy advocating low power consumption, low pollution and low emission, aiming at energy conservation and emission reduction. Seems like everything’s low-carb these days, doesn’t it?

Top rice producer China approves GMO strain (Reuters, 11/27/2009) China has approved its first strain of genetically modified rice for commercial production, two scientists involved in the approval process told Reuters on Friday, potentially easing the way for other major producers to adopt the controversial technology.

China Energy Recovery, Inc. announces Third Quarter 2009 financial results (PRNewswire, 11/27/2009) China Energy Recovery, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CGYV) ("CER"), an international leader in the design, fabrication, implementation and service of waste heat recovery systems, today announced its financial results for the three- and nine-months ended Sept. 30, 2009. All currency amounts are in U.S. dollars.

GOVERNMENT

China, Africa to further cooperation in science, technology (China Daily, 12/04/2009) China and Africa look forward to deepening cooperation in various fields, especially science and technology, industry, agriculture and environment, said Egyptian and Chinese officials at a science and technology expo, which opened in Cairo, capital of Egypt, on Thursday.

China attacks water pollution and plans massive investments (MercoPress, 12/04/2009) China will invest 13 billion US dollars in the next three years in projects to improve the quality of water faced with serious contamination problems, reported “China Daily”. Most of the money will go to sewage systems, water purifying and rainwater harvesting according to Deputy Environment minister Wu Xiaoqing.

China says 16.9 mln T steel capacity to by shut by Feb 2010 (Reuters, 12/03/2009) China has urged local governments to finish shedding 16.91 million tonnes of unsafe and outdated steel production capacity by the end of February, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Thursday.

China to build geospace environment lab in Antartica (Xinhua, 12/03/2009) China plans to build a geospace environment laboratory at its Zhongshan station in Antarctica, says a Chinese polar expert.

China to remove outdated state industry (AFP, 12/03/2009) China is planning "rare" and "heavy-handed" steps to phase out outdated industry, state media said Wednesday, days after Beijing pledged to slow the growth in its fast-rising carbon emissions.

Hunan takes a lead with green urban development initiative (China Daily, 12/03/2009) Phrases like "green GDP" and "low-carbon economy" have been more and more common in the Chinese press over recent years. This has been a reflection of the country's desire and determination to succeed in its environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives.

Changsha looks to new chapter in quality of life (China Daily, 12/03/2009) The local government of Changsha has now laid plans to create new renown and make the city into a better place for both living and business, said Mayor Zhang Jianfei.

Chile looks to China’s harnessing of solar power: ambassador (Xinhua, 12/03/2009) Chile has much to learn from China's application of solar energy in its efforts to help curb the effects of climate change, said the Chilean Ambassador to China Wednesday.

Harper looking for China investment in Canadian mines (Bloomberg, 12/2/2009) Stephen Harper, making his first trip to China as Canada’s prime minister, will encourage companies such as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. to invest in Canada’s mining and energy resources.

China reaffirms pro-growth policy for 2010 (Forbes, 12/02/2009) China gave no sign on Friday that it was planning an early exit from its stimulus policies, pledging to stick with a pro-growth stance in 2010 to cushion the fallout of the global financial crisis.

Government money to flood Yellow River Delta (Alibaba, 12/02/2009) The State Council has approved a plan to develop the Yellow River Delta (YRD) in East China's Shandong Province into an efficient and environmentally-friendly economic zone, State-run media reported Wednesday.

Chinese vice premier stresses environmental protection in water diversion project (Xinhua, 12/02/2009) Chinese vice premier Li Keqiang has called for efforts to build the South-to-North Water Diversion Project into a water-efficient and environment-friendly project.

UN stops approving China wind projects, Official says (Bloomberg, 12/02/2009) The United Nations stopped approving aid for Chinese wind-power projects until it determines whether they qualify unfairly, a Chinese official said.

China Ministry gives security OK to GM Rice, GM Corn (Dow Jones Newswires, 12/01/2009) China has granted security approval to certain types of

genetically modified rice and corn, which may lead to the commercialization of the grains in two to three years, industry participants said Tuesday.

Consolidating the coalmines (Beijing Review, 11/30/2009) Shanxi Province will readjust the structure of its coalmining industry to address a series of efficiency and environmental problems.

China climate goal faces test of trust (Reuters, 11/27/2009) Three little letters could spell big trouble for global climate change negotiations even after China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, announced its first firm goals to curb emissions.

China’s climate pledge a wake up call: India (AFP, 11/27/2009) India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in an interview published Friday that China's decision to unveil a carbon emissions target had put pressure on India to follow suit.