Issue 10, May 21st to May 28th, 2009

OPINION

The future of carbon trading (China Dialogue, 5/28/2009) Carbon prices are rising slowly after a recent fall in the markets. But questions remain about the role of carbon trading in rich countries – and in developing countries like China, writes Yu Jie.

China and U.S. not as far apart as each other thinks (and a rant against nonsense journalism) (The Green Leap Forward, 5/28/2009) The use of “carbon cap equivalents” provides a more accurate accounting of what countries are doing to combat climate change, and could be just the tool that helps countries forge a new climate agreement this December in Copenhagen.

Is water too cheap in China? (Water Matters, 5/22/2009) The Chinese capital of Beijing will raise water prices this year as an attempt to conserve its scarce water supply. Cheng Jing, the head of Beijing’s water-resources bureau, announced on May 10th the city would raise water prices within the next two months. This price hike will be the fifth one since 2001 in a bid to promote conservation.

Go green, in death as in life (China Dialogue, 5/27/2009) China is advocating environmentally friendly funerals, but most people still prefer traditional burial ceremonies. Cultural change cannot be forced, writes Huo Weiya, but awareness can be raised.

Much ado about solar II (The Green Leap Forward, 5/26/2009) Many of the new projects were tracked on a previous post Much Ado About Solar, and so we have a continuation of more solar activity announced since that post.

China’s balancing act: A report from Sweden on China’s role in Climate Change (China Environmental Law Blog, 5/25/2009) I’m still working on a post addressing where China needs to be in terms of climate commitments at Copenhagen. If you are looking for something to read today I can recommend a report published last month by the Swedish Prime Minister’s Commission on Sustainable Development entitled “A Balancing Act: China’s Role in Climate Change.“

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PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

China finds plastic bag ban habit hard to break (Xinhua, 5/28/2009) No trip to rural China was without scenes of plastic bags gathering like patches of white snow. No city street was clear of bags blowing through the air.

Scientists uncover hard-rock story of global wipe-out (Yorkshire Evening Post, 5/27/2009) A previously unknown giant volcanic eruption that led to global mass extinctions 260m years ago has been "discovered" by scientists at the University of Leeds. They say the eruption in the Emeishan province of south-west China unleashed around half a million cubic kilometres of lava, covering an area five times the size of Wales and triggering global annihilation of marine life.

Activist fights dirty chemical plants (China Daily, 5/27/2009) Hou Yizhong, 59, from the Yizheng Environment Protection Bureau (EPB), has fought for several years to have the Yangzhou Chemical Industry Park in Yizheng city relocated.

Sick kids’ parents seek answers (Shanghai Daily, 5/27/2009) Scores of angry parents were demanding answers yesterday from government officials in Shanghai's Chongming County after at least 32 children became sick when an asphalt mixing site ramped up production near their kindergarten, local residents told Shanghai Daily.

Egrets: take a breath in SW China (Xinhua, 5/27/2009, Photo) Egrets are seen in the woods at Hongsha Village of Guangpo County in Fangchenggang, a port city in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on May 26, 2009. Some 300,000 migrant birds of 187 varieties stop at the city to take a breath annually during their migration between Australia and Asia due to the good environment in the area and the increased awareness of protecting birds among local people.

Professor’s research promotes HIV/AIDS prevention in China (The South End, 5/26/2009) A five-year research study led by Dr. Xiaoming Li, professor and director of Wayne State’s Pediatrics Prevention Research Centers, hopes to help reduce alcohol consumption and promote safe sex among Chinese prostitutes in Guangxi, the third largest HIV-infected area in China’s 22 provinces.

Pests, blights ravage NW China wheat crop (China Daily, 5/26/2009) Pests and diseases have infected 30 to 50 percent of the wheat crop, or 187,000 hectares, in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the regional agriculture department revealed Tuesday.

NGO’s in China: The rise of civil awareness (People’s Daily, 5/26/2009) As China is right on its way to establish a harmonious society emphasizing democratic governance and citizens' livelihood, the development and prosperity of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in this rising superpower is by no means ignorable.

Mexico, China to co-op in herbal medicine study to fight H1N1 flu (Xinhua, 5/26/2009) Mexican higher education body the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) will sign an agreement in July with the Beijing-based China Medical University to cooperate in medicinal plants research as part of the efforts to contain theA/H1N1 flu outbreak.

China’s herders plea for help as wolf packs return (AFP, 5/26/2009) The wolves were hunted to near extinction in China as Communist leader Mao Zedong encouraged the eradication of an animal viewed as a threat to his utopian efforts to increase agricultural and livestock production. But mounting attacks by the wolves -- now protected -- have sparked calls by herders and some local governments for resumed hunting of the predator.

Toll in HFMD reaches 36 in China’s worst-hit Shandong (Xinhua, 5/25/2009) Three children died of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) over the past week in east China's Shandong Province, health authorities said Monday, bringing the toll from this year's outbreak to 36 in the worst-affected province.

Dr. Chow to address air pollution impact on China’s ancient treasure (RGJ, 5/22/2009) World-renowned researcher Dr. Judith Chow will give a lecture in Reno that will focus on man's effect on the deterioration of ancient artifacts and what can be done to mitigate the damage.

Dog owners barking mad over ban in NE China city (Xinhua, 5/22/2009) Dog owners have voiced fears that their pets will be killed under a new regulation banning the animals from public places in northeast China's Heihe City.

China voices: the environmental activist (Guardian, 5/21/2009) As part of our series offering a portrait of modern China, we ask ordinary Chinese people how they see their country. Song Keming, 45, is an environmental activist in Changyuan county, Henan province

Animal investigators: Solving wildlife crimes and saving endangered species in Brazil and China (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 5/20/2009) Illegal wildlife trafficking is the third-largest criminal industry worldwide—after drugs and the sex trade—involving $20 billion in global trade each year. Illegal wildlife traffickers are difficult to track down as they are employing increasingly sophisticated methods, showing higher levels of organization and technological savvy.

CORPORATIONS

China firm, ensuring supply, to finance Waratah Coal (Wall Street Journal, 5/28/2009) Under a plan to supply China with Australian coal, Waratah Coal Pty Ltd. said it has won the financial backing of Metallurgical Corp. of China Ltd., or MCC, for its planned US$5.15 billion thermal coal project in Queensland state.

Supertower offers glimmer of hope in polluted Chinese city (The Guardian, 5/27/2009) The Pearl River Tower, now being erected in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong province, is being billed as the most energy efficient superskyscraper ever built.

Australian mining magnate announces huge coal deal with China (Xinhua, 5/27/2009) Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer announced a massive coal deal with China on Wednesday that will require building the country's largest thermal coal mine.

BusinessWeek to launch Global Green Business Summit in Tianjin (People’s Daily, 5/27/2009) BusinessWeek China is launching the inaugural Global Green Business Summit on 7-8 June in Tianjin, China, to coincide with BusinessWeek's recently published "Greener China Business Awards".

Asia’s rubber plantations threaten biodiversity (Radio Australia, 5/27/2009) A scientific report just out, has warned that rubber plantations are expanding rapidly in Southeast Asia, especially in the Indo-China region, and that this may have devastating environmental consequences

Chinese city is world’s digital scrap heap (The News & Observer, 5/27/2009) When discarded computers vanish from desktops around the world, they often end up in Guiyu, which may be the electronic-waste capital of the globe.

China energy recovery announces a financing transaction of $5 million (PRNewswire-Asia, 5/26/2009) China Energy Recovery, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CGYV) (ISIN: US16943V2060; "CER"), a leader in waste heat energy recovery and industrial energy efficiency, today announced it has recently closed a financing transaction and issued a two-year 9.5% Unsecured Convertible Promissory Note in the principal amount of $5 million, which may be converted into common stock at a conversion price fixed at $1.80 per share, to an accredited private investor. The net proceeds from the financing will be used to start the development of CER's new manufacturing plant.

Yunnan Copper’s environment fight (China Daily, 5/26/2009) The 2009 International Forum of Development and Environmental Protection opened in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province, on May 24.

China steel exports face severe year on faltering demand (Alibaba, 5/25/2009) Chinese steel exports have sharply declined since the beginning of this year and may be overtaken by imports due to shrinking demand in the international market, appreciation of the RMB and the resurgence of protectionism worldwide, said Luo Binsheng, vice chairman of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).

Sewage treatment plants fail to meet standards (China Daily, 5/23/2009) China's National Audit Office (NAO) said Friday that 18 sewage treatment plants failed to meet water quality and discharge standards during an inspection of water pollution control in the Bohai Sea.

China solar companies offer gloomy outlooks, shares fall (Reuters, 5/21/2009) Chinese solar companies Suntech Power Holdings Inc (STP.N), ReneSola Ltd (SOLA.L) and LDK Solar (LDK.N) gave gloomy outlooks on Thursday as the credit crisis chokes off funding for renewable energy projects, and their shares fell sharply.

GOVERNMENT

China to build railways in 19 cities: state media (The China Post, 5/28/2009) China plans to expand its urban rail system nearly fourfold in as it aims to ease traffic congestion and boost economic growth, state media said Wednesday.

China calls for smoking ban in hospitals (AFP, 5/28/2009) China has urged all hospitals to ban smoking by 2011, state media said Thursday, a move expected to crimp the habits of Chinese doctors, more than half of whom smoke.

China and the EU to share best practices on recycling (Materials Recycling Week, 5/28/2009) Recycling industries in the European Union and China will work more closely together to share best practices, according to officials attending the 5th China-EU Round table meeting on 18-19 May.

Creating harmony between people and nature (Beijing Review, 5/28/2009) During the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, called for the building of an "ecological civilization" and reiterated the Scientific Outlook on Development, which puts people first and ensures harmonious and sustainable growth.

China defends economic data as quality questioned (BusinessWeek, 5/26/2009) China is defending the quality of its economic data, arguing that figures showing declines in energy use mean the economy is changing, not contracting.

China grants $90 million credit to finance irrigation project (Manila Standard Today, 5/27/2009) China has agreed to grant the Philippines a $90-million concessional loan to finance the Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project in Pangasinan.

Shanghai motorists to pay more for new fuel (China Daily, 5/27/2009) A better quality of gasoline and diesel that is designed to reduce vehicle emissions will be supplied to motorists from October as the city prepares for the World Expo.

China likely to see another good grain harvest, says official (People’s Daily, 5/27/2009) China is likely to see a bumper grain harvest this summer for six straight years if there is no severe natural disasters in the near future, a top agricultural official said Tuesday.

China aims to build 10,000 green hotels in four years (ChinaCSR, 5/27/2009) Di Jiankai, the director of the Trade Service Division of China's Ministry of Commerce, has disclosed to the Chinese media that China will try to create 10,000 green hotels by 2012.

China is said to plan strict gas mileage rules (New York Times, 5/27/2009) Worried about heavy reliance on imported oil, Chinese officials have draf ted automotive fuel economy standards that are even more stringent than those outlined by President Obama last week, Chinese experts with a detailed knowledge of the plans said on Wednesday.

Russia, China complete monitoring of cross-border rivers (ITAR-TASS, 5/27/2009) Russian and Chinese hydrologists have completed the monitoring of the quality of water in cross-border rivers, the press service of the Primorye Meteorological Office told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

China urges ‘joint cooperation’ in Spratlys (Phillipine Daily Inquirer, 5/26/2009) China called on fellow claimant countries to the Spratlys Islands in the South China sea to enter into a “joint cooperation” to explore its natural resources.

China to subsidize new energy development, energy saving, CO2 reduction (Building Design and Construction, 5/26/2009) The Chinese Ministry of Finance is working on granting financial subsidies to the development of new energy, energy saving and emissions reduction mainly in 10 aspects, said Zhang Shaochun, Vice Minister of Finance, Thursday.

More subsidies available for replacing inefficient cars (Gasgoo, 5/26/2009) The Chinese government has increased the amount of subsidies available to consumers who replace their old cars, reports Asia Pulse. A decision was made by the Chinese State Council to increase subsidies available for the scheme from 1 billion yuan (US$146.7 million) to 6 billion yuan.

Chinese roses to be widely used in greenbelts of Beijing (CCTV.com, 5/26/2009) Chinese roses will be widely planted and will gradually replace the current hedgerows in Beijing greenbelts. On May 24, reporters learned from the opening ceremony of the “2009 Beijing Chinese Rose Culture Festival” that due to the fact that the Chinese rose has a long blooming period, is convenient to care for and is highly accepted by residents, it will be the most preferred plant in Beijing’s urban green space, gardens, countryside green space and even on the balcony.

A mega-project too far? (China Dialogue, 5/26/2009) China’s scheme to divert water from the south to the parched north has created a flood of opposition on ecological, financial and political grounds. Jonathan Watts reports.

China’s consumers to benefit from energy-saving products (ChinaCSR, 5/26/2009) Following approval from China's State Council, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission have jointly initiated a project to benefit consumers with energy-saving products.

China takes initial steps on path to creating smart energy cities (China Daily, 5/25/2009) Mayors and executives from State-owned enterprises in some 25 Chinese cities gathered in Beijing for a joint US-China Cooperation for Clean Energy (JUCCCE) training course on energy policy-making. They attended a series of lectures and discussion groups that started last Monday and finished yesterday. They are in the vanguard of a new approach to a problem some alarmists argue threatens the future of the human race.

Indonesian anteater carcasses headed for China (AP, 5/25/2009) Indonesian police confiscated the carcasses of dozens of rare, scaly anteaters that were to be smuggled to China, an official said Monday.

Chinese water project forces 330,000 people to move (redOrbit, 5/24/2009) State media said on Sunday that close to 330,000 people in central China are to be evicted from their homes due to a reservoir being built that will form part of a massive water diversion project.

Heavy rains trigger flood alert (The Straits Times, 5/24/2009) Officials issued a flood alert for southern China on Sunday as storms hit the already soggy region with torrential rains that were expected to last for days.

Stimulus spending won’t endanger environment (China Daily, 5/23/2009) Wang Zhenfeng felt aggrieved when he was told about overseas media reports claiming that several new cement plants were under construction in his town, Sanhe, a medium-sized city not far from Beijing.

U.S. climate negotiator sees ‘impressive’ actions by China (New York Times, 5/22/2009) China's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions are "impressive" and are often underestimated in the United States, President Obama's top climate change ambassador said yesterday.

Australia’s e-waste dumped in China (Xinhua, 5/22/2009) Electronic waste from Australian homes such as old computers, televisions and mobile phones were dumped in China which fuels toxic pollution in the country, local media reports Friday.

Plug may be pulled on dam (China Daily, 5/22/2009) Concerns about potential ecological damage from dam-building projects on the Nujiang River are being mulled, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

China strikes tough pose for climate talks (Financial Times, 5/21/2009) China adopted a hard line on Thursday ahead of climate change negotiations, calling on rich countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40 per cent by 2020 from 1990 levels and help pay for reduction schemes in poorer countries.

In China, Pelosi calls for cooperation on climate change (New York Times, 5/20/2009) Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, met China’s two top leaders on Wednesday to discuss cooperation on energy and environmental problems, and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Beijing would join Washington to “push for positive results” at the next global warming summit meeting this fall in Copenhagen.

Issue 9, May 14th to May 21st, 2009

OPINION

Industry arguments behind China steel anti-dumping cases (Metal Miner, 5/20/2009) Last week we wrote an article on the subject of steel imports and their effect on domestic mill utilization rates. The article had countered the industry’s assertion, quoted in a Purchasing.com article, that imports caused the US steel industry’s low capacity utilization rates. We contend that imports do not appear to have significantly changed as a percentage of US consumption, and in fact the low capacity utilization ties to poor demand.

China’s edge in the energy-efficiency industry (Los Angeles Times, 5/19/2009) The sleeping giant is taking the lead in manufacturing components for solar and wind generators and building electric cars, but the U.S. could still catch up.

Supplying a greeer industry (The Guardian, 5/19/2009) Globalisation has powered economic growth in developing countries such as China. Global logistics, low domestic production costs, and strong consumer demand have let the country develop strong export-based manufacturing, making the country the workshop of the world. It fuels growth and helps pull millions out of poverty.

One year of open information (China Dialogue, 5/18/2009) In May 2008, the Chinese government implemented new transparency rules on environmental information. chinadialogue publishes a round-table discussion about the successes and failures of the measures.

Paul Krugman: Empire of Carbon (Mercury News, 5/16/2009) These should be hopeful times for environmentalists. Junk science no longer rules in Washington. President Barack Obama has spoken forcefully about the need to take action on climate change; the people I talk to are increasingly optimistic that Congress will soon establish a cap-and-trade system that limits emissions of greenhouse gases, with the limits growing steadily tighter over time. And once America acts we can expect much of the world to follow our lead. But that still leaves the problem of China, where I have been for most of the last week.

China’s 12th Environmental Five-Year Plan: National Preparation Efforts (China Environmental Law Blog, 5/15/2009) Ever since the 7th Five -Year Plan China has prepared a separate environmental protection plan. The contents of the 12th Five-Year plan (十二五) are already under consideration, and we got a very broad view of the national planning effort and a more specific view of the Shanghai planning effort at the “Call for Green China” conference yesterday.

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

Maryland science center to hatch “Chinasaurs” (Baltimore Sun, 5/21/2009) If the Maryland Science Center has anything to say about it, Baltimoreans will soon think of China as the home of more than chopsticks, serious ping pong players and the giant panda. By the end of the summer, it should also be known as the land of Mamenchisaurus, Szechuanosaurus and Monolophosaurus, not to mention Tuojiangosaurus and Psittacosaurus.

NGOs call for ban of government purchases of cigarettes (China Daily, 5/20/2009) An anti-tobacco group has called on governments to butt out of the business of buying cigarettes with public money.

HFMD moving north: Experts (China Daily, 5/20/2009) The hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is spreading its tentacles in northern China, with a "high number" of infants and children suffering from the seasonal epidemic in Hebei province, the China Center of Disease Control (CCDC) said Tuesday.

Contact resumes with Chinese environmentalists missing in African desert (Xinhua, 5/20/2009) Jin, an Olympic torch bearer and an experienced explorer, and geologist Fei Xuan started their scientific research expedition in Africa last month, to research desertification control measures for China's environment protection campaign. They re-established contact with home Wednesday after reportedly disappearing in the Sahara Desert for three days.

China export hub can cut emissions by 24% according to WWF (Reuters, 5/19/2009) Carbon dioxide emissions in the Pearl River Delta, China's export engine, could be cut by up to 24 percent through low-cost, green technologies, according to a study released on Tuesday by WWF.

Two forest fires in the same day in northeast China (Xinhua, 5/19/2009) Nearly 2,200 people in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province are trying to bring a forest fire under control, according to the local government.

CORPORATIONS

China signs multiple energy supply contracts to boost security of supply (Datamonitor, 5/20/2009) China National Petroleum Corporation has signed deals with Russian state-owned companies Rosneft and Transneft for crude oil supplies, while China National Offshore Oil Corporation has formed an LNG supply agreement with BG Group.

Evergreen Solar to issue $60 million in shares (Reuters, 5/20/2009) Evergreen Solar Inc said on Wednesday it would issue $60 million in new common stock to build a new solar wafer plant in China and expand its Michigan production facility.

Hybrid-power vehicles sales experience embarrassing situation (People’s Daily, 5/20/2009) In addition to the variety of policies promoting environmentally-friendly vehicles, the Rules on the Production Admission Administration of New Energy Automobiles which were implemented over a year ago, have made hybrid- and electric-powered vehicles gradually more popular.

Solarfun Power Holdings Slips to Loss in Q1; CEO Resign; Shares Climb (RTTNews, 5/19/2009) The Qidong, China-based company reported a first quarter net loss attributable to shareholders of RMB 7 million, or US$1.03 million, compared to a net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 104.6 million in the year-ago quarter.

As Detroit crumbles, China emerges as auto epicenter (Washington Post, 5/18/2009) America's auto titans are dismantling their global empires. But across the Pacific, it's as if the global economic forces that have pummeled Detroit never struck. Chinese auto sales are up, and this year China is projected to displace Japan as the world's largest car producer.

China has closed half its iron ore mines, says Rio Tinto (The Telegraph, 5/18/2009) China may have closed down half of its iron ore mines since prices collapsed, according to Anthony Loo, Rio Tinto's managing director for China.

Crisis calls for birth of China’s ‘green miracle’ (People’s Daily, 5/15/2009) Recently, an article about Chinese planning to create a "green miracle" became eye-catching news in the UK's "Daily Telegraph". The newspaper reported that wind storms which had annoyed businessman before were now being used for power generation. It has been included in the power generation plan of new green revolution for energy deficient countries such as China. In Daban city, the “windmill forest” of tremendous size has been expanding to the horizon.

How GE became a green pioneer in China (BusinessWeek, 5/14/2009) From wind turbines to advanced power plants, China is a big consumer of General Electric products.

GOVERNMENT

China stops construction of power plant on Nu river (The Times, 5/21/2009) China’s Premier has ordered a halt to construction of a hydropower plant on one of the country’s most remote and beautiful rivers, demanding a more in-depth study of its impact on the ecology and local communities.

Environmental protection school set up in Yinchuan (ChinaCSR, 5/21/2009) A citizens' environmental protection school has been formally unveiled at the No. 4 Primary School of Xingqing District, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and is the first of its kind in the city.

Smokers will face higher fines in Beijing (ChinaCSR, 5/20/2009) Beijing is revising its smoking-ban regulations and will raise the value of fines imposed on smokers who smoke in public places.

China announces stimulus package for petrochemical sector (China Knowledge, 5/20/2009) China's Cabinet, has announced a three-year economic stimulus plan for the petrochemical sector, sources reported. The stimulus plan is part of the government's efforts to resolve the industry's structural problems, which include scattered industrial distribution, pollution and heavy dependence on imports for high-end technology and equipment.

China working on further national plan to address climate change (Xinhua, 5/20/2009) A senior Chinese official told Xinhua Tuesday that the country is working on a national plan to further cope with the issue of climate change.

China: 80% electronic wastes left untreated (SinoCast Daily Business Beat, 5/20/2009) China's waste electrical and electronic products reach 200 million units a year, only less than 20% of which are recycled and treated, according to the round table between the China Economic and Social Council (CESC) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

World Bank lends $80 million to N China’s methane project (China Daily, 5/20/2009) The World Bank said Wednesday it approved a loan of US$80 million to help China to increase the development and utilization of coal-bed methane to meet a growing demand for energy and reduce greenhouse gases and local air pollutants associated with coal combustion.

Belgium to showcase “green economy” at Shanghai World Expo (Xinhua, 5/19/2009) Participation in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo is very important for Belgium, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs Vincent Van Quickenborne said on Monday in Brussels.

China to subsidize auto, home appliance trade- in (Alibaba.com, 5/19/2009) China will subsidize consumers who replace their old cars and household appliances for new models that are energy-saving and less-polluting, in an effort to spur domestic consumption and protect the environment, the government announced today.

China to build two dams in Sierra Leone (Reuters, 5/19/2009) China is to build two hydro-electric dams in Sierre Leone as part of efforts to foster ties with the West African country, its ambassador there said late on Monday.

China to boost oil refining under stimulus plan (Bloomberg, 5/18/2009) China, the world’s second-biggest energy user, will increase its annual oil refining volume by 18 percent by 2011, boost fuel stockpiles and encourage petrochemical companies to merge as long-term demand rises.

New strategies for China’s energy quest (Caijing, 5/18/2009) In a sign of changing times, Chinese oil firms are busy cutting global deals with resource-rich countries and western companies.

Thirst of the cities drives the giant drills to water China’s parched north (The Guardian, 5/18/2009) The Guardian was the first foreign news organisation to enter the pits and tunnels at Jiaozuo in Henan province, which are at the centre of China's latest, greatest engineering project, the South-North Water Diversion Scheme. In the spirit of President Hu Jintao's drive for "scientific development", the aim is to engineer a solution to the most pressing environmental problem – the alarming depletion of water resources in the arid, heavily populated north.

China sorts out 3,400 problematic rural hydropower plants in six years (Xinhua, 5/18/2009) China sorted out more than 3,400 problematic rural hydropower plants in six years in an effort to curb rising number of safety accidents, the Ministry of Water Resources said Sunday.

China phases out pesticide POPs (China Daily, 5/18/2009) China has phased out all pesticides containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by May 17, as required by the Stockholm Convention, Vice Minister of environmental protection, Zhang Lijun said in Beijing on Monday.

China and EU to work together on recycling (Xinhua, 5/18/2009) Cooperation between the recycling industries in China and the European Union (EU) should be enhanced, officials attending the 5th China-EU Round Table meeting agreed Monday.

Minister: China’s rural hydropower plants help curb greenhouse gas emission (Xinhua, 5/17/2009) China's rural hydropower projects have become an important part of the rural infrastructure and a critical means of protecting the ecological environment, said Chen Lei, Minister of Water Resources Sunday.

China’s future cities to make small carbon footprint (Xinhua, 5/16/2009) Even as China undergoes one of the most rapid urban transformations in the world, the Chinese government is promoting sustainable development to curb the country's growing rate of carbon emissions, a World Bank urban specialist said here on Friday.

Anti-smuggle police save 6 bears on border (China Daily, 5/15/2009) Six little bears moved into the Yunnan Wildlife asylum Center in Kunming, Yunnan province on Thursday, after they were rescued by anti-smuggling police.

Issue 8, May 8th to May 14th, 2009

OPINION

Getting out of the shade (China Dialogue, 5/13/2009) The economic crisis has put pressure on China’s solar power industry. In the first section of a three-part article, Julian L. Wong argues that the government can take advantage of the situation to accelerate the use of domestic solar resources.

Creating an environmental miracle in China (Huffington Post, 5/13/2009) That observation sums up why I am here to help launch the Guangdong Environmental Partnership. I founded this non-government organization 18 years ago and never thought that one day we would partner with China to deal with energy efficiency, green house gas emissions and environmental health and safety.

Energy integration for China (China Dialogue, 5/11/2009) Energy security and climate-change challenges mean that China must make use of diverse power sources. The key is to integrate them early on, writes Ni Weidou.

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

Highly destructive climate impacts loom for a small number of cities and countries (New York Times, 5/13/2009) Fiercer storm surges brought on by climate change will claim the most land in Latin America, uproot the most people in the Middle East and wreak the greatest economic destruction in East Asia, new research finds: “China, Vietnam and Korea will see surge zones increase dramatically. More land (about 14,407 square kilometers) will be inundated in Indonesia than anywhere else, followed by China and Vietnam.”

OANA calls for media role on environment issues (Xinhua, 5/13/2009) The Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) on Wednesday called on journalists to play a role on reporting environment issues. The calling was made by OANA at a workshop on the Role of Media in Preserving Environment held in Manado, capital of Indonesia's North Sulawesi province, where the World Ocean Conference (WOC) is going on.

Canadian consumers 2nd-worst in environmental impact survey, China scores near the top (CBC News, 5/13/2009) For the second year in a row, Canada has placed second-worst among 17 countries on an international ranking of consumer behaviours that have an impact on the environment. The top-scoring consumers of 2009 were found in the developing economies of India, Brazil and China. India placed first overall with a total score of 59.5, up from 58 last year.

International water forum focuses on sustainable water management in China (Water World, 5/13/2009) The 2nd International Water Forum, organized by Noppen Co Ltd covers two windows: Shanghai Urban Water Forum and Industrial Wastewater Forum held on 18-19 May in Shanghai and 1-2 June in Shenyang respectively.

US-funded environmental-friendly training program launched in S China’s Guangdong (Xinhua, 5/13/2009) A non-government sustainable development association from the United States Wednesday kicked off an environmental awareness improvement program in this capital city of Guangdong Province, an economic powerhouse in southern China.

Plight of the panda: Animals struggle after quake (CNN, 5/12/2009) As people across China's Sichuan province continue to rebuild their lives one year after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake leveled some towns and cities, the region's famed giant pandas are still struggling due to the devastation wreaked by the deadly temblor.

Cereal crop provides first evidence for prehistoric farming’s East-West spread (Xinhua, 5/9/2009) New evidence from the latest research by the University of Cambridge suggests that millet may have been the world's first Chinese takeaway some 7,000 years ago.

Mystery worms turn on northwest China Herdsmen (The Post Chronicle, 5/8/2009) An invasion of unidentified worms has forced 50 herdsmen and their families from their grassland homes, taking 20,000 head of livestock with them, in northwest China's Xinjiang region, state news agency Xinhua said Friday.

A map of China’s cancer villages (China Digital Times, 5/8/2009) Chinese reporter Deng Fei and Doubleaf have Google Mapped China’s cancer villages. A screenshot is below. See the Google Map here. The map also provides news report details on each of the listed villages.

Rare bird flies back from the dead (Xinhua, 5/9/2009) The future of a rare species of bird that was once thought to be extinct got a huge lift this month when a chick was born at a zoo in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Critical choices for China’s dialysis patients (Caijing, 5/8/2009) The infections at Shanxi Coal Central Hospital and the Taiyuan Public Transportation Co. Employee Hospital, both in the city of Taiyuan, prompted a central government investigation of local health care and improvements that lowered infection risks. But the changes also pushed costs beyond the means of some patients.

CORPORATIONS

CNOOC to tap BG for gas needs (China Daily, 5/14/2009) China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) yesterday said it had signed an agreement with British natural gas producer BG Group to buy gas from the latter's liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Australia.

China Bio-Energy Reports record first quarter 2009 financial results (PRNewswire, 5/13/2009) China Bio Energy Holdings Group (OTC Bulletin Board: CBEH), a leading manufacturer and distributor of biodiesel and distributor of petroleum-related products including gasoline, diesel, and heavy oil in China, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2009.

China’s Shanxi province to consolidate aluminum industry: Antaike (Platts, 5/13/2009) China's Shanxi Province plans to consolidate its aluminum sector as part of its metallurgical industry stimulus plan, state-owned nonferrous metals information provider Beijing Antaike Development said Wednesday.

Chinese solar company plans U.S. manufacturing plant (Solve Climate, 5/13/2009) China-based solar producer Suntech Power announced plans this week to build a manufacturing facility in the United States to serve the growing U.S. market for large-scale utility projects and to take advantage of government incentives.

Sino-US joint venture build plant to “turn waste into energy” (People’s Daily, 5/12/2009) US firm Covanta recently announced that it will form a joint venture with Jiangsu Taineng and invest 30 million USD to build a plant to "turn waste into energy," providing electricity to the cities of Taixing and Yangzhong.

Waste firms seek out China (The Straits Times, 5/12/2009) As China spends tens of billions to clean up after years of environmentally destructive growth, companies big and small are scrabbling for contracts to restore polluted waterways and landfills. But while tougher environmental rules and increased incentives are driving investment, the carrots and rebates are not expected to last forever and companies that sign on to long-term projects are vulnerable to policy change.

China’s Fujian refinery starts trial runs at new 160,000 b/d CDU (Platts, 5/12/2009) China's Fujian Refining & Petrochemical has begun trial runs at its newly built 8 million mt/year (160,000 b/d) crude distillation unit in Quanzhou city, a company source said Tuesday.

Lavender gardener job has sweet smell of success (China Daily, 5/12/2009) A tourism destination in Zhaoqing city, Guangdong province, is looking to put itself on the map by emulating the recent success of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The large lavender garden in the Panlongxia ecology area of the city is offering two high-paying jobs to women from across the globe.

PIA to be enlisted at Shanghai Bourse: Kuwait, China sign refinery pact (Arab Times, 5/11/2009) Kuwait has signed an agreement with China to build an oil refinery and petrochemicals complex in Guangdong province in China, Kuwait’s state news agency said on Monday.

Roland Berger study predicts China’s goal of becoming leader in e-mobility as realistic (ATZ online, 5/13/2009) A study entitled "Powertrain 2020 - China's ambition to become market leader in e-vehicles" that has been conducted by the German strategy consultancy Roland Berger describes the actions being taken by the Chinese government and outlines scenarios for the future e-mobility markets.

Over 2 billion ton coalfield discovered in Hami, Xinjiang (People’s Daily, 5/13/2009) Exploration personnel from Geological Team 216 of the China National Nuclear Corporation recently made a major breakthrough in the Tiaohu area of the Santanghu Basin in Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, Hami in eastern Xinjiang.

Coal tar spill pollutes SW China river (Xinhua, 5/10/2009) Environmental protection and firefighting staff in southwest China have begun cleaning a river polluted by a coal tar spill from a local chemical company.

Controversial chemical plant in SE China starts construction (Xinhua, 5/8/2009) Construction of a controversial chemical plant started Friday in Zhangzhou, in southeast China's Fujian Province, two years after work to build an identical plant was halted in another Fujian city nearly 100 km away.

Wind farm with largest single power generation unit ready for operation (People’s Daily, 5/8/2009) Construction of the Zhangbei Manjing wind farm project, which has a 200,000 kilowatt of total installed capacity, was recently completed and ready for operation. The project was financed and constructed by the China Energy Conservation Investment Corporation (CECIC). The wind farm will have the largest single power generation unit in China.

GOVERNMENT

China, Hong Kong confirm second swine flu cases (AFP, 5/14/2009) China and Hong Kong confirmed Wednesday their second separate cases of swine flu, both in passengers who flew in from North America, and stepped up the search for those who came into contact with them.

Urumqi hits environmental target (China Daily, 5/14/2009) The local government has taken a number of measures in recent years to promote energy conservation and emission reduction. The result of these steps is that Xinjiang achieved its environmental protection target for the first time last year, in accordance with targets laid down as part of the Eleventh Five-year Plan (2006-10).

Black carbon presents key opportunity for US-China cooperation on climate change, health (IGSD, 5/13/2009) Reducing black carbon emissions could be part of the solution to two major problems plaguing China, said experts participating in an event yesterday organized by the Woodrow Wilson Center’s China Environment Forum. The discussion focused on opportunities for the U.S. and China to work together on solving some of the health and environment issues that have been a result of the country’s rapid economic development.

Actions for disaster prevention and reduction by the Information Office of the State Council (China Daily, 5/12/2009) The Information Office of the State Council, or China's Cabinet, issued China's Actions for Disaster Prevention and Reduction yesterday. Following is the full text.

FDA alerts consumers to recall of water-based face paints (US Food and Drug Administration, 5/12/2009) The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to stop using certain cosmetic “Face Paint” items labeled as distributed by Oriental Trading Co., Omaha, Neb., due to adverse event reports of skin reactions in children. These items were distributed nationwide.

Pakistan, China to enhance cooperation in environment sector (The News International, 5/12/2009) Pakistan and China will enhance cooperation in the environment sector, particularly in clean development mechanism and establishing protected areas in the trans-boundary region covering the Khunjerab National Park (KNP) in Pakistan and the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve (TNR) in China.

Unapproved additives found in herbal tea (Shanghai Daily, 5/12/2009) Unapproved herbal additives have been found in a popular Cantonese-style herbal tea drink, an official with the country's Health Ministry confirmed yesterday.
Chemical substance abnormality relates with aftershocks (Xinhua, 5/11/2009) Abnormity of some chemical substances is related to aftershocks of the earthquake, said sources with the Ministry of Land and Resources on Monday.

China poised to go all out with clean tech (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/10/2009) China is at a crossroads. This nation of 1.3 billion people is faced with the daunting task of building on its 30 years of unprecedented economic development without further damage to its environment.

China outpaces US in cleaner coal-fired plants (New York Times, 5/10/2009) China’s frenetic construction of coal-fired power plants has raised worries around the world about the effect on climate change. China now uses more coal than the United States, Europe and Japan combined, making it the world’s largest emitter of gases that are warming the planet.

Beijing to raise water prices (Reuters, 5/10/2009) The Chinese capital of Beijing will raise water prices this year as it tries to conserve precious supplies, China News Service reported, citing a local official.

Officials detained over alleged nuclear plant land acquisition graft (People’s Daily, 5/9/2009) Two Chinese officials have been detained for falsifying compensation claims for land expropriated for a nuclear plant project, the procuratorate in the southern Hainan Province said Saturday.

Green Hops: New renewable energy targets, more carbon tax chatter, Singapore-Najing eco-city announced (The Green Leap Forward, 5/8/2009) China’s energy intensity was down 2.9% in the first quarter of this year, reports the National Bureau of Statistics. The decrease is based on a 6.1% growth in GDP measured against a 3.04% increase in energy consumption. So remember this–despite and increased movement towards “decoupling”, energy consumption still rises as long as GDP rises. Power consumption in the first quarter also dipped (by 4%), but the decrease in March (2%) was less than in January an Februrary (5.2%), suggesting that the economy may be starting to bottom out.

Government gives boost to TCM use (China Daily, 5/8/2009) Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a new prescription for health as medical institutions will now be required to bolster their TCM departments.

US Commerce chief plans clean energy trip to China (Reuters, 5/8/2009) U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said on Friday he will travel to China this year to promote sales of U.S. clean energy goods as part of the Obama administration's effort to fight global warming.