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.