Issue 32, October 30th to November 5th, 2009

OPINION

2048: The end of fish? (The China Post, 11/04/2009) Could the taste of fish soon be something you can only describe to your children? That is the conclusion of the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature.) According to one — admittedly controversial scientific study — stocks of all types of fish currently harvested for food could collapse by the year 2048 due to over-fishing and pollution.

Of China, Texas and green jobs (New York Times, 11/03/2009) When a coalition of investors and wind developers from the United States and China announced plans for a large-scale wind project in West Texas last week, many of our readers expressed outrage that a portion of the financing might well come from the $22 billion set aside in the economic stimulus package for clean energy projects — and green jobs.

Ten things about China and climate change (The Heritage Foundation, 11/02/2009) Many global environmental debates are chiefly about China. In the past, it has been acid rain made in the PRC but falling elsewhere. Eventually, the conversation will shift to water shortages and diversion that have already displaced millions and may eventually threaten conflict with some of China's neighbors. As the international community lurches toward the Copenhagen climate change conference, the main topic is carbon emissions and climate change. Again, the debate will center on the PRC.

Triafigura’s lesson for China (Chinadialogue, 10/30/2009) Chinese leaders will meet with African heads of state next month to discuss trade and investment. The recent conduct of Swiss-based commodity traders Trafigura, writes Salil Tripathi, presents a stern warning about due diligence.

What China is looking for in Copenhagen deal (BBC, 10/30/2009) Congressman Wang Guangtao chairs China's Environment & Resources Protection Committee and is the architect of China's climate legislation. He is also very close to the small team that will eventually negotiate China's position at the UN's climate change conference in Copenhagen.

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

China’s ‘green drive’ progressive, with more efforts needed (Xinhua, 11/03/2009) To Liu Lei, it was meaningful to take the metro, instead of driving, to reach the China Energy and Environment Summit, which concluded here on Tuesday.

Data point to some improvements in China’s environment (ScienceDaily, 11/2/2009) The rapid growth of China's forests over the past 20 years makes them the fastest growing forest resources in the world, according to an assessment published in the November issue of BioScience.

China’s Three Gorges Dam comes of age (Asia Times, 11/04/2009) Fifteen years after dynamite blasts first shattered the peace of China's breathtaking Three Gorges, the Three Gorges Dam - the pride of China's engineering progress - is nearing completion. But the cannonade of criticism bombarding the world's largest and costliest dam in history is far from over.

NGOs call for new laws (ChinaCSR, 11/03/2009) At their fourth annual meeting, non-governmental organizations in China called last week for a law to be made as soon as possible for social organizations.

China threatened by 400 invasive alien species (Xinhua, 11/03/2009) China is threatened by more than 400 invasive alien species, which has caused billions of yuan of economic losses, an agricultural official said Monday.

Keeping the “Mother River” on course for another century (Xinhua, 11/02/2009) In the past 2,600 years, the dykes on China's Yellow River have broken 1,600 times and the waterway has made a major change in course 26 times. It has traveled its current course since a dyke burst in 1855, but, with a change each century on average, the river is again feeling restless.

Cycling in Chinese city is anything but leisurely (AP, 11/01/2009) A friend sent me a YouTube link to a video called "Insane Cycling — New York City." I clicked on it, hoping to glean a few tips for my own cycling on the anarchic streets of China. I came away feeling like someone who expects to see "Mad Max" and is shown "Sesame Street" instead. New York seemed like a wonderful place to ride. Pedestrians used the crosswalks. Buses lumbered along like gentle whales. Taxis used their turn signals. The streets looked so clean. No one honked.

CORPORATIONS

Chinese giant to buy US oil assets: company (AFP, 11/04/2009) Norwegian energy group Statoil said on Wednesday it was selling some of its oil assets in the United States to China's state-owned CNOOC, marking the first step by a Chinese energy major into the US market.

Chinese coal companies dig for investment opportunities amid merger campaign (Xinhua, 11/04/2009) Zhang Jian has changed from being owner of a coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province to a shareholder of China's largest coal mining firm, Shanxi Coking Coal Group Co. Ltd..

China Green Agriculture, Inc. launches three new fertilizer products (Reuters, 11/04/2009) China Green Agriculture, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CGA; "China Green Agriculture" or "the Company"), a leading producer and distributor of humic acid ("HA") based compound fertilizer through its wholly owned subsidiary, Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd., today announced that it launched three new HA based fertilizer products in the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Brazil Petrobas signs $10 billion finance deal with China Development Bank (Wall Street Journal, 11/04/2009) Brazilian state-run energy giant Petrobras (PBR) and China Development Bank signed contracts finalizing a 10-year, $10 billion financing agreement, Petrobras said Wednesday.

Animation to promote environmental protection on big screen (CCTV, 11/04/2009) The 3-D animated film "King of Milu Deer" has been recruited into a project aiming to promote environmental protection in China. A group of eco-friendly TV, film, and publication works are also included in the plan titled "Green Shelf", which is all part of China Environment and Health Week.

China to build inland nuclear power stations (Xinhua, 11/04/2009) The design and first-phase construction of three inland nuclear power stations in China has begun, Wang Binghua, chairman of State Nuclear Power Technology Corp., said Wednesday at 2009 China Power Forum.

China’s lake clean-up campaign offers opportunities for green business (Xinhua, 11/03/2009) Japanese businessman Katsutoshi Yoshinaga is discussing cooperation potential with a manager from a local environment protection company. Besides him is a big fish tank with golden fish swimming briskly inside.

Shanghai auto group on move in developing new energy cars (Xinhua, 11/03/2009) Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) Group plans to invest 6 billion yuan (879 million U.S. dollars) in researching of and making new energy cars starting this year and during the next two years, said group chairman Hu Maoyuan Tuesday.

CNOOC may build electric-car battery network nationwide (Alibaba, 11/03/2009) China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) is considering the possibility of building a network of battery-charging stations for electric cars nationwide, according to a report form the Wall Street Journal Tuesday.

Olympus closes $250 million Asia environment fund (Reuters, 11/03/2009) The $250 mn focused on India and China will make investments in renewable energy and environmental services companies. Private equity firm Olympus Capital has successfully completed raising Asia Environmental Partners LP at $250 million. The fund, which is mainly focused on India and China, will make investments in renewable energy and environmental services companies.

World’s largest solar power research base heads for Xi’an (ChinaCSR, 11/03/2009) U.S.-based Applied Materials recently held a ceremony in Xi'an in Shaanxi province to celebrate the establishment of a solar power technology center.

Air products opens new specialty amines plant in China (PRNewswire, 11/03/2009) Air Products (NYSE: APD) today has opened its new specialty amines plant in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. The facility complements its existing local capabilities to support customers in the growing polyurethane additives and epoxy markets.

China cleans chemical spills after ship accidents (Reuters, 11/02/2009) Chinese workers are trying to clean up dangerous chemicals in the central reaches of the Yangtze river and an oil spill near an eastern Chinese port, after two shipping accidents this weekend. The accidents show the vulnerability of China's waterways, which are corridors for transporting industrial and chemical goods while also serving as a primary source of water for human use and agriculture.

Integrated recycling system in China receives Monozukuri Special Environment Award (Webwire, 11/02/2009) Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. received the Monozukuri Special Environment Award at the 19th Nikkei Global Environmental Technology Awards sponsored by Nikkei Inc., Japan. Intended activity is the Integrated Recycling System that Fuji Xerox established in China, and it was recognized for "being the first in the industry to build a logistics network for recovering used products and cartridges spanning the whole of mainland China" "implementing the advanced reuse and recycle technologies and know-how created in Japan" and "having achieved a high recycling rate as well as adopting a pioneering approach to address the serious waste problem in China"

Chinese firms gear up for export of ‘green’ plastics (Plastics News, 11/02/2009) China’s plastics industry, like many others, is increasingly investing in “green” materials and technologies, but most of the money thus far is targeting export markets, with China’s domestic consumers slow to register.

Research and Markets: Future of green biotechnology in China (Reuters, 11/02/2009) This report is the unique and latest one available in the world to provide good understanding about Green Biotechnology (GB) in China and to find out business opportunities in this field. The first edition of this report is finished soon in October 2009. Green biotechnology (GB) is mainly based on genetically modified technology and fermentation technology. Over the last thirty years, China's GB industry has been developing stably. Chinese scientists have applied biotechnology techniques to develop many novel crop varieties that are suited to local farming conditions and can cope with challenges.

China recycling energy corporation announces new 10-year energy efficiency build operate transfer (PRNewswire, 11/01/2009) China Recycling Energy Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: CREG) ('CREG' or 'the Company'), a fast-growing industrial waste-to-energy solutions provider in China, today announced that it has delivered to Shenmu County Jiujiang Trading Co., Ltd. ("Shenmu") a set of 18-megawatt capacity power generating systems pursuant to a Cooperative Contract on Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project and a Gas Supply Contract for Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project.

China’s top oil producer to pump $29.3 billion into Xinjiang (AFP, 10/30/2009) China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) plans to pump 200 billion yuan (S$40.9 billion) into the northwest Xinjiang region in the next five years, state media said Friday.

Commercial extraction of flammable ice 15 to 20 years away (Caijing, 10/30/2009) It may take 15-20 years before China develops sufficient know-how to commercially exploit its natural gas hydrate reserves, a senior government engineer said Wednesday. The China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Land and Resources announced on Sept. 25 that flammable ice has been discovered for the first time on land in the Qilianshan Mountain area, Qinghai Province in northwest China.

GOVERNMENT

China pushes CO2 capture, storage questions loom (Reuters, 11/04/2009) China is pushing to complete its first commercial-scale power plant that can capture and store emissions, but must do more research on how and where to lock away carbon dioxide if the technology is to get wide roll-out.

China, eager for oil, expands investment into Nigeria and China (AXcess News, 11/04/2009) The global economic crisis may have forced other nations to put their African investments on hold, but not China. This week, the Nigerian government announced that China would double its current direct investment from a total of $3 billion to $6 billion, most of that in Nigeria's oil sector. Last week, the government of Guinea - where a coup brought a military captain to power last December - announced that a Chinese firm planned to invest $7 billion in oil and mining infrastructure in return for preferential treatment in all mining projects in Guinea.

China electrifies urban transit (Asia Times, 11/04/2009) Chinese companies such as Zhengzhou Yutong Bus and Anhui Ankai Automobile China, whose vehicles serve an urban market two times as big as the entire population of the United States, are set to lead the world in making public buses fit for a health-conscious world, backed by a government drive to clean up China's vast and growing cities.

Hawaii and China promote tourism, economic development opportunities (The Gov Monitor, 11/03/2009) Governor Linda Lingle announced today she will travel to China to build on the State’s strategic efforts to strengthen Hawai‘i’s economic base by tapping China’s growing outbound tourism market as well as developing opportunities and partnerships in clean energy and international trade.

China seeks laws to protect polluted lakes: state media (AFP, 11/03/2009) Officials in China have called for special laws to halt pollution of the nation's thousands of lakes, which are drying up at a rate of about 20 per year, state media reported.

China to cut pesticide companies by 30% to reduce pollution (China Daily, 11/03/2009) The number of China's pesticide companies would be cut by 30 percent by 2015, according to the draft of Industrial Policy for Pesticide Industry released Tuesday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

China forgets “China-only wind turbines” policy, but why? (CleanTechnica, 11/03/2009) A couple weeks ago, I wrote about China’s new policy to focus on buying (almost entirely) “China-grown” wind turbines and wind turbine technologies with Chinese patents. That policy wasn’t a big hit internationally and China is back-tracking.

Russia and China strike a deal (Forbes, 11/02/2009) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing earlier this month yielded commercial deals worth $3.5 billion and a sweeping framework for bilateral energy cooperation. China's interest in Russian hydrocarbons is motivated by a desire to meet growing demand and diversify import sources. Russia stands to gain from reducing its dependence on European energy markets and using exports to China to develop Russia's Far East.

Urban environmental program pays off with international award (Xinhua, 11/02/2009) Dalian has notched up yet another honor acknowledging the quality of its environment and its excellent urban management programs.

Shanghai drivers use cleaner fuel at old prices (Reuters, 11/02/2009) Drivers in China's financial hub of Shanghai have started filling their tanks with cleaner motor fuel but are not yet paying higher prices like their counterparts in the capital Beijing. But the situation may soon change as the government could raise prices in the city to cover the extra cost of producing cleaner fuel in a widely-expected national fuel price hike that could happen any time.

Officials firm on incineration plants in Beijing (People’s Daily, 11/02/2009) Authorities may push ahead with controversial plans to build seven more incineration plants in Beijing, despite local protests. Chen Ling, vice-director of the Beijing municipal commission of administration, said the plants, including the planned 832 million yuan ($121 million) Asuwei incineration center in Changping district, did not pose a health risk to residents.

Bridge opens China’s last virgin island for development (AFP, 11/01/2009) China on Saturday opens a new bridge over the Yangtze that will pave the way for rapid development of the country's "last virgin island," Chongming -- now just an hour's drive from booming Shanghai.

China’s Africa goals more than just natural resources (Reuters, 11/01/2009) Barely a month goes by without some new energy or mineral deal being struck between China and an African nation. These deals have transfixed the West, but China gets far more from the relationship than raw resources.

Water quality in China’s largest saltwater lake remains good (Xinhua, 10/31/2009) Water quality in China's largest saltwater lake Qinghai Lake remains good, said local authorities on Saturday. Results from three monitoring stations of the lake showed that water levels of inflowing rivers were above level III, said Cui Yuxiang from the water environment monitoring center of west China's Qinghai Province.

Local governments lack funds, incentives for low-cost homes (Caijing, 10/30/2009) Local governments have neither the funds nor the incentive to fulfill this year's low-cost housing construction target set by the central government, a government advisor told Caijing on Thursday. To build low-cost houses, local governments must provide money and favorably priced land to developers as well, according to Bao Zhonghua, deputy director of the China Real Estate and Housing Research Association, a government think tank.