Issue 35, November 20th to November 27th, 2009

OPINION

Incinerator protests fire debate over China’s growing garbage problem (Xinhua, 11/26/2009) When hundreds of people in a south China city took to the streets earlier this week to protest a planned garbage incinerator project, they highlighted a growing problem for China's booming cities.

Expert: China’s one child policy needs to be adjusted (China Daily, 11/26/2009) A distinguished scholar said China should encourage its people to have more than one child in the future, the Economic Information Daily reported Thursday.

Economist Debates (The Economist, 11/25/2009) China and the US: This house believes that China is showing more leadership than America in the fight against climate change

PUBLIC SECTOR/NGOs

First ‘Genetic Map’ of Han Chinese may aid search for disease susceptibility genes (Science Daily, 11/26/2009) The first genetic historical map of the Han Chinese, the largest ethnic population in the world, as they migrated from south to north over evolutionary time, was published online November 25 in the American Journal of Human Genetics by scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS).

Victims in NW China lead pollution face relocation (Xinhua, 11/26/2009) Authorities in northwest China are to relocate a total of 1,396 families after waste discharges from a local smelter caused lead poisoning in 851 children this summer.

Giant panda may have first offspring in southern hemisphere (Xinhua, 11/26/2009) The endangered giant panda may have offspring in the southern hemisphere for the first time as two pandas are due to arrive in Australia Saturday from China for a 10-year stay.

China expert warns of pandemic flu mutation (Reuters, 11/25/2009) China must be alert to any mutation or changes in the behavior of the H1N1 swine flu virus because the far deadlier H5N1 bird flu virus is endemic in the country, a leading Chinese disease expert said.

China drought risks food, stability, McKinsey says (Bloomberg, 11/25/2009) China’s long-term food security and social stability may be threatened unless the world’s largest grain producer invests more to fight the effects of drought, McKinsey & Co. said.

The Nation: A Kingdom of Bicycles No Longer (NPR, 11/25/2009) Ambassador Yu Qingtai is China's point man on global warming. As special representative to the climate change talks for China's ministry of foreign affairs, Yu is a forceful advocate for China's view that while his country will do its part, the primary responsibility for fixing the problem rests squarely on the shoulders of the United States and other industrialized countries. And he bristles when reminded that many US experts put on the onus on China's rapidly growing economy and industrial might.

China enters the carpool lane (Wired, 11/24/2009) In Wuhan, China, over 200 residents have participated in a groundbreaking new program to reduce pollution and traffic congestion: they’re carpooling.

Hundreds in south China oppose waste incinerator (Reuters, 11/23/2009) Hundreds in China's southern city of Guangzhou protested outside government offices on Monday, opposing plans for a large garbage incinerator in a sign of the region's rising public assertiveness over green issues.

Some 100 cubs expected in world’s largest Siberian tiger breeding base in 2010 (Xinhua, 11/22/2009) Some 100 cubs were expected to be born in the world's largest Siberian tiger artificial breeding center in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province in 2010, or the year of tiger in China.

CORPORATIONS

Environment stocks gain on China’s carbon target (Xinhua, 11/27/2009) Environment-related stocks rose in morning trade Friday on China's firm target to curb greenhouse gas emissions, despite an overall drop at the two main stock exchanges.

Sichuan forest carbon sink project successfully registered at UNFCCC (ChinaCSR, 11/27/2009) A forest-based carbon sink project in China's Sichuan province, which is said to be the world's first climate, community and biodiversity based forest carbon sink project, has been successfully registered at the CDM Council of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

China starts first shale gas project (Wall Street Journal, 11/27/2009) China has started its first joint development project in shale gas, in a bid to find alternative resources for the cleaner-burning fuel to meet the nation's rising demand.

Into China’s smog, a green giant rises (The Globe and Mail, 11/27/2009) In an artist's rendition, the Pearl River Tower soars above the Guangzhou skyline looking like a cross between a flattened rocket ship and a cellphone.

Wind energy boosts for China (Carbon Markets, 11/27/2009) The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the Chinese Wind Energy Industries Association (CREIA) and the Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA) have identified key areas on which they are to cooperate.

Energy firms step up output, input (China Daily, 11/27/2009) China's major energy firms are boosting natural gas production and imports to ease shortages caused by a cold snap this month.

Guangdong Nuclear Power plans for greater uranium use (Wall Street Journal, 11/26/2009) China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holdings Co., one of the country's two nuclear-energy firms, said it will need more than 100,000 metric tons of uranium between 2009 and 2020 to feed its growing fleet of nuclear-power plants, a huge jump from current demand levels that underscores the scope of China's nuclear-energy ambitions.

Hold your nose: Garlic is best investment in China (Reuters, 11/26/2009) The price of garlic in China has nearly quadrupled since March, propelled by its very pungency to rank ahead of gold and stocks as the country's best-performing asset this year.

Dongfeng Nissan to launch Green City Initiative in China (ChinaCSR, 11/26/2009) Ren Yong, the deputy general manager of Dongfeng Nissan, announced at The 7th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition that Dongfeng Nissan will launch a green city initiative, developing electric cars and helping to improve the ecological environment.

China mine disaster toll hits 108: state media (AFP, 11/26/2009) Rescuers have recovered the corpse of the last person missing after an explosion in a coal mine in northeastern China, bringing the death toll to 108, state media reported on Thursday.

IEA: China growth now seen leading to oil price rally (Reuters, 11/26/2009) The International Energy Agency (IEA) does not think rapid growth in Chinese oil demand will lead to a rally in crude oil prices next year, the agency's executive director said on Thursday.

Taiwan recycler shows computer board art isn’t boring (Reuters, 11/25/2009) Sculptures of ancient Chinese symbols such as a swimming sea turtle, a boy farmer on the back of an ox and cranes resting on pine trees sold in Taiwan hardly look like toxic trash, but they nearly were.

China’s wind power industry faces overcapacity (SteelGuru, 11/25/2009) It is reported that China wind power industry is striding forward under the guidance and encouragement of Chinese government but is burdened with a potential overcapacity of backward equipment manufacturing, an obstacle in the way of wind power development.


China Huaneng group plans green power plants (ChinaCSR, 11/24/2009) Zhang Tingke, the deputy general manager of China Huaneng Group, disclosed at The World Low Carbon and Eco-economy Conference and Technical Exposition that CHG will convert all its coal-fired power plants into environmentally-friendly ones by the end of 2010 by desulphurizing the coal-fired units.

China forestry signs letter of intent with landscape engineering and construction firm (Globe Newswire, 11/20/2009) China Forestry Inc. (OTCBB:CHFY), a timber investment group in the People's Republic of China, announced today the Company has entered into a letter of intent to acquire the landscape engineering and construction firm Shaan'Xi Province Gaoxin Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Holding Co., Ltd., in Xi'An City, Shaan'Xi Province.

GOVERNMENT

US announces emission cuts, China follows suit (Times of India, 11/27/2009) China on Thurday declared that it would reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2020. This significant maneuver is bound to step up pressure on India and other emerging economies to relax their stand at the forthcoming climate-change talks in Copenhagen.

China turns to methane (Agence France Presse, 11/27/2009) China, a massive consumer of fossil fuels and coal in particular, is trying to modernise its mines by containing emissions of methane and turning the toxic gas into a source of much-needed energy.


City has “more room” for cars (China Daily, 11/27/2009) Environmental officials said yesterday the city's pollution should not worsen when the car population exceeds four million next month.

China vows to dramatically slow emissions growth (AP, 11/27/2009) China promised to slow its carbon emissions, saying it would nearly halve the ratio of pollution to GDP over the next decade — a major move by the world's largest emitter, whose cooperation is crucial to any deal as a global climate summit approaches.

China to double investment in environmental protection to $454 billion (BusinessGreen 11/26/2009) China has announced it plans to invest up to $454bn (£274bn) in environmental protection in the five years to 2015, with about one third earmarked for pollution control facilities.

Beijing to take measure of renewable energy sector (SteelGuru, 11/26/2009) Interfax China reported that the Chinese government has started a ten day study of the country renewable energy industry.

Chinese state to give high-tech VC funds a hand (Reuters, 11/26/2009) China's top economic planner has issued guidelines to channel central government money into new venture capital funds to support the high-technology sector.

EU, China to ink clean coal deal at summit (EurActiv, 11/26/2009) Leaders from China and Europe will sign a new Science and Technology Agreement at next week's summit in Nanjing, where progress is also likely on a major near-zero emissions coal project.

China’s climate pledge to meet a quarter of global needs: IEA (AFP, 11/26/2009) China's pledge on greenhouse gases means it would shoulder more than a quarter of the CO2 emissions cuts needed to avoid dangerous global warming, a top economist said Thursday.

China plans to promote development of tourism industry (Xinhua, 11/25/2009) China's State Council, the Cabinet, announced Wednesday plans to push forward the development of tourism industry and make it a strategic pillar industry in the national economy.

New 500-million ton coalfield discovered in Henan (People’s Daily, 11/25/2009) A report on discovering a new coalfield with reserves of more than 500 million tons has passed the judgment of experts. It is estimated that the coalfield is worth more than 1,000 billion yuan, according to the Fourth geological prospecting team of Henan Geology and Mineral Resources Bureau, November 23, 2009.

China issues environment standards for lead smelting industry (Bloomberg, 11/25/2009) China, the world’s largest producer of lead, issued environment standards for smelting the metal, after the government pledged three months ago to clamp down on polluting plants because of a spate of poisoning.

Hong Kong authorities issue health warning as smog blankets city (Earth Times, 11/25/2009) The Hong Kong government Wednesday warned people with respiratory illnesses to limit their time outdoors as air pollution in the city soared to potentially dangerous levels. Pollution readings at roadside monitors recorded very high levels Wednesday morning as a dense winter smog, triggered largely by factory fumes from neighboring China enveloped the city of 7 million.

More government support for China’s clean-energy exports (Wall Street Journal, 11/25/2009) Another reminder of the role governments are playing in the global green-energy push: China’s Export-Import Bank signed a $2.9 billion deal to boost exports of China Energy Conservation Investment Corporation, an energy-efficiency and renewable-energy project developer. Government money helps finance Chinese energy companies with less access to the global banking system; that big Chinese wind farm in Texas is also financed by the Export-Import bank.

US lauds China for boosting toy safety standards (AFP, 11/24/2009) The United States Monday praised Beijing for "taking toy safety seriously" two years after millions of made-in-China toys had to be recalled amid fears they were dangerous.

Pork ‘safe to eat’ despite infection found in pigs (China Daily, 11/23/2009) Health experts have assured consumers that Chinese pork is still safe despite reports of pigs being infected with the deadly A/H1N1 flu.

Japan, China, S. Korea sigh food safety memorandum (AFP, 11/23/2009) Health ministers from Japan, China and South Korea agreed Monday to step up efforts to ensure food safety following concerns over pesticide-tainted Chinese-made dumplings.

Sky’s the limit as Beijing’s smog lifts (China Daily, 11/21/2009) China's capital hit its 2009 target of 260 blue-sky days a staggering 41 days before the end of the year. The capital's environmental protection bureau said on Friday the reduced smog and improved visibility was the result of determined efforts, strict measures and good weather.