AIR QUALITY
Facts
China extends alert against cold wave, heavy snow
January 3, 2010
China's Central Meteorological Station (CMS) on Sunday evening issued the third orange alert since the first one on Saturday, extending the warning against a strong cold wave and strong wind.
Temperature was expected to fall by 14 to 18 degrees Celsius from Sunday night to Tuesday in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shaanxi Province and the western parts in regions along the Yellow and Huaile rivers, or 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in some of these regions, according to the CMS.
English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2010-01/03/content_19171520.htm
Alert goes orange for cold wave as northern Chinese cities embrace new year's first snow
January 2, 2010
A strong cold wave will sweep most of China and force down temperature in the coming two days beginning on Saturday as northern Chinese cities such as Beijing, Tianjin and others in Hebei Province embraced new year's first snowfall.
The Central Meteorological Station (CMS) issued an orange alert for the cold wave, warning that most areas in north, central and east China would suffer temperature drops ranging from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius.
English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/02/content_12743861.htm
285 blue sky days in Beijing 2009
December 31, 2009
December 31 was the last day in 2009, as well as the last blue sky day in 2009. So far, there are 285 days of good and excellent air quality in Beijing, 2009, 11 days more than the "Olympic Year" (2008), and it also means that the air quality in Beijing keeps improving for 11 years.
According to the data from Beijing EPB, it is the best record since 1999. "The days of good and excellent air quality in January, March, April, May, and June reached the highest number in decade; the average number of days meeting the standard (achieve Standard I and II) from Jan to Oct all exceeded 22. Meanwhile, it is the year with least days of moderate and heavy pollution, 18 days less than 2000." Said Wang Dawei, Director of Air Management Division, Beijing EPB.
Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/environment/2009-12/31/content_12736777.htm
Regulations
Amendment draft of Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law adopted in principle by MEP
December 31, 2009
Based on the ministry conference chaired by Minister Zhou Shengxian, MEP examined and adopted the amendment draft of Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law in principle, as well as other acts including Environmental Administrative Sanctions (Amendment Draft)", " environmental management approaches of new chemical substances (Amendment Draft)" and "local environmental quality standards and record management practices for pollutant emission standards (Amendment Draft)".
And the amendment draft of Air Pollution Law will be further revised, and then reported to State Council and submitted to NPC for its consideration.
Chinese link: http://www.zhb.gov.cn/zhxx/hjyw/200912/t20091231_183694.htm
ENERGY
Facts
Green light bulbs 'may pollute water'
December 31, 2009
Used lights could be discharging mercury, more recycling urged
The widely publicized energy-saving bulbs, which now are a source of light in millions of Chinese households, may well be causing mercury pollution in many parts of the country.
Still, an official of the Guangdong provincial bureau of environmental protection said the department has "not come up with any concrete and effective measure to cope with mercury pollution" so far.
The provincial government has subsidized rates to help promote the use of more than 8 million energy-saving lamps and light bulbs this year.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-12/31/content_9249985.htm
Petroleum reserve base underway in NW China
December 30, 2009
LANZHOU: China has launched the construction of a national petroleum reserve base in northwest China's Gansu Province.
The reserve base, located in Yongdeng County of Lanzhou City, has a capacity of three million cubic meters, said an official with Lanzhou Petrochemical Company of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
Construction of the project, which started Tuesday, is expected to cost around 2.38 billion yuan (US$350 million), the official said
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-12/30/content_9249020.htm
Initiatives
China to become the world's third largest wind power producer
December 31, 2009
China will become the world's third largest wind power producer this year, an official with the National Energy Administration (NEA) said Wednesday.
The country's installed wind power capacity would total 20 million kilowatts (kw) this year, said Shi Lishan, deputy with NewEnergy and Renewable Energy Bureau of the NEA. The capacity was 764,000 kw by the end of 2004 and increased to 12 million kw in 2008.
The estimated figure will lift China to the third place following the United States and Germany.
English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/31/content_12731862.htm
CNPC, allies win $9.7b gas contract
December 31, 2009
China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), along with companies from South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has won contracts worth $9.7 billion to develop a large natural gas field in Turkmenistan.
The consortium, comprising of CNPC, South Korea's LG International Corp and Hyundai Engineering Co, and the UAE's Gulf Oil & Gas Fze and Petrofac International Corp, will jointly develop the South Yolotan gas field, according to Turkmen media.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-12/31/content_9250101.htm
China aims to curb overcapacity, boost emerging industries for low-carbon economy
December 30, 2009
China is making concrete steps in pushing forward with its low-carbon economy by curbing overcapacity on one hand and boosting strategic emerging industries on the other.
At a press conference held here on Wednesday, Li Ningning, a senior official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner, said the overcapacity problem in a few industrial sectors such as coal chemical industry and vitamin C must be tackled.
Also at the press conference on Wednesday, Shi Lishan, another official with the NDRC, said the government needed to guide the development of high-tech industries such as wind and solar power equipment manufacturing as China rushed to build a low-carbon economy.
English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/30/content_12731710.htm
Regulations
Grids pushed to tap clean power
December 28, 2009
The country's top legislature adopted on Saturday an amendment to the renewable energy law that requires electricity grid companies to buy all the power produced by renewable energy generators.
The amendment says the State Council energy department and the State power regulatory agency should supervise the purchases.
The amendment, approved by lawmakers after it was heard the second time at a 5-day meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, aims to support the country's fledgling renewable energy sector.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-12/28/content_9235419.htm
TRANSPORT
Facts
Heavy snow hits Beijing, disrupting traffic
January 3, 2010
Heavy snow hit Beijing on Sunday to close expressways, delay flights and disrupt bus services.
As of 10 a.m., 120 outbound flights, including both domestic and international ones, had been delayed at the Beijing Capital International Airport and 86 flights were canceled. Only one of the three runways at the airport remained open, according to the airport management.
Snow blanketed roads in the city and temperature was expected to touch lows of minus 10 degrees Celsius Sunday, according to the Central Meteorological Station.
English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2010-01/03/content_19171638.htm
Initiatives
Fujian builds 105b-yuan railway network
December 31, 2009
A ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the start of construction on seven railway projects and operation of another three high-speed railroads, linking Fujian Province with other east China provinces.
These railways, with a combined investment of 105 billion yuan ($15 billion), constitute a transport system linking nine cities in Fujian with neighboring Jiangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-12/31/content_9253511.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE
Facts
Denmark, not China should be blamed for failure of Copenhagen conference: Guardian website article
January 1, 2010
It was Denmark, not China which "hijacked" the Copenhagen climate change conference last month and caused its failure, said a recent article from the Guardian website.
In an article entitled "Blame Denmark, not China, for Copenhagen failure" published on the Guardian website on Dec. 28, Martin Khor, executive director of the South Center, an inter-governmental organization of developing countries, said Britain and some other developed countries are using China as a scapegoat to cover the real reasons for the failure of the Copenhagen conference.
English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/01/content_12741249.htm
Chinese premier, UN chief discuss climate change
December 30, 2009
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed building on the Copenhagen conference to fight climate change in a telephone conversation on Wednesday.
Premier Wen said the Copenhagen climate meeting had achieved historic progress, which would serve as the foundation for international cooperation and pointed the future direction for negotiations on climate change action.
Wen said all nations should continue to find common ground, bridge differences and strengthen cooperation to crack the hard issues facing human existence and development, and benefit the generations to come.
English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/30/content_12730059.htm \
OTHER
China restricts production of two minerals over reserve, environment concerns
January 3, 2010
China has begun to restrict the mining and production of refractory clay and fluorite over concerns about reserve decrease and environmental pollution, according to a notice posted on the central government's website Sunday.
The government would implement comprehensive measures, which involve taxation, production planning management, industry entry standards and export policies, for the restriction, says the notice posted on www.gov.cn.
Land and resources authorities would enhance efforts to address problems in refractory clay and fluorite mining, and would not accept applications for new prospecting and mining projects starting from Jan. 2.
English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/03/content_12747492.htm
Cleanup underway after oil pipeline leak in Shaanxi
January 3, 2010
A diesel oil leak from a pipeline in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has been taken under control, said the pipeline owner, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) on Saturday.
The company said it has immediately shut down the pipeline when the accident, which led to "large amounts of" diesel fuel leaking into the Chishui River, as well as the Weihe River - a major branch of the Yellow River, was discovered early Wednesday.
English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2010-01/03/content_19170946.htm
China announces rules on management of major state enterprises' executives
December, 31, 2009
China Wednesday announced a regulation on management of senior executives of the 136 large centrally-administered enterprises.
The regulation included the executives' performance in protecting environment, saving energy and resources in the assessment to guarantee an all-around, harmonious and sustainable development of the state-owned enterprises.
Jointly issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, the regulation stipulates the qualifications of being a SOE executive should include outstanding achievements in their work, professionalism and high political quality.
English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/31/content_12731759.htm
Four waste plants to shut down before Asian Games
December 31, 2009
Four small garbage incinerators in the city's southern district of Panyu will be shut down before the Asian Games open next November, Guangdong authorities said yesterday.
The move aims to clean up the skies ahead of the major sporting event that starts on Nov 12.
The four incinerators will continue operations as the Games approach since a new comprehensive scheme of garbage treatment is yet to be issued, a Panyu district government website notice said.
English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2009-12/31/content_19161510.htm
Beijing may face waste crisis in four years
December 31, 2009
China's capital city Beijing may face "garbage crisis" in four years, if no more waste disposal facilities to be built in time, the city's municipal administration warned on Tuesday.
The volume of trash in the capital city is growing by 8 percent annually. 90 percent of garbage is buried in landfills, officials with the city's commission supervising cityscape told Chinanews.com.
English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2009-12/31/content_19161718.htm
Summary of 2009 Environment— 6 Key words
December 31, 2009
As a summary for China environmental protection in 2009, the China Environment News selected 6 key words (sentences) to cover the development and improvement of China environment in last year.
These key words or sentences are: let rivers and lakes rehabilitate; environmental protection regionalization; environmental protection in post-Olympic times; Nature and Ecology Conservation; halt illegal hydropower development project; much more needed for sandstorm control.
Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/environment/2009-12/31/content_12734557.htm
China to establish emergency environmental management system
December 30, 2009
China is speeding up construction of a system for environmental management to handle emergent environmental incidents, an official said on Tuesday.
It was revealed by Zhang Lijun, Vice Minister of Environmental Protection, when he addressed a meeting on the ministry's priorities in the upcoming year.
In the year of 2010, environmental protection authorities at all levels should focus on the handling of mass disturbances triggered by environmental pollution such as water and soil pollution, and reduce the harm that pollution bring to people as much as possible.
The environmental protection authorities will also conduct a two-year nationwide campaign to investigate all pollution source threats, which will gradually form a dinamic environmental management system, according to Zhang.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-12/30/content_9246952.htm
Building green a trend in China
December 30, 2009
The latest trend in building architecture in China is being driven more by the urgency of sustainability than by the desire for sublimity. Marcus Schulz reports
When the Olympics began in 2008, the curtain opened on many new architectural wonders in Beijing. Now, architects continue to bring innovation to China's stage by designing environmentally sustainable buildings.
Building green is becoming "trendy" in China, according to William Wong, associate director at the Hong Kong office of Arup, a global firm of independent designers, engineers and consultants that helped build the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube, Beijing International Airport's Terminal Three and the new CCTV tower.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-12/30/content_9244842.htm
China launches 1st environment industry fund
December 28, 2009
BEIJING: China's first fund for environmental industry was launched Monday in Beijing, aiming to promote investment in the country's environment-related sectors.
The Environment Industry Fund, run by China General Technology Investment Fund Management Corp., is expected to raise 2 billion yuan (US$292.8 million) in the first stage.
The company will also set up a parallel US$300 million overseas fund.
The money-raising will be finished by the second quarter in 2010 and the money will be invested in water industry, solid waste disposal, renewable energy, energy conservation and emission cuts sectors, said Liu Debing, chairman of the company
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-12/28/content_9239044.htm
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