[cai-asia] CAI-Asia China Project E-Newslette Issue No.18, 2008
Xiaojia Bao
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Air Quality, Energy, Transport, and Climate Change in China
CAI-Asia China Project E-Newsletter
Issue No.18, 2008
(Compiled by Xiaojia BAO)
Included in this issue:
- Beijing SO2 emission drops 12% in first quarter
- Beijing 2008 emission reduction goal settled
- CCICED: Energy efficiency and environment economic policy project
- Olympic shows 'all sparkle, no smoke'
- Air Quality assessment and forecast project for Beijing Olympics launched
AIR QUALITY
- Facts
Beijing sulfur dioxide emission dropped 12% in first quarter (May 8, 2008)
The sulphur dioxide emission in Beijing dropped 12 percent in the first quarter over the same period last year, with the total amount decreased by about 8,000 tons, according to the city's environmental regulator. The city used techniques to remove sulphur dioxide in major power plants which were mostly fueled by coal and replaced the fuel of small boilers with clean energies
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/08/content_6670172.htm
- Initiatives
Nanjing recruiting vehicle emission monitoring volunteer (May 8, 2008)
Nanjing Vehicle Emission Monitoring and Management Center planned to recruit 30 bus emission monitoring volunteers from the public society. In all, there are more than 5000 buses running in Nanjing. Many buses are so old that they brought serious harms to the health of citizens. To find out those old and inefficient buses, the volunteers can shoot emitting buses, by videos or photographers.
Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24464
Chengdu: Key pollutant concentration indicator to be included in monitoring system (May 8, 2008)
Chengdu recently included concentration indicator of key pollutants into urban air environment monitoring system. Coal-burning will be prohibited in areas within Ring III in Chengdu. Reduction in SO2 and PM10 concentration was included in environment monitoring system for the first time. All coal-burning industrial factories should finish clean energy renovation in Out-ring areas before the end of 2009.
Chinese link: http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/qt/200805/t20080508_585752.html
Beijing: Emission reduction goal settled (May 9, 2008)
Beijing recently launched the 2008 Action Plan to accelerate circular economy development and construct resource-saving and environment-friendly cities. Beijing plans to reduce energy consumption per unit GDP by 5%, water consumption per unit GDP by 4%, COD emission by 4% and SO2 emission by 10%. To achieve those goals, there will be a series of measure launched as well, including industrial structure adjustment, new technology or product promotion, energy-saving building and green lightening etc.
Chinese link: http://www.mep.gov.cn/hjyw08/200805/t20080509_122293.htm
Guangxi: Energy saving and emission reduction financial distribution plan approved (May 12, 2008)
Guangxi has recently passed the Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Financial Distribution Plan, regulating that public financial subsidy should be related to energy saving amount. Key financial supporting fields covers energy saving in key industries and key enterprises, phasing out low efficient producing facilities and closing small polluting enterprises.
Chinese link: http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/qt/200805/t20080512_585860.html
ENERGY
- Initiatives
Guodian will dig deeper into coal (May 8, 2008)
China Guodian Corp (Guodian), one of the five leading power producers in the country, will expand its main business into coal mine development. Apart from power and heat production and supply, Guodian can also take part in coal mine development, said a statement of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/08/content_6670134.htm
CNPC, Nippon Oil form refinery joint venture (May 9, 2008)
China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country's largest oil company, signed an agreement on Wednesday with Nippon Oil Corp to build a refinery to tap the growing Asian demand. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in Tokyo for joint venture project. It will have a processing capacity of 115,000 barrels per day, CNPC said.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/09/content_6672365.htm
Heilongjiang Province accelerated to be coal-electric base (May 9, 2008)
Heilongjiang province is accelerating to be the eastern coal-electric production base, with the core of 6 resourceful cities. Meanwhile, environment protection will be emphasized as well. Those cities have arranged many key projects to control pollution and reduce emission, including de-dust, desulphurization establishment requirements.
Chinese link: http://www.mep.gov.cn/hjyw08/200805/t20080509_122291.htm
CCICED: Energy efficiency and environment economic policy project (May 9, 2008)
China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development launched a special research project on energy efficiency and environment economic policies. The aim of this project is to summarize international leading experiences, design detailed economic policies, raise policy suggestions on energy efficiency and environment, raise resource and energy efficiency and reduce pollution. The project will finish draft report in November 2008 and submit final report in November 2009.
Chinese link: http://www.mep.gov.cn/hjyw08/200805/t20080506_122136.htm
Sinopec to build ethanol factory in Yichang (May 9, 2008)
Sinopec, together with another company in Hubei province, is planning to build an ethanol production base in Yichang, with producing capacity up to 100 thousand tons. The plan will involve an investment of 440 million RMB. Currently the project is in the process of environment assessment.
Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24494
State Energy Bureau: Focusing on hydropower (May 10, 2008)
Reiterating hydropower as a "clean and renewable" source of energy and stressing the country's ambitious plans to further tap the resource, director of the newly organized State Energy Bureau, Zhang Guobao, also expressed at an industry forum concern over the "demonizing" from overseas of the country's efforts to exploit its rich hydropower reserves.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-05/10/content_6674718.htm
TRANSPORT
- Facts
Tianjin: 2512 Euro III new buses will be on road (May 6, 2008)
Another 400 new buses were put into use on May 5, 2008. In all, until now, there have been 2512 Euro III buses launched. Tianjin Public Bus Ltd. finished bus update goal 100 days ahead of time. Those new buses will be devoted to 120 key road lines, central urban areas and Olympic stadium surrounding areas.
Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24426
- Regulations & Measures
China III emission standards lame (May 9, 2008)
The China III emission standards will soon come into force nationwide as of July 1 this year in line with the Ministry of Environment Protection's agenda. Meanwhile, sales and registrations of those vehicles only meeting the China II standards will be suspended.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/09/content_6674319.htm
NDRC approved 7 new energy vehicles (May 6, 2008)
National Development and Reform Committee recently launched a notice to approve 7 new energy vehicles, including Shanghai Volkswagen, Shanghai GM etc. The large scale of new vehicle approval reflected the government's encouragement to develop new vehicles and emphasis on innovation and production of new vehicles.
Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24421
- Initiatives
Guangxi to upgrade transport system under $37b plan (May 7, 2008)
The southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a bridgehead between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will invest about 260 billion yuan (37.1 billion US dollars) by 2012 to improve its transport system, an official said.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/07/content_6668528.htm
OTHERS
China to host first int'l expo on circular economy (May6, 2008)
China plans to host its first international exposition on circular economy in October in Qingdao, a coastal city in the eastern Shandong Province. An important part in China's effort toward sustainable development, circular economy was officially raised as a target for China's future growth in 2004. So far, the country has introduced the circular economy on a trial basis in about 160 enterprises, cities or regions during the past years.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/06/content_6665625.htm
Chengdu people walk to express environmental concerns (May 6, 2008)
About 200 people here in the capital of Sichuan province held a "group walk" on Sunday afternoon to express their concerns over the environmental impact the construction of two plants may have on their city. The residents took a two-hour leisurely walk from Nine-Hole Bridge to Wangjiang Pavilion in the eastern part of the city. Both are historical landmarks.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/06/content_6663382.htm
Three Gorges reduces 200 m tonnes of CO2 emission (May 10, 2008)
Three Gorges Project, the world's biggest hydroelectric plant, has helped China reduce emitting 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide as of Friday. The power plant has generated 223 billion kwh of electricity since its first generating units began operation in 2003, also avoiding the emission of 2.29 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide, according to the China Three Gorges Project Corporation.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/10/content_6674579.htm
China, Japan agree to enhance energy cooperation (May 9, 2008)
China and Japan agreed on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy and environment protection. Both sides, which are deeply concerned about the soaring world oil prices, agree to continue ministerial-level dialogue on energy policy and explore mutually beneficial cooperation in the field, according to a joint press communique.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/09/content_6672446.htm
China, Singapore build eco-city in Tianjin (May 8, 2008)
A 30-square kilometer eco-city project in the northern port city of Tianjin, which is jointly planned by China and Singapore, is expected to break ground in July and be completed in 10 to 15 years. The three-square-kilometer start-up area will start to be developed in three to five years, according to a plan revealed on Tuesday.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/08/content_6670430.htm
Women face tougher impact from climate change (May 7, 2008)
Climate change is harder on women in poor countries, where mothers stay in areas hit by drought, deforestation or crop failure as men move to literally greener pastures, a Nobel Peace laureate said on Tuesday.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-05/07/content_6666213.htm
Local govt keeps growth green (May 5, 2008)
Haikou remains a city with a green and healthy environment, cited by the World Health Organization (WHO), even after its rapid development over the past two decades. Air quality remains at the top state level, while 40 percent of land within the city is covered by parks, lawns and other green growth. Eighty-five percent of its sewage is treated centrally.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-05/05/content_6660759.htm
Pan-Pearal River Delta Region will discuss regional cooperation (May 6, 2008)
2008 Macau International Environment Cooperation and Development Forum and Exhibition was held in Macau recently, with the theme of Water, Energy and Sustainable Development. Nine regional representative from Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, including Guizhou, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan ,Sichuan, Fujian, Yunnan attended the forum and exhibition.
Chinese link: http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/qt/200805/t20080506_585658.html
Olympics Relevant
Olympic show 'all sparkle, no smoke' (May 9, 2008)
The traditional Chinese spectacle of fireworks displays will light up Beijing the night of the Olympics' opening ceremony, but the surrounding air will remain relatively clear thanks to highly advanced pyrotechnics. Fireworks with magnetic valves to control explosions of compressed air will produce just 20 percent of the smoke emitted from traditional chemical blasts.
English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-05/09/content_6672196.htm
500 new energy vehicles put into use, zero emission during Olympics (May 12, 2008)
About 500 new energy vehicles will be put into use during Olympics. This is one of many technological Olympic measures adopted by Beijing. Those new vehicles will guarantee Beijing Olympics to achieve zero emission in stadium surrounding areas.
English link: http://www.mep.gov.cn/hjyw08/200805/t20080512_122333.htm
Air Quality assessment and forecast project for Beijing Olympics will launch (May 9, 2008)
Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences recently launched the project of Air Quality Assessment and Forecast for Beijing Olympics. The project is lead by Beijing EPB, to analyze the impact of air pollution and surrounding environment to Beijing. The project will also provide weather forecast in North China region before and after the Olympics. The project can also provide macro policy suggestion to Beijing surrounding areas, in the condition of serious regional air pollution.
Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24489
Beijing: 500 new energy vehicles put into use (May 12, 2008)
A batch of updated new energy vehicles, green energy technology, high energy efficiency technology and environmental new technologies will play important roles during the Olympics. After the Olympic bid, Olympic Technology Action Plan 2008 was launched by Ministry of Technology and Science and other department. As a part of this action plan, 500 new energy vehicles will be put into use, making the transportation in Olympic Central areas with zero emission.
Chinese link: http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/qt/200805/t20080512_585858.html