Tuesday July 03, 2007

As glaciers melt and rivers dry up, coal-fired power stations multiply

guardian.co.uk :

On a bad day - which can be hundreds in a year - the ancient city of Linfen in the northern province of Shanxi is environmental hell. Named by the World Bank last year as having the worst air quality on Earth, its 3.5 million people more often than not choke on coal dust; its soil and rivers are covered with soot. The cause is Linfen's 196 iron foundries, 153 coking plants, unregulated coalmines, tar factories, steelworks and homes, all of which burn cheap, easily accessible brown coal. The country is now building 550 coal-fired power stations - opening at the equivalent of two a week - and in the five years to 2005, electricity generation rose 150%.

China is well aware of its impact on climate change. Its Himalayan glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate, its deserts are encroaching on cities in the north-west, and rivers are drying up as a result of temperature rises and over-exploitation. According to the Worldwatch Institute thinktank in Washington, Chinese air pollution from coal-burning cost its economy more than $63bn in 2004, or roughly 3% of GDP.

China's first national plan on climate change follows western countries in setting ambitious domestic targets to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2010 and to raise the share of renewables - such as wind and hydropower - to 16% by 2020. However, more than a year into the energy plan, it is proving hard to implement. For another 10 to 20 years, the most populous country on Earth is expected to continue its supercharged growth, then to plateau for a decade or so, before making reductions.

See also :

1. China building more power plants
2. China overtakes US as world's biggest CO2 emitter
3. China #1 in CO2 emissions

(2007-07-03 12:19:19 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. Singapore SIBOR rate falls to 0.94% in Nov 2008, lowest since Jul 2004
2. Baltic Dry Index falls 93% as shipping rates plunge, signalling global economic collapse
3. Singapore SIBOR rate falls to 1.31%, lowest since Nov 2004
4. Singapore SIBOR interest rates fall to 1.5%, lowest since Dec 2004
5. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
6. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
7. Fuel prices seen stoking Malaysia inflation in 2008
8. How to insert currency exchange rates into Google Spreadsheets

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. ABC Guide to Beating Inflation in Singapore and Elsewhere
2. Singapore inflation rate hits new 26-year high of 7.5% in Apr 2008
3. Baltic Dry Index falls 93% as shipping rates plunge, signalling global economic collapse
4. 67000 China factories closed in H1 2008 as global economic collapse takes hold
5. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
6. Peakoiler buys 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid FD3
7. NYMEX crude oil recovers from $32.40 low after 2.2 mbpd OPEC production cut announced
8. Singapore SIBOR rate falls to 0.94% in Nov 2008, lowest since Jul 2004