Saturday June 02, 2007

China admits 'grave need' to cut pollution

peakoil.com -> telegraph.co.uk :

China's prime minister has taken personal charge of efforts to repair the country's disastrous environmental record, after they were repeatedly blocked by local government officials obsessed with economic growth. Wen Jiabao's decision to head a new task force focusing on the environment was made at a meeting of the state council, the country's cabinet.

"China is in grave need of cutting energy consumption and pollution," a spokesman said quoting Mr Wen. He also admitted that Beijing was already failing to meet targets set less than two years ago. The announcement followed three major setbacks in a week for China's plans to shift its focus from economic growth to so-called "sustainable development", including leaner and more efficient use of resources such as oil, coal and water.

An internal study said climate change would have started to result in greater flooding in the east and droughts in the north and west by 2020, with a significant effect on agricultural production in the following years. Then it was confirmed that publication of the second part of the report, the grandly titled National Plan on Climate Change, had been delayed. Environmentalists said it had been delayed by officials concerned about the effects of the proposals on the economy. Meanwhile, a researcher at the International Energy Agency in Geneva said that China's emissions of greenhouse gases were growing at a faster rate than predicted and could overtake the world's top producer, America, as early as this year.

See also :

1. China could overtake US as biggest emissions culprit by Nov 2007
2. China to spend $175 billion on the environment
3. China growth unsustainable on all counts
4. China's next big boom could be the foul air

(2007-06-02 14:23:48 SGT) [Env] Permalink

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. Singapore MRT rail network length to double by 2020
2. 2010 Nissan Leaf electric car specifications : 107hp, 24KWh lithium-ion batteries, 100-mile range
3. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
4. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
5. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 direct download link
6. Real-time live gold and silver price quotes chart on COMEX
7. Singapore electric vehicles : Government agencies EMA and LTA to study EV introduction
8. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn
2. Singapore electric cars testing starts with 9 electric vehicles
3. Honda, GS Yuasa JV to make lithium-ion batteries for 2010/2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
4. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
5. 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid, 2010 Honda Fit/Jazz hybrid models confirmed
6. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
7. NYMEX crude oil recovers from $32.40 low after 2.2 mbpd OPEC production cut announced
8. Singapore : Nuclear power not ruled out