2008 China E-Newsletter - Clean Air Initiative

Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center, Inc. 

CAI-Asia China Project E-Newsletter @2008 

Air Quality, Energy, Transport, and Climate Change in China 

CAI-Asia China Project E-Newsletter 

Issue No.1, 2008 

(Compiled by Shuang LI) 

CNPC to put $2.16b on gas pipeline 

Dec. 29 2007 

BEIJING -- China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) will invest 16 billion yuan 

($2.16 billion) to fund construction of a planned Central Asia-China natural gas pipeline, 

CNPC's listed subsidiary PetroChina said on Friday. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-12/29/content_6357734.htm 

Complaints over construction sites dust down 30% 

Dec. 31 2007 

Beijing has seen a 30 percent decrease in residents' complaints about airborne debris 

around construction sites in the first 11 months of this year compared with a year earlier, 

the municipal environment authorities said Sunday. 


China exceeds target in closing 43% small coal-fired plants 

Dec. 31 2007 

China exceeded its 2007 target of closing small coal-fired generators by 43 percent, amid 

increased efforts to save energy and cut emissions, the country's top planning body said 

on Sunday. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2007-12/31/content_6361130.htm 

Beijing Raises Air Quality Goal for 2008 Games 

Dec. 31 2007 

BEIJING - Beijing is aiming for more 'good air days' in 2008 as it prepares to host the 

Olympics in August, a senior official said on Friday, with the city's notorious pollution a 

major concern for athletes and organisers. 

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46216/newsDate/31-Dec-2007/stor 

y.htm 

Beijing narrowly attains 'blue sky' goal 

Jan. 1 2008 

BEIJING -- Beijing, the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games, saw its 246th blue sky in 

2007 Monday, narrowly fulfilling its annual target of 245 by just one day more. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-01/01/content_6362366.htm 

New fuel standards take effect in Beijing 


1



Beijing introduced new vehicle fuel standards on Tuesday, which represent another way 

to ensure the "green Olympics" that China has promised. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-01/01/content_6362871.htm 

China auto maker to develop hydrous ethanol engines 


Dongfeng Motor Corporation, one of China's largest auto makers, has completed its initial 

research of using hydrous ethanol in automobiles. 


New fuel standards take effect in Beijing in drive for clean, green Olympics 


Beijing introduced new vehicle fuel standards on Tuesday, which represent another way 

to ensure the "green Olympics" that China has promised. 

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6330939.html 

Power plants to slash emissions 


All five power plants in the capital are set to slash emissions in a bid to clean up the skies 

in time for the Olympics in August, local media have reported. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-01/03/content_6366386.htm 

Beijing still needs nature's help for clean sky 


Gusting winds helped Beijing officials meet and beat their quota of 245 "blue-sky" days for 

2007 just two days ahead of the New Year, thus keeping their earlier promise to the 

International Olympic Committee. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-01/04/content_6370671.htm 

Smoking in cars more hazardous than thought 


LOS ANGELES -- Smoking inside a vehicle is more dangerous to health than previously 

thought, health experts said on Thursday. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-01/04/content_6372100.htm 

Top chemical producer vows to reach zero emission 


BEIJING -- The country's largest chemical enterprise, ChemChina, said on Thursday that 

it had set a target of zero emissions and would put emissions reduction at the core of its 

work for 2008. 


Beijing launches first pollution survey 


2



Beijing launched its first survey of pollution sources on Friday in a bid to improve the 

environment. 


1st nationwide pollution census to start in Feb 


The first national survey of pollution sources is to start in February, the State 

Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) said here on Friday. 

http://www.csid.com.cn/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=75820 

New energy rules planned for government buildings 


Government office buildings and large public structures will face energy quotas, higher 

utility rates for overuse and public releases of their efficiency ratings this year, the Beijing 

News quoted officials with the Construction Ministry as saying Thursday. 


China to build 1st 3G nuclear plant in March 


BEIJING -- The construction of China's first third-generation nuclear plant, the Sanmen 

power plant, is set to begin in March, the State Nuclear Power Technology Company 

(SNPTC) said Thursday. 


Beijing public transport serves 4.6 billion person-times in 2007 


Beijing's public transport system served a passenger volume of 4.6 billion person-times in 

2007, while the bus system alone catered for four billion person-times, up 13 percent over 

the previous year, according to the Beijing Public Transport Group. 


China to study sources of pollution 


Chinese government is poised to conduct its first national survey of pollution sources in 

February to help control environmental deterioration in the country. 


1st national pollution census starts 


The first nationwide survey of sources of industrial, agricultural and residential pollution 

has been launched, it was announced on Friday. 


3



Shougang quits blast furnace for Olympics 


BEIJING - Beijing Shougang Group, one of China's leading steel manufacturers and also 

the city's major polluter, extinguished the fire in one of its four blast furnaces on Saturday, 

as part of its pledge to cut its normal output by half during the Olympics. 


China mulls tax plan for environmental protection 


Chinese government departments of tax and environment will try to work out a taxation 

plan to promote environmental protection in 2008 and the candidate plans are now under 

appraisal. 


A small beginning 


Energy savings and emissions control are priorities for China, and initial emissions targets 

have already been met. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bw/2008-01/07/content_6373908.htm 

4

Dear friends, 



Happy New Year. We would like to thank you for your appreciation for our efforts through 

weekly newsletter which is designed to keep you informed with key news items related to air 

quality, energy, transport, and climate change in China. I would like to take this opportunity 

to thank Ms. LI Shuang for her great work with CAI-Asia China Project from September 2006 

to January 2008 and wiish her a brighter future in her career development . May I introduse 

you Ms. Xiaojia BAO who just completed her work as research assistant in a World Bank 

research project on air quality and joined us as researcher and program assistant. She, I am 

sure you will find soon, will continue providing quality weekly newsletter to you all. Please 

join me to welcome Xiaojia and please feel free to contact her for news information on air 

quality, energy, transport and climate change in China. To subscribe it directly (free of 

charge), please send an email to xiaojia.bao@cai-asia.org. 

-- from Yan PENG, Network and Program Development Specialist, CAI-Asia China Project, 

yan.peng@cai-asia.org 


Included in this issue: 



(Compiled by LI Shuang and Xiaojia BAO) 

- Brief report on Air Quality in 2007 by cities 

- Lanzhou " emergency plan to local air pollution 

- Updates on energy law drafting and renewable energy 

- Regional Air Quality Improvement efforts: Yangtze and Pearl Delta Regions. 

- Beijing : cleaner buses and more trail transport 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts- 

Shanghai’ s Air Quality Slowly Improves (Jan.11 2008) 

Shanghai's air quality was slightly better last year but vehicle emissions remain 

a major pollutant, local environmental supervisors said yesterday. There were 

328 days with excellent or good air quality in 2007, four days more than 2006. 

http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/eng/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=22225 

- Regulations & Measures 

5

- Initiatives 



Tibet to embrace vehicle emission control pilot projects this year (Jan.11 

2008) 

A pilot project on vehicle emission control will start in Lhasa this year, under 

the supervision of environment department. This will be the first vehicle 

emission control project in Tibet. 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/environment/2008-01/11/content_7405355.htm 

- Studies 

ENERGY 

- Facts 



40.3 million m2’ building are in Beijing to be reformed to raise energy efficiency 

until 2010 (Jan.10 2008) 

According to the newly released Beijing Building Energy Efficiency 

Reformations Special Action Plan, until 2010, 4030 million sqm’ building will be 

reformed. 70% of the gas and coal boilers, 70% of heat supply chains and 35% 

of livelihood building’s heat meters will be reconstructed. 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-01/10/content_7400021.htm 

General Biodiesel Brings Four Projects to China (Jan. 10 2008) 

The US new-energy firm General Biodiesel plans to launch four projects in 

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Wenzhou of East China's Zhejiang 

Province, said company CEO Yale W. Wong in Beijing yesterday. 


TRANSPORT 


Non-green vehicles will be banned on road in central Shenzhen city 

6



Vehicles without environmental labels will be banned on road in particular lines 

in Shenzhen, mainly central areas, during 7:00-9:00 am and 5:00-7:00 pm. 

This is the sixth traffic control measure adopted by Shenzhen Transport 

department since July 1, 2005. 

http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=22215 


China to invest 300b yuan in railway this year (Jan.11 2008) 

China plans to invest 300 billion yuan (US$41 billion) to lay 7,820 kilometers of railway in 

2008, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday. "A batch of new projects will start 

construction this year, and the building of the high-speed railway linking Beijing and 

Shanghai is the most important one," 


OTHERS 

CECPA Releases Environment and Inhabitant Livelihood Index 2007 (Jan. 9 2008) 

The China Environmental Culture Promotion Association has released the Chinese 

Public's Environment and Inhabitant Livelihood Index 2007, which shows that Chinese 

people are mostly concerned with food safety and are most dissatisfied with air pollution. 

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/01/09/2012-cecpa-releases-environment-and-inhabitant-liv 

elihood-index-2007 

China resource tax reform plan awaiting approval - finance ministry (Jan.10 


China may raise its resource tax this year as part of efforts to encourage 

energy efficiency. Under the new system the tax would be calculated on the 

basis of the price of the commodity rather than on the volume consumed. 

http://www.asiapump.com/news_info/news_info_show.asp?Newsid=2450 

7

To subscribe it directly (free of charge), please send an email to 

xiaojia.bao@cai-asia.org. 







(Compiled by Xiaojia BAO) 

- Brief report on Air Quality in 2007 by regions 

- Beijing’s effort to reduce energy consumption 

- Updated transport restriction measures to be adopted by cities 

- Huge transport load for China during Spring Festival 

- CECPA Releases Environment and Inhabitant Livelihood Index 2007 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Shanghai’ s Air Quality Slowly Improves (Jan.11 2008) 

Shanghai's air quality was slightly better last year but vehicle emissions remain a major 

pollutant, local environmental supervisors said yesterday. There were 328 days with 

excellent or good air quality in 2007, four days more than 2006. 


Hebei Province Reports More Blue Sky Days (Jan.14 2008) 

All 11 major cities in Hebei Province, which surrounds the Olympic host city of Beijing, 

reported more "blue sky" days in 2007 than the previous year. "Blue sky" days in these 

cities averaged 313 last year, 14 more than in 2006 and 141 more than five years ago. 


Inspection Result on Environment Performance of 130 Multinational Corps (Jan.15 2008) 

SEPA made public the results of its inspection of illegal environmental deeds committed 

by 130 multinational companies, among which 260 multinational companies have caused 

water pollution in China while more than 50 have caused serious air pollution. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2008-01/15/content_6394466.htm 

8

Air Pollution Breaks Records in Guangdong (Jan.16 2008) 



The south China province of Guangdong saw a marked increase in air pollution last year, 

state media said on Wednesday, with 27 major cities and counties suffering a record 

number of hazy days. 

http://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/show/single/en/1623-Air-pollution-breaks-records-in-G 

uangdong 


Tibet to Embrace Vehicle Emission Control Pilot Projects in 2008 (Jan.11 2008) 

A pilot project on vehicle emission control will start in Lhasa this year, under the 

supervision of environment department. This will be the first vehicle emission control 

project in Tibet. 


Revised Criteria For "Ecologically Sound City and County" (Jan.18 2008) 

SEPA announced a set of revised criteria of an "ecologically sound city and county", 

including forest coverage, species protection, air quality, water quality, pollution emissions, 

rehabilitation of degraded soil and farmers' incomes. Some economic indicators, such as 

per capita GDP, have been removed. 


ENERGY 


China Construction Department Will Enhance Monitoring on Energy-Saving of Official 

Buildings (Jan. 13 2008) 

Huge energy consumption in official buildings has become a serious problem. It is 

predicted that the energy consumed by official and large public buildings is 22% of total 

energy consumed by national cities and townships, while the energy per sqm is 10-20 

times that of livelihood buildings. 


Beijing Monitors Energy Use of Big Consumers (Jan.18 2008) 

Beijing on Thursday began the monitoring of the city's 50 major electricity users. Each of 

the enterprises, in sectors including automobile manufacture, electronic and IT industries 

9



and transport, has an annual energy consumption equivalent to more than 20,000 tons of 

standard coal. 



40.3 Million sqm’ Building in Beijing Will be Reformed to Raise Energy Efficiency Until 

2010 (Jan.10 2008) 

According to the newly released Beijing Building Energy Efficiency Reformations Special 

Action Plan, until 2010, 4030 million sqm’ building will be reformed. 70% of the gas and 

coal boilers, 70% of heat supply chains and 35% of livelihood building’s heat meters will 

be reconstructed. 


General Biodiesel Brings Four Projects to China (Jan. 10 2008) 

The US new-energy firm General Biodiesel plans to launch four projects in Beijing, 

Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Wenzhou of East China's Zhejiang Province, said company 

CEO Yale W. Wong in Beijing yesterday. 


Dongfeng Will Build the Ethyl-Fired Vehicle Manufacturing Base This Year (Jan.14 2008) 

Hubei province will reveal the High Purity Ethyl Diesel Energy Pilot Project in 2008, which 

will raise the ethyl share in fuels from 10% currently to 65%. Meanwhile, Dongfeng plans 

to build the ethyl-fired vehicle manufacturing base with an investment of 200 million yuan. 


China's First Energy Saving Carrefour Opens In Wuhan (Jan.14 2008) 

Carrefour has opened an energy saving store in Guanggu, Wuhan, making it Carrefour's 

first energy saving store in China. Sixteen energy saving measures, which are mainly 

related to lighting, air-conditioner use and heat recycling, will be used in this store. 

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/01/14/2022-chinas-first-energy-saving-carrefour-opens-in- 

wuhan/ 

BP Signs Clean Energy and Wind Power Generation Agreements With China (Jan.18 


10



British Petroleum (BP) announced it had signed a series of agreements with China on 

Friday, including those in clean energy and wind power generation, during British Prime 

Minister Gordon Brown's visit to China. Under the agreement, BP and the Chinese 

Academy of Sciences (CAS), will study the feasibility of setting up a joint Clean Energy 

Commercialization Center (CECC) later this year. 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/18/content_7449423.htm 

TRANSPORT 


Non-Green Vehicles Will Be Banned on Road in Central Shenzhen City (Jan.11 2008) 

Vehicles without environmental labels will be banned on road in particular lines in 

Shenzhen, mainly central areas, during 7:00-9:00 am and 5:00-7:00 pm. This is the sixth 

traffic control measure adopted by Shenzhen Transport department since July 1, 2005. 


Chongqing: Vehicles on Road Should Have Environment Labels (Jan.16 2008) 

From 2008, all the vehicles on road in Chongqing city should environment labels. In the 

future, vehicles without certain label will be restricted to access to certain areas. Even 

though, main pollutants emission reduced in Chongqing whole scale, the NO2 density in 

central Chongqing increased by 4.5%. 


Harbin: Vehicles Will be Phased Out If Failing the Emission Standard Several Times 

(Jan.16 2008) 

Environment department has signed a responsibility memorandum with 34 public 

transport lines in Harbin. According to the agreement, vehicles will be phased out if failing 

the emission standard several times. 


Xiamen Encourages Citizens to Use High-Efficient and Low-Emitting Cars (Jan.17 2008) 

Xiamen City plans to release the special energy saving regulation. According to the 

regulation, there are some incentive instruments to retail, use high-efficient and 

low-emitting cars and other transport options. 


Lanzhou Will Adopt Transport Restriction Measures to Control Air Pollution 

11



Lanzhou EPB launched the Transport Management Emergent Action Plan to Prevent Air 

Pollution in Winter. It indicated that relevant department should adopt transport restriction 

measures, for example transport access restriction on single and double numbers, to 

reduce air pollution under certain weathers. 


Taiwan:Gov't Encourages Use of LPG-fuel Cars (Jan. 18 2008) 

Taiwan yesterday approved a program designed to promote the use of LPG/gasoline 

dual-fuel cars in the next five years, in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions. Under the program, 

people can enjoy a tax of NT$25,000 payable when buying a new car within the five 

following years. 


Flexible Time Scheme Will be Adopted by IT Industry and Research Organizations in 

Beijing (Jan. 20 2008) 

Beijing is planning to adopt a flexible working time scheme, to pilot in IT industry and 

research organizations firstly. Differentiated on and off-work scheme will be piloted in 

commercial institutions and large shopping centers. 

http://estate.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/01-20/1139510.shtml 

OTHERS 

CECPA Releases Environment and Inhabitant Livelihood Index 2007 (Jan. 9 2008) 

The China Environmental Culture Promotion Association has released the Chinese 

Public's Environment and Inhabitant Livelihood Index 2007, which shows that Chinese 

people are mostly concerned with food safety and are most dissatisfied with air pollution. 

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/01/09/2012-cecpa-releases-environment-and-inhabitant-liv 

elihood-index-2007 

China Resource Tax Reform Plan Awaiting Approval - Finance Ministry (Jan.10 2008) 

China may raise its resource tax this year as part of efforts to encourage energy efficiency. 

Under the new system the tax would be calculated on the basis of the price of the 

commodity rather than on the volume consumed. 

http://www.asiapump.com/news_info/news_info_show.asp?Newsid=2450 

China to Invest 300b Yuan in Railway This Year (Jan.11 2008) 

12



China plans to invest 300 billion yuan (US$41 billion) to lay 7,820 kilometers of railway in 

2008, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday. "A batch of new projects will start 

construction this year, and the building of the high-speed railway linking Beijing and 

Shanghai is the most important one," 


Yangtze River to Get One More Bridge (Jan.13 2008) 

Central China's Wuhan City has decided to build another bridge over the Yangtze River, 

the world's third longest, said local sources. The new bridge will share the heavy traffic 

flow on the half-century-old Wuhan. 


Beijing-Shanghai Railway Construction to Begin on Jan 18 (Jan.14 2008) 

Construction of the high-speed railway between Beijing and financial hub Shanghai is due 

to begin on January 18. It would take five years for the project to be completed. The 

Ministry of Railways would contribute 78.9 percent of the total investment estimated at 

160 billion yuan ($22.04 billion). 


Huge Transportation Load for Spring Festival (Jan. 15 2008) 

A total of 12.5 million passengers will be transported a day by train, plane, ship, and 

long-distance buses during the Spring Festival, transport officials said. The holiday falls 

on February 13 this year, and an estimated 500 million passengers will travel during the 

40-day period from January 24 to March 4. 


13










- China sets agenda to curb pollution for green Olympics 

- China: 50% of new buildings fail energy standards 

- Coal shortages, transport problems cause power gaps 

- Beijing to cut traffic by half for Games 

- Energy bill still no closer to becoming law 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

New emissions standards help improve air quality (Jan.21 2008) 

Beijing implemented the Euro IV vehicle emission standard at the New Year - a welcome 

change for many residents as the new emission standard will help the city cut pollutants 

such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Car buyers hold various attitudes on the new 

standard enforcement. 


Shenyang: Soccer city shows green card (Jan.24 2008) 

With the Olympics now less than 200 days away, authorities in this co-host city are 

confident they will meet their environmental commitments. Over the past seven years, the 

local authorities have invested 78.8 billion yuan ($10.9 billion) in 460 key projects to clean 

up the city. All heavy-polluting factories have been either closed down or relocated, and an 

effective and environmentally friendly central heating system has been set up to replace 

small boilers. 



Thermal plants urged to increase desulfurization efforts (Jan.19 2008) 

More than half of China's coal-fired power plants are equipped with desulfurization 

facilities, a ratio higher than that of the United States. But high operational costs have led 

to many of the facilities lying idle. SEPA contacted with key power generation companies 

on desulfurization. 


14



Agency outlines green proposals (Jan. 23 2008) 

SEPA yesterday outlined its plan to significantly reduce air and water pollution this year. To 

control air pollution, the use of sulfur scrubbers to clean emissions will be emphasized. 

New thermal power generation units with a combined capacity of 30 gigawatts will be 

installed with sulfur removal capabilities, which are expected to reduce SO2 emissions by 

1.5 million tons. 



Guangdong to boost green efforts (Jan.19 2008) 

Guangdong will attach more importance to protecting the environment and saving energy 

during its industrial development. Euro III vehicle emission standards will be implemented 

in the Pearl River Delta to aid protection efforts. Power plants with a generating capacity of 

more than 125,000 kw will also be desulfurized this year. 


Beijing will invest 1.5 billion RMB for better air quality (Jan.22 2008) 

Beijing Fiscal Department has settled a special budget of 1.5 billion RMB for pollution 

prevention and monitoring, according to the Government Working Report. Many key goals 

has been laid out in the report, including energy consumption per unit GDP down by 4%, 

water consumption and SO2 emission per unit GDP down by 4% and 10% separately. 

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-01-22/081714798277.shtml 

China sets agenda to curb pollution for green Olympics (Jan.23 2008) 

China is aiming to cut its air and water pollution by at least 5 percent in 2008 comparing 

with 2005 figures to ensure a green Olympics. More high energy consuming and high 

polluting power plants will be shut down this year. The shut-down plan includes a number 

of small thermal power plants with a combined output of 13 gigawatts, steel plants with a 

total capacity of 6 million tons, cement plants with a combined output of 50 million tons, 

iron production facilities with a total capacity of 14 million tons, and papermaking factories 

producing a combined 1 million tons. 


Benxi: Farewell to dirty old town (Jan.26 2008) 

Green is the new black in Benxi, the city in Liaoning province that successfully shed its 

image as a "dirty old town". The city, once one of the world's 10 most polluted places, was 

awarded the title of garden city last year by the provincial government. Benxi started to 

clean up its air and rivers in 1991 


- Reports 

Beijingers annoyed by pollution – report (Jan. 20 2008) 

15



Nearly 60 percent of Beijingers felt happy to live in the city last year, a figure similar to the 

2006 findings, while 67.2 percent felt affected by pollution, according to a report on the 

living index of Beijing residents. The report was released on Friday by the Capital 

University of Economics and Business. 


ENERGY 

-Facts 

China: 50% of new buildings fail energy standards (Jan. 14 2008) 

All new buildings in the country were designed for energy efficiency by property 

developers - but only half have been found to meet national energy conservation 

standards. The sidestepping of energy conservation requirements by property developers 

poses a threat to meeting the overall green goal, in which the construction sector is 

expected to contribute to 30 percent of total energy savings. 


Coal shortages, transport problems cause power gaps (Jan.23 2008) 

China is experiencing a power gap of up to 69.63 million kilowatts (kw) as a coal shortage 

cuts generation at some plants, according to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission 

(SERC). The shortage has led 13 provincial-level regions, including Hubei, Sichuan, 

Shaanxi, Yunnan and Guangdong to ration electricity. The coal gap is 330,000 tons per 

day, or 14 percent short of the total consumption of 2.32 million tons. 

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6344006.html 


Vice premier urges more energy output to ensure supply (Jan.21 2008) 

Energy production should be boosted and oil and gas exploration should be increased to 

guarantee adequate supplies and national energy security, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan 

said Sunday. "Power supplies must be ensured and the power sector must develop in an 

efficient, clean and safe manner. Small, inefficient coal-fired power stations will be 

restricted, hydropower projects will be developed and construction of nuclear power plants 

will be promoted". 


Shanghai to reduce house sizes (Jan. 23 2008) 

SHANGHAI: Residential properties here are to be made smaller and more energy efficient. 

From 2010, all new apartments will have to be an average of 15 percent smaller than at 

present, and be 65 percent energy efficient. All new houses must be able to save 65 

percent of energy, compared with the current standard of 50 percent. Energy-saving light 

bulbs and air conditioners will be promoted, while solar-energy and rainwater recycling 

facilities will also be used. 


16



Energy bill still no closer to becoming law (Jan.25 2008) 

Draft energy legislation won't be ready in time for lawmakers to read at the annual session 

of the National People's Congress, key drafters said. That's likely to rule out discussion on 

a unified national energy body at the parliamentary session in March, as there's still no 

legislative framework. There are four energy laws in China covering coal, electricity, 

energy conservation and renewable energy, but none on petroleum, natural gas and 

nuclear energy. 


Forum urges country to reduce dependence on fossil fuels (Jan.26 2008) 

China should impose a gradual restriction on burning fossil fuels to combat climate 

change and environmental degradation, a legislative official said on Friday. Sun Youhai, a 

senior official with the National People's Congress (NPC), said his proposal should be 

written into the draft of the Energy Law to stress the need for conservation and 

environmental protection. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

China auto sales likely to hit 10 million in 2008 (Jan.21 2008) 

Official figures revealed that the country turned out 8.88 million automobiles in 2007, 

22.02 percent more than the previous year, surpassing the eight million prediction made at 

the beginning of 2007. Aggregate auto sales volume stood at 8.79 million, up 21.84 

percent year on year. The country is also stepping up its research and development of 

clean energy vehicles, including electric, fuel cell and hybrid automobiles. 


Chinese 3-wheeled vehicles in great demand in S Vietnam (Jan.23 2008) 

Some of Vietnam's southern localities have seen increasing demand for Chinese 

three-wheeled motorized vehicles used to transport goods, the local newspaper Youth 

said on Wednesday. Since the government issued a ban on self-modified three- and 

four-wheeled vehicles in January, aiming to reduce traffic jams and accidents, two 

enterprises in Tay Ninh province have imported and sold over 20 Chinese three-wheeled 

vehicles branded Xinling, Yinxiang and Sandi to local people. 

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90778/90857/90861/6343925.html 

National Vehicle Pollution Workshop Was Held in Guangzhou (Jan.24 2008) 

National Vehicle Pollution Control Workshop was successfully held in Guangzhou on 

January 18th, 2008. Director Wang Jian of air office of pollution control department of the 

State Environmental Protection Administration was the host. Delegates from local 

environmental protection bureaus attended the meeting. China's vehicle pollution control 

is pretty momentous to environmental protection, so it is necessary to develop it with 

times and constantly create new approaches to improve it. 


17




Beijing metro may work 24 hours during Olympics (Jan.21 2008) 

Beijing's metro system will run longer than normal during the summer Olympic Games 

period, and may even run around the clock on the days of the opening and closing 

ceremonies of the Games. Besides the time adjustment that should effectively disperse 

the heavy traffic flow, the railway company will add more railway liners in due time. 


GM introduces first hybrid for China (Jan. 23 2008) 

General Motors Corp. on Tuesday introduced the company's first hybrid that will be built 

and sold outside North America, a Buick sedan for the Chinese market. The Buick 

LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid will be the first mass-produced, mainstream hybrid model in its 

segment in China. It will be built in China by Shanghai GM, an 11-year-old joint venture 

between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. 


Beijing to cut traffic by half for Games (Jan.23 2008) 

Beijing will take more than half of its 3 million cars off the roads for August's Olympic 

Games in a bid to guarantee air quality and improve traffic flow. More than 1,000 new 

vehicles hit the roads every day in the Chinese capital and officials estimate that there will 

be 3.3 million by the time the Games open on August 8. During a four-day test last August, 

1.3 million vehicles were taken off the roads on alternate days depending on whether their 

number plates ended with even or odd numbers. 


OTHERS 

Taiwan: Ma Unveils Sustainable Environment Policies (Jan.21 2008) 

Leaders of the business and industry community generally support opposition presidential 

candidate Ma Ying-jeou's environmental protection policies, including levying an energy 

tax. But they suggested yesterday that Ma work out details and complimentary measures 

so that enterprises will not be burdened with increasing taxes. 


Ocean Environment Report: Sea-level rises in China is the most fast globally (Jan.24 


According to 2007 China Ocean Environment Report, the average rate of sea-level rise in 

China coasts is 2.5 mm annually, higher than the global average rate of 1.8mm. 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-01/24/content_7484875.htm 

Olympians prepare for battle with Beijing's smog (Jan.24 2008) 

But with the Olympics less than seven months away, scientists are skeptical about the air 

quality for these Summer Games. Olympic teams around the world are preparing for the 

worst. Pollution levels on a typical day in Beijing, some researchers say, are nearly five 

18

times above World Health Organization standards for safety. 

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/24/sports/24mask.php 



China to bring in green loan benchmark (Jan.25 2008) 

The nation's environmental watchdog will work with the financial sector to bring in an 

international benchmark on green credit. The State Environmental Protection 

Administration (SEPA) signed a deal with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 

Beijing yesterday to introduce the Equator Principles in China. 


19










- China suffers power shortage 

- China's oil output, consumption both hit record high in 2007 

- China battles pre-holiday weather-induced traffic chaos 

- New airport to operate in Beijing around 2015 

- Shanghai: Subway construction hits 'extreme level' 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Beijing sees most "blue sky" days in January since 2000 (Feb.1 2008) 

Beijing experienced 22 "blue sky" days, or days with fairly good air quality, last month. 

That was the best run of clear days since the year 2000. persistent cold air was the major 

factor that kept the air clear, since updrafts and northerly winds helped disperse pollutants. 

Another factor was the closure of more heavily-polluting industrial facilities in or near the 

capital, with 10 major polluting facilities having been closed. 


IOC official dismisses pollution worries over Beijing Games (Feb.2 2008) 

A senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) official dismissed worries over air 

pollution in Beijing and reaffirmed confidence that the local organizers will ensure healthy 

atmosphere for athletes and spectators during the 2008 Summer Olympics. 


Sandstorm in Northern China in spring will increase comparing last year (Feb.3 2008) 

According to the speaker of National Forestry Bureau, Cao Qingrao, sandstorm in 

Northern China in 2008 Spring will increase obviously compared to that of last year, but 

still less than the normal level. Revealed by an assessment report from Beijing Normal 

University, green coverage rate in Jingjin Project Area increased from 10.5% in 2001 to 

20.4% in 2005, with carbon capture ability increasing by 100%. 

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/02-03/1155630.shtml 


20



HK Air Quality Proposals to Be Issued (Jan.30 2008) 

The Council for Sustainable Development will next month advise the Government on 

addressing air quality, council chairman Dr Edgar Cheng says. The engagement process 

ended in October and the council will submit an analysis report on the public views 

prepared by the University of Hong Kong. Both reports will be available on its website after 

submission. 


China flagship eco-city in Tianjin progress (Feb.1 2008) 

the new Tianjin eco-city being developed by China and Singapore after ministers met 

yesterday to discuss progress. A draft of 18 key performance indicators has been 

established - set at the ‘high end of Chinese national standards’ - for air and water quality, 

transport, recycling, green buildings and energy use. 

http://www.csr-asia.com/index.php?p=11240 

Beijing closes 10 industrial polluters to keep air fresher (Feb.2 2008) 

Ten industrial polluters have been shut down, as Beijing and its neighbors have worked 

hard to fulfill their Olympic commitment in curbing major pollutant emissions. Sources 

confirmed that ten big polluters, mainly cement, steel and chemical plants, have been shut 

down in the latest round of mandatory emission control work. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

CNOOC to raise output by 15-16% (Jan.30 2008) 

China's largest offshore oil producer CNOOC Ltd plans to raise its oil and gas output by 

15 to 16 percent to somewhere between 195 million and 199 million barrels of oil 

equivalent (BOE) in 2008. That will compare to 169 million to 171 million BOE in 2007. 


China suffers power shortage (Jan.30 2008) 

As of Sunday, 17 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions had suffered 

blackouts, and power grids in central China's Hubei, Hunan Provinces and south China's 

Guizhou and Guangdong Provinces had been seriously damaged. More than 30 million 

people have been affected by the snow-triggered power shortage, which is blacking out 

provinces, including the populous eastern Anhui and Jiangsu and southern Guangdong. 

In southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, villagers turned to coal oil for 

illumination after the power had been cut off amid the heavy snow. 


China's oil output, consumption both hit record high in 2007 (Jan.31 2008) 

China scored new highs both in oil output and consumption in 2007, boosted by the robust 

growth momentum of its economy. Sources with the China Petroleum and Chemical 

Industry Association, China produced 186.7 million tons of crude oil in 2007, up 1.6 

21



percent from 2006. China's net import of crude oil was 159.28 million tons last year, up 

14.7 percent. The apparent consumption of crude oil, representing the sum of net imports 

plus output, rose 7.3 percent to 346 million tons in 2007. 



Transport ministry orders ban on coal export loading (Jan.26 2008) 

China's Transport Ministry yesterday ordered ports to temporarily stop loading coal for 

exports as the country struggles to meet domestic needs amid mounting power shortages. 

The emergency notice ordered railways and other transport networks to make hauling 

coal and food a priority over coming weeks. Ocean shippers should stop loading coal for 

export and divert shipments, if needed, "for domestic thermal coal requirements". 


Govt urges conservation to ease winter power disruption (Jan.28 2008) 

Senior Chinese government officials held an emergency teleconference yesterday to 

discuss the severe power disruptions caused by prolonged snow, rain and cold weather. 

Premier Wen Jiabao urged departments concerned to beef up production of 

coal,electricity ,natural gas and oil products and ensure the smooth transportation of the 

power products in a bid to guarantee the power supply. 


Authorities put power supply top of agenda (Jan.29 2008) 

The authorities are gearing up to restore fuel and power supplies in regions hit by the 

worst snowstorm in decades. The Railway Ministry also said yesterday it will work closely 

with power plants in snow-hit areas and increase coal transportation. The ministry said it 

moves 33,000 train carriages of coal for power plants each day, the highest level so far. 


Railway container trucks ordered to ship coal first (Feb.3 2008) 

China has mobilized all its railway container trucks to ensure power coal transport. Their 

only other use is to be for moving relief materials so as to ease the power constraints 

plaguing the country's snow-ravaged central, southern and eastern regions. The latest 

ministry figures revealed more than 42,200 container trucks loaded with power coal on 

Friday, a rise of 12,000 from the previous day, a new record. 



Gushan Opens Beijing Biodiesel Plant (Jan.28 2008) 

The facility adds 50,000 tons of annual capacity to the company just over a month after 

Gushan hit the public market. In addition to the Beijing plant, Gushan plans to open a 

biodiesel plant with a capacity of 50,000 tons per year in Shanghai in the second quarter 

of this year, followed by plants in Chongqing and Hunan, each with initial capacities of 

30,000 tons per year, in the fourth quarter. 

22




NDRC rejects opening small power plants to ease strain (Jan.29 2008) 

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Monday rejected a 

proposal to reopen small coal-fire power plants as severe power shortage plagues 

snowstorm-hit regions in China. Improving regulation of power demands and pooling 

limited coal resources to fuel large power plants was a better way to deal with the power 

shortages. Official figures show the power industry closed 253 small coal-fired power units 

in the first nine months of 2007, which was equal to 9,030 megawatts. 


Sinopec to expand refineries (Jan.30 2008) 

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec), supplier of two-thirds of the nation's auto 

fuels, plans to spend about 16 billion yuan expanding plants in central China, a company 

official said. Capacity at the Changling refinery in Hunan province will be doubled to 10 

million metric tons a year by 2010 at a cost of about 10 billion yuan, the official said. 


China, Germany seek green energy co-op (Feb.1 2008) 

Sino-German collaboration on renewable energy can set a good example for other 

countries. A total investment of 2 trillion yuan ($277.8 billion) is needed to meet the 

renewable energy target by 2020, according to the NDRC. Siemens earlier said it plans to 

inject half of its 10 billion yuan mid-term investment in China into energy-saving and 

environmentally friendly technologies. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

China to build 97 new airports by 2020 (Jan.27 2008) 

China announced plans Saturday to build nearly 100 new airports by 2020 to cater for 

soaring demand. The proposals will mean eight out of every ten residents will live within 

100 kilometres (60 miles) of an airport within 12 years. It predicts that passenger traffic will 

grow by 11.4 percent a year between now and 2020, and freight traffic by 14 percent. 


Shanghai: Subway construction hits 'extreme level' (Jan.28 2008) 

Mayor Han Zheng has expressed concern over the safety of expanding Shanghai's 

subway, amid calls for a larger network and following the latest snag on one of its lines. A 

total of 116 subway stations along these lines are also being built, which will affect 

transportation on more than 1,000 roads, "As a result, the city's traffic will face tough 

times." 


23



Lengthy ride for rail passengers (Jan.30 2008) 

The Ministry of Public Security said at least 62 passenger trains are still stranded in 

Hunan and Guangdong provinces due to the freezing weather that has struck central, 

eastern and southern China since Jan 10. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways has 

provided 173 power generators to help railway stations restore supplies and recover 

signal services. It has also deployed close to 200 diesel engines to tug electric passenger 

trains out of areas suffering from blackouts. 


Large-tonnage light trucks sell better (Feb.1 2008) 

The new China III emission standards and changes to the highway-tolls calculating 

methods boosted an above average boom in the niche market for large-tonnage light 

trucks. In the first 11 months of 2007, a total 855,106 light trucks were sold in the Chinese 

market, up 16.2 percent from the same period a year ago, faster than the growth rate of 

around 11 percent yearly growth in 2005 and 2006. 



China battles pre-holiday weather-induced traffic chaos (Jan.27 2008) 

Chinese travelers continued to struggle with the transport havoc caused by bad weather 

on Sunday as snow and sleet in central, eastern and southern regions threaten to 

paralyze air, rail and highway traffics. Almost 150,000 passengers were stranded at 

Guangzhou Railway Station on Saturday night after a power failure caused by snow, ice 

and sleet stopped more than 136 trains in Hunan Province on the trunk line between 

Beijing and Guangzhou. 


Blasting to open new heavy shipping channel on Yangtze (Jan.30 2008) 

Chinese engineers are planning to blast rock reefs at the Three Gorges reservoir on the 

upper Yangtze River to open up a new channel to allow heavy ships to sail directly into 

Chongqing. The blasting operation would start in early February and be completed before 

August on a 32-km section of the 660-km-long reservoir near Chongqing. The operation 

was also part of efforts to raise the water level of the reservoir from 156 to 172 meters 

after the flood season this year. 


New airport to operate in Beijing around 2015 (Jan.31 2008) 

A second airport will be built in Beijing, a senior official said yesterday. Scheduled to open 

in 2015, the new facility will provide additional capacity once Capital International reaches 

its maximum. A new, third terminal at Capital will open for testing at the end of next month. 


Railways best serve our transport needs (Feb.1 2008) 

China began building super highways across the country about two decades ago, and 

24



now its 45,400 km network is second only to the United States. According to plans, by 

2030, a total of 85,000 km of super highways will be built, comparable to the length of the 

US highway system in 2004. The emphasis on cars is going to change, as in the 11th 

Five-Year Plan starting in 2006, rail transportation is now in high gear. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2008-02/01/content_6435761.htm 

OTHERS 

Jiangsu: Green measures emphasized in development (Jan.28 2008) 

Jiangsu Province will constantly focus on environmental protection while maintaining 

strong momentum in economic development in the next five years. All over the province, 

2,713 small chemical factories, one of the main sources of pollution, have been ordered to 

close, while many other heavy polluting enterprises have been urged to upgrade their 

environmental protection facilities to be up to standards. 


Key damage caused by worst winter in five decades (Jan.30 2008) 

The extreme weather had affected more than 77.86 million people in 14 provinces by 2 

p.m. on Monday. Direct economic losses were estimated at 22.09 billion yuan (about 3 

billion US dollars). About 6.87 million hectares of crops were affected in 16 province-level 

areas as of Tuesday morning, with total crop failures of 735,333 ha. 


Japan seeks co-op with China on climate change (Jan.31 2008) 

A top Japanese delegate attending the climate meeting said Wednesday that Japan 

appreciates China's engagement in the climate talks under UN framework and the two 

neighboring nations have great potential to cooperate on related issues. The two 

countries have reached two cooperation agreements on the climate change technologies 

and energy and environment. 


Jiangsu Invests RMB7 Million on Afforestation of Railway (Feb.1 2008) 

According to Jiangsu Province's Plan on Railway Green Channel Construction from the 

11th Five-year Period to 2020, Jiangsu will further improve the afforestation standard for 

major railways and build a green corridor that benefits the environment. It is estimated that 

by 2020, there will be 3489 kilometers of railway in Jiangsu Province that will be covered 

by the afforestation plan and the entire area of afforestation will reach 280000 mu. 


25










- China sets pollution reduction targets for 2008, SO2 6% reduction from 2005 

- Beijing to close gas stations over Olympics-related emissions rule 

- Cars sold to meet new emission standards 

- Nanjing adds 3 air quality monitoring stationary sites 

AIR QUALITY 


Sinopec Guangzhou Receives Warning for Pollution (Feb. 13, 2008) 

Guangdong Provincial Environment Bureau has issued a red sign warning to 19 

companies including Sinopec Guangzhou that were found to have serious emission levels 

or have had serious pollution accidents. It has also issued a yellow sign warning to 31 

companies including Guangdong Nanfang Alkali Making Company and Shenzhen 

Nanshan Thermoelectric Company. 


China sets pollution reduction targets for 2008 (Feb. 13, 2008) 

China will aim this year to reduce its emissions of sulphur dioxide by 6 percent from their 

2005 levels as it steps up efforts to fight pollution, its top environmental official said in 

remarks published on Tuesday. The government will close many small coal-fired power 

plants, as well as steel mills and cement plants, to cut emissions of the acid rain-causing 

pollutant. 


Hubei Drafted Emission Trading Scheme (Feb. 13, 2008) 

Hubei EPA recently drafted Regulation Method of Emission Trading Scheme on Main 

Pollutants in Hubei Province. After receiving feedbacks from local governments and 

relevant departments, the method will be piloted in large polluting industries, like paper 

making industry. Hubei Province plans to close 119 small paper-making corporations in 

2008. More information in Chinese is available at: 

http://www.cenews.com.cn/news/2008-02-13/36622.php 

Special Action in Weifang to Deal with Smelly Air (Feb. 13, 2008) 

26



Weifang city in Shandong province has carried out a special action to deal with smelly air 

of industrial corporation and diet service industry, since January 20 this year. The special 

action is divided into four steps, i.e. source investigation, on-site elimination, treating in 

limit time and supervision. 


Taixing New Projects have to Buy Emission Permits (Feb. 13, 2008) 

Xinpu Chem. Ltd has signed contract with Taixing EPA in Jiangsu Province, to buy SO2 

emission permit worth 300,000 RMB. This is the third emission permit contract in Taixing 

City. Taixing has implemented the emission trading scheme ever since 2006. It is 

indicated that the selling price of SO2 emission permit has increased from 1000 to 1500 

RMB per ton. 


Beijing to close gas stations over Olympics-related emissions rule (Feb. 15, 2008) 

Local environmental officials said that 144 gas stations and nine oil depots in the capital 

region would be closed by the end of May because of cost or safety issues connected with 

air quality regulations. There are 1,442 gas stations in Beijing, so the closure will affect 

nearly 10 percent of the total. 


Shanghai will implement comprehensive measures to ensure emission reduction (Feb. 15, 


According to the SO2 Total Amount Control Plan in the 11 th FYP, Shanghai should control 

SO2 emission less than 380,000 tons in 2010. To achieve this goal, electric industry is the 

most important, with its emission reduced by 50%. To assist the desulphurization effort of 

electric industry, Shanghai Municipal has launched many supplementary measures, 

including electricity price, electricity amount and infrastructure construction etc. 


Nanjing Adds 3 Air Quality Monitoring Stationary Sites (Feb. 18, 2008) 

After the official approval of SEPA, Nanjing will add another 3 air monitoring stationary 

sites to reach 9 in all. Before this, the annual air quality data is calculated as the average 

of 6 monitoring results. After the establishment of the new monitoring sites, it is estimated 

that the air quality data will be more comprehensive and precise. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China's power coal reserve rallying (Feb. 5, 2008) 

China's power coal stockpiles have stopped shrinking and started to rally steadily as a 

result of heightened output and expedited rail transport. Power coal reserves reached 

24.06 million tons on Sunday, up 2.99 million tons from the low point on January 28. The 

355 power plants that depend on railways for coal supplies have reported an aggregate 

27



stockpile of 2.64 million tons, enough for 10.8 days. 


China's natural gas output grows 23.1% in 2007 (Feb. 8, 2008) 

China's production of natural gas rose 23.1 percent last year, faster than in 2006, to 69.31 

billion cubic meters as the country used more "clean" energy, an industry association said. 

In 2006, output jumped 19.2 percent to 58.55 billion cubic meters, the China Petroleum 

and Chemical Industry Association (CPCIA) said. It also said that output would likely hit 76 

billion cubic meters this year. 



Energy administration faces legal quandary (Feb. 4, 2008) 

The long-expected draft of energy legislation won't be ready in time for lawmakers to read 

at the annual session of the National People's Congress in March. Some observers 

believe it is still pending because the government might reshuffle its diverse energy 

administrations to form a powerful single energy ministry, while others say the 

consolidation is impossible in the near future due to "complicated" reasons. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

80% of Vehicles in Qingdao Reached the Emission Standard (Feb. 13, 2008) 

According to Qingdao EPA, 80% of vehicles in Qingdao are qualified in the emission 

inspection test. Among 10,000 vehicles checked, 2000 vehicles has been required to be 

treated with. 



Cars sold to meet new emission standards (Feb. 15, 2008) 

Chinese capital Beijing will ban the sale of new cars failing to meet new emission 

standards equivalent to Euro IV starting from March 1, a further move to cut air pollution 

and host a "green" Olympic Games. All the new light petro vehicles that are on sale in the 

Beijing market shall have to meet the new China IV standards from the beginning of next 

month, said Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Environment Protection Bureau. 


The Usage of Vehicle License Auction Revenue will be Put to Public (Feb. 18, 2008) 

Shanghai has implemented Vehicle License Auction Scheme since 1994. The auction 

price increases every year, reaching 56,000 RMB per license in 2007. However, for a long 

time, the usage of the auction revenue is a mystery. The total revenue is estimated to be 

9.42 billion RMB. Recently a representative questioned the municipal official the usage of 

the auction revenue, Han Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, indicated that it will be put to public 

28



as soon as possible. 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-02/18/content_7621473.htm 

Wuhu adopts environmental-friendly bus (Feb. 18, 2008) 

Wuhu has adopted 146 natural gas engine buses. It is revealed that the company will 

invest 45 million RMB, to establish two natural gas stations and recap 200 old cars, and 

introduce natural gas engine buses. 


OTHERS 

Green loan policy falls behind expectations (Feb. 14, 2008) 

A scheme aimed at curbing pollution by tightening loans to polluters has not fared well, the 

country's top environmental agency acknowledged Wednesday. "There are institutional 

and technical difficulties in promoting it across the country," he said. Pan said SEPA will 

deepen cooperation with the financial sector to develop an effective green credit 

mechanism as financial regulators and institutions play a key role in promoting green 

credit. 


China Envoy Urges Talks on Bali Road Map (Feb. 14, 2008) 

China's special representative for climate change talks, Yu Qingtai, urged the international 

community to conduct substantive negotiations aimed at securing a new global post-2012 

agreement on climate change by 2009. 


29










- Air quality in local cities improves greatly in 2007 

- New Blue Sky goals for in local cities for 2008 

- Measure to guarantee good air quality: desulphurization, vehicle emission 

control, floating dust control and environment supervision 

- Green Securities, Green Loan and Green Insurance: emerging green 

finance in China 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Days of good air quality in urban Changchun exceed 93% of the year (Feb.19, 2008) 

According to the statistical report from Changchun Environment Department, the days of 

good air quality in urban Changchun exceed 93% of the whole year, ranked the top of 

capital cities in North-East China for consecutive 6 years. As a northern inland city, 160 

days in Changchun are in heating period. Coal related pollutants, like SO2 and dust, are 

the main source of air pollution. 


Guangzhou: Emission from vehicle took 40% of the air pollution (Feb.21, 2008) 

It is studied that vehicle emission accounted for 40% of the total air pollution in 

Guangzhou. Vehicle emission is recognized as a key source of VOC pollution. There are 

1.82 million vehicles in Guangzhou currently, still increasing at a rate of 600 per day. 


Henan: air quality of cities in 89.3% days qualified. (Feb.21, 2008) 

According to the statistical data published by Henan Environmental Bureau, the days of 

qualified air quality in cities reached 326, about 89.3% of the whole year. The percentage 

increased by 3.4% comparing to the past year. 


Summary of air quality of Qingdao during the spring festival of 2008 (Feb.24, 2008) 

Due to cold weather and snow, the air quality was apparently improved during the spring 

30



festival. However, fireworks celebration activities meanwhile became a new polluting 

source. According to the monitoring result, SO2 and PM10 density after the Spring Eve 

increased greatly. 



New desulphurization equipment will be installed in Urumuqi (Feb.20, 2008) 

Environment Bureau of Urumuqi in Xinjiang Autonomous Region demanded that three 

major SO2 emitters should install desulphurization equipments before the end September 

2008. Those three large polluters are all power generation companies, and currently there 

is no desulphurization facilities in any of those companies. 


Six provinces ordered to cut pollution (Feb.22, 2008) 

China has ordered Beijing and five surrounding provinces to cut industrial pollution for two 

months from late July to ensure clean air for the Olympics and Paralympics, an official 

said on Friday. The Chinese capital and its neighbouring municipality Tianjin as well as the 

provinces of Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Shandong will all have to cut emissions 

under a plan approved by China's cabinet, the State Council, last September. 


South China province blacklists heavy polluters (Feb.23, 2008) 

Guangdong has given 50 companies in the southern China province yellow or red warning 

cards for the first time for failing to meet an environmental protection credit review, 

according to the provincial environmental watchdog. 


Half of environmental projects will finish before July 2008 (Feb.25, 2008) 

The efforts on air quality improvements will accelerate this year in Beijing. Beijing 

Municipality recently released the report about measures to control air pollution in the 14 th 

stage. The report revealed that half of the environmental projects will be finished before 

July 2008. There will be 21 projects in all to improve air quality in Beijing, including 5 coal 

pollution treatment projects, 6 vehicle pollution control projects, 5 enterprises 

reconstructing projects and 5 projects to control floating dust. 



Hubei to launch pilot projects on emission reduction goal alarming (Feb.18, 2008) 

Hubei will launch the pilot projects on emission reduction goal alarming system. The initial 

idea for this pilot was raised in October 2006. In February 2007, the government of Hubei 

province signed responsibility agreement with local environmental departments, with clear 

reduction goal in COD and SO2. The provincial authority will supervise the 

implementation result in May. 


31



Shanxi Province set blue sky goals (Feb.20, 2008) 

In the recent Government Working Report, the governor of Shanxi Province promised that, 

air quality in Shanxi cities would improve apparently. Good weather days in 11 key cities 

should be above 3000. To guarantee the accomplishment of the blue sky goal, Shanxi 

government will adopt a series of measures, including desulphurization equipment 

installation, enhancing environment monitoring and statistics, and controlling floating dust 

pollution etc. 

http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=22921# 

Zhengzhou: promoting urban air environment improvement (Feb.22, 2008) 

Zhengzhou made great progress in controlling urban air environment, including 

reconstructuring 44sets of coal-burned boilers with capacity larger than 100,000 tons, 

closing 564 operating coal-burned kitchen-used fire. Relevant governments enhanced 

inspection and treatment to vehicle waste gas pollution. 


Guangzhou will monitor PM2.5 (Feb.25, 2008) 

Haze weather condition will happen constantly as the spring is coming. Guangzhou is 

especially a heavy haze area. To ease the impact brought by haze weather, relevant 

departments decided to include haze weather into the regular air monitoring category. 

Haze weather is mainly resulted by the PM2.5 pollution. Currently in China, only PM10 is 

included as one air quality indicator. 


Qingdao released policies to guarantee air quality during the Olympics (Feb.25, 2008) 

Qingdao recently released the Working Implementation Plan to Gurantee Air Quality 

during the 2008 Olympics. According to the plan, Qingdao will speed up desulphurization 

facilities installation, phasing out low-efficient productivities and enhancing environment 

comprehensive treatment. All desulphurization reconstruction in key coal-burned boilers 

should be completed before the end of June. 


145 emission control projects in Leshan in Sichuan Province (Feb.25, 2008) 

Leshan Government in Sichuan Province launched the 11 th FYP Emission Reduction 

Implementation Plan, with the goal to reduce COD by 4536 tons and SO2 by 25,600 tons. 

To achieve this tough goal, Leshan government will invest 1.6 billion RMB on 147 

emission reduction projects. 


Tianjin: Blue sky project to guarantee air quality (Feb.26, 2008) 

To guarantee the air quality during Olympics, Tianjin Municipality launched the 2008 Blue 

Sky Project Implementation Plan. The plan outlined key controlling areas and industrial 

aspects, including coal-related pollution, floating dust pollution, vehicle and industrial 

32

pollution. 




ENERGY 

- Facts 

China power firms face tough year (Feb.20, 2008) 

It promises to be a tough year for the mainland's power industry, but generators remain 

good long-term bets and their coal suppliers offer even better odds. After the worst 

snowstorms in half a century battered the country's energy infrastructure, companies such 

as Huaneng Power International and Datang International Power face record coal prices 

until 2010, with little government help in sight. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2008-02/20/content_6467902.htm 


China charges full consumption tax on refined fuel oil (Feb.22, 2008) 

China is levying a full consumption tax on refined fuel oil and three other oil products 

retroactively from January 1, 2008. The circular, jointly announced by Ministry of Finance 

and the State Administration of Taxation, said the tax for fuel oil will be raised to 0.1 yuan 

per liter after having collected only 30 percent of the tax since it was first introduced in 

April 2006. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

New emission standards postpone auto price wars (Feb.19, 2008) 

Beijing will ban the sale of new cars failing to meet the China IV emission standards, 

which are equivalent to that of Euro IV, starting from March 1 this year. The price wars, 

which will mean greater price reductions in the automobile market, surprised 

consumers, with experts attributing the discounts to the implementation of the new 

emission standards. 


Taiyuan: 85% of vehicles are qualified in emission standard (Feb.21, 2008) 

Official from Taiyuan Vehicle Waste Gas Emission Inspection Center revealed that 85% of 

vehicles in Taiyuan reached the emission standard. In the next few days and month, all 

the information of vehicles, which failed the test, will be published in media. 

http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=22960# 

Qingdao: Vehicle waste gas emission IMS Phase I under construction (Feb.21, 2008) 

To enhance the supervision and regulation to vehicle waste gas emission, Qingdao will 

establish an information management system to facilitate on-site inspection, systematic 

management to staff and equipments. The information management system Phase I has 

already began in January 2008. 

33





Kunming: vehicle environmental labeling management system (Feb.19, 2008) 

The Kunming vehicle emission pollution prevention regulation (draft) was discussed in a 

recent meeting. It is revealed that Kunming was planning to adopt environmental labeling 

management system. Restrictions will be applied to vehicles without environmental 

labeling or those with high-emission. It is predicted that the environmental labeling system 

will ease transport congestion, alleviate local air pollution. 



New goal on energy consumption per unit transport (Feb.19, 2008) 

The Ministry of Transportation recently released a new indicator of energy intensity, i.e. 

the energy consumption per unit transport. It required that land usage area for unit 

transporting circulation will decrease by 10%, emission per unit circulation should 

decrease by 30%, comparing to that of 2005. 


Shenyang vehicle waste gas emission administrative method (Feb.21, 2008) 

Shenyang has released the new vehicle waste gas emission administrative method. 

According to the new method, all the vehicle in inside areas of Shenyang, except motors 

and agricultural vehicles, should follow the classified category management system, 

comprised of green and yellow color. 


Tianjin: switching from oil to gas will be awarded (Feb.22, 2008) 

Tianjin Gas Group has released a special incentive measure to encourage vehicle 

emission reduction, and improve urban air environment. A reward of 2000 RMB will be 

given to the first 1000 taxies, switching from oil to gas and consuming gas for about 3600 

cu.m. consecutively. 


Jinan adopted comprehensive measures to curb black smoke of buses (Feb.22, 2008) 

Black smoke has been an old topic for many Chinese cities, with the same condition in 

Jinan. Jinnan government decided to adopt comprehensive measures to ease this 

problem, including checking the exact number of buses, accelerating phasing out of old 

and low-efficient buses, enhancing bus inspection and supervision work, and 

strengthening legal punishment to unqualified bus related activities. 


OTHERS 

Polluters urged to buy 'green insurance' (Feb.19, 2008) 

34



The country's top environmental watchdog and insurance regulator will jointly promote 

insurance for polluters and help expedite compensation for victims, officials said yesterday. 

The latest pollution liability insurance policy, to be put in place in 2015, covers the clean 

up of environmental accidents and indemnifies the insured from pollution treatment costs. 


Deputies still have pollution on minds (Feb.23, 2008) 

Pollution continues to spark debate and demands for reform throughout China, including 

from deputies to this year's People's Congress of Guangzhou, which ended Friday. 

Focusing their attention largely on a tire manufacturer and a sludge-treatment plant in the 

city's Panyu district, several deputies there challenged the city's Environmental Protection 

Bureau. 


China will establish Corporation Environmental Information Report System (Feb.25, 2008) 

SEPA officially launched the guideline to strengthen environmental regulation to stock 

listed enterprises in the recent days. It is revealed that the guideline will focus on 

environment regulation and inspection system, environment information report system of 

stock listed enterprises. This guideline will working as an assisting instrument of green 

securities, which will be the third green financial instruments besides green loan and 

green insurance. 

http://www.sepa.gov.cn/xcjy/zwhb/200802/t20080225_118588.htm 

35










- Sand storm weather will increase this year 

- Official denies tricks behind Beijing air quality monitoring 

- China to build 400 wind towers to survey wind resources 

- Guangdong gears up for power shortage 

- China's installed nuclear power capacity rises 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Major pollutants down in Beijing: official (Feb. 27, 2008) 

Major pollutants in Beijing are down and air quality in the city has improved for a ninth 

consecutive year, an environment official said at a news conference here on Wednesday. 

Between 1998 and 2007, the amount of sulphur dioxide in the capital's air was down 60.8 

percent, while carbon monoxide was cut 39.4 percent. Nitrogen dioxide was reduced 10.8 

percent and particles were down 17.8 percent. 


Official denies tricks behind Beijing air quality monitoring (Feb. 28, 2008) 

Beijing did not move air quality monitoring stations in order to report better statistics during 

its preparation for the Olympic Games, a Beijing environment official said on Wednesday. 

Answering a question whether Beijing shifted some monitoring stations from heavy-traffic 

areas to less polluted places, Du Shaozhong, spokesperson from Beijing Environmental 

Protection Bureau said all the locations of the monitoring stations can be found on the 

Bureau's official website. 



Speed up the capacity building of environment monitoring (Feb. 29, 2008) 

The National Environment Working Meeting was held last week in SEPA. It emphasized 

that environment monitoring was an important part of environment protection. Relevant 

departments should make clear goals and plans of environment monitoring, to establish 

strong background for environment monitoring alarming system and raise the 

36

environment management ability. 

http://www.sepa.gov.cn/hjyw/200802/t20080229_118809.htm 



Sand storm weather will increase this year: professional predication 

During the past week, sand storm weather affected main North China areas, including 

Gansu, west Inner Mongolia. Floating dust air attacked those places in a large scale. It is 

revealed that this is the first, widest, strongest floating dust air this year. Professionals 

predicted that Beijing, Tianjin might be affected by the sand storm weather at a certain 

level. 



New drive to clean up Beijing air (Feb. 26, 2008) 

The central authorities have ordered Beijing and its five surrounding provinces to cut 

industrial pollution for two months from late July, in the latest move to ensure clean air for 

the Olympics and Paralympics. The capital and its neighboring Tianjin municipality, as well 

as the provinces of Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Shandong, will have to cut 

emissions under a wide-ranging plan approved by the State Council in September. 


BOCOG held press conference promising good air quality (Feb. 28, 2008) 

Beijing Organization Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG) held a press conference 

recently to launch the 14 th Beijing air pollution control action. Relevant officials from 

Beijing Environment Bureau revealed that air quality during Olympics will achieved the 

national and WHO standard. 


10 years' work will 'ensure' clean-air Games (Feb. 28, 2008) 

Since 1998, Beijing has introduced more than 200 measures in 14 phases to reduce 

emissions from vehicles, coal plants and other industries to improve the city's air quality. 

Beijing's air quality will meet Olympic standards thanks to the huge efforts made over the 

past 10 years, a senior environmental official, DU Shaozhong, said Wednesday. 


Environmental experts formed Beijing Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment Expert 

Group (Feb. 29, 2008) 

Environmental experts from CAS, Peking University, Tsinghua University, will cooperate 

with Beijing Science Association, to establish Beijing Air Quality Monitoring and 

Assessment Expert Group. The group will monitor and assess Beijing air quality 

comprehensively throughout the period before, between and after Olympics. This special 

group will deepen the study of Beijing air pollution affecting factors, by calculating the 

contribution rate of vehicle, coal and climate to total pollution. 


37

ENERGY 

- Facts 



Guangdong gears up for power shortage (Feb. 29, 2008) 

Guangdong's provincial authorities Thursday presented a slew of measures to plug an 

expected power shortage this year, including the possibility of suspending electricity 

supplies to high-consumption industries. The industries that may be affected include steel, 

cement, zinc smelting, caustic soda and ceramics, Li Xiangming, deputy director of the 

economic and trade commission of Guangdong province, said. 


Energy-efficient Olympic Village will reduce SO2 by 8,000 tons (Feb. 29, 2008) 

The Beijing Olympic Village is definitely an example of energy-efficient building. The 

whole project, including 36 categories energy saving measure, will save electricity 

amounting to 3,077 tons coal equilibrium, and reduce SO2 emission by 8,000 tons. 


China's installed nuclear power capacity rises (Mar.2, 2008) 

China's installed nuclear power capacity rose by 30 percent last year to 9.07 million 

kilowatts with two reactors in eastern Jiangsu Province going into commercial operation, 

the Office of the National Energy Leading Group said in Beijing Sunday. A total of 11 

nuclear reactors generated 62.86 billion kilowatts last year, up 14.6 percent. However, it 

accounted for just 1.9 percent of the country's total. 


China produces 2.52 billion tons of raw coal in 2007 (Mar.3, 2008) 

China produced 2.52 billion tons of raw coal last year, up 8.2 percent from 2006, 

according to the China National Coal Association (CNCA). The output of raw coal saw 

consecutive growth in the past five years. The output volume increased by 78.3 percent 

compared to that of 2002, when the volume stood at 1.42 billion tons. 

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90884/6365082.html 


China to Build 400 Wind Towers To Survey Wind Resources (Feb. 26, 2008) 

China will build 400 wind towers of 70 meters and 100 meters high in regions where there 

is abundant wind energy to carry out a detailed survey and evaluation of the country's 

wind resources and potential. 

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/02/26/2124-china-to-build-400-wind-towers-to-survey-wind 

-resources/ 

IFC to lend more for energy efficiency (Feb. 26, 2008) 

China's Industrial Bank is to extend 1.5 billion yuan (US$210 million) in loans to small and 

medium-sized businesses for energy efficiency projects, under a risk-sharing agreement 

38



with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). 


China's construction industry getting greener (Feb. 27, 2008) 

China's green construction system, with a market value estimated at 1.5 trillion yuan 

($208 billion), is growing through energy-efficient projects, the Ministry of Construction 

said in Beijing on Tuesday. Qiu Baoxing, deputy head of the ministry, said the construction 

area involved had increased by 2 billion square meters each year, nearly half of world's 

total. 


TRANSPORT 


National IV emission regulation starts on March 1(Mar.2, 2008) 

From March 1 on, all light vehicles sold in Beijing should obey the national IV emission 

standard. New vehicles failing the standard will be curbed from sales and registration. In 

addition, all the oil stations in Beijing will supply oils meeting national IV emission standard, 

at the same price with old oils. 


Qingdao released Vehicle Emitting Gas Polluting Prevention Regulation (Mar.3, 2008) 

The new regulation on vehicle emitting gas pollution prevention will be put into action from 

March 1, 2008. On Feb.28, a press conference was held to introduce the new regulation. 

Qingdao is the partner city of Beijing Olympics, to hold yatching sports games. The new 

regulation will guarantee better air quality during the Olympics in 2008. It is revealed that 

the new regulation includes a series of air quality improvement measures, including 

vehicle environment classification system and emission reduction etc. 


OTHERS 

Heavy polluters to be restricted from listing (Feb. 25, 2008) 

China will impose new restrictions on heavy polluters trying to list on domestic stock 

markets, according to a document released by the country's environmental watchdog 

today. SEPA said that the rules will help restrain the "over-expansion" of high-polluting and 

high energy-consuming enterprises and will also reduce capital risk. SEPA launched a 

pilot scheme last year, and said that the IPO plans of 10 companies were delayed after 

failing to meet environmental standards. 


China blacklists 141 seriously polluting products (Feb. 26, 2008) 

China's environmental watchdog blacklisted 141 products on Tuesday for causing serious 

pollution or posing serious environmental risks. The list included products closely linked to 

people's daily life, such as warfarin, mirex, DDT and nickel-cadmium cell, said Pan Yue, 

39



deputy director of SEPA. 


Companies Exposed By SEPA for Failing To Pass Environmental Review (Feb. 25, 2008) 

Since 2007, SEPA has been identifying companies that have not passed (or have been 

deferred) in the first round of review during its auditing of the listed companies. The main 

problems of these companies are said to be not implementing the relevant environmental 

rules, not replacing old equipment according to concerned stipulations, and emitting 

excessive pollutants. Eight of the companies have already reportedly completed their 

rectification as required, but their names have not been made available. 

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/02/29/2131-companies-exposed-by-sepa-for-failing-to-pas 

s-environmental-review/ 

Listed firms ordered to submit green data (Feb. 26, 2008) 

The government will enforce mandatory environmental disclosures for companies with 

high pollution emissions and energy consumption, according to a regulation released by 

SEPA on Monday. The environmental watchdog said the regulation applies to companies 

that are already publicly listed as well as those seeking listing. 


Citizens’ satisfactory to Beijing’s environment improved (Feb. 28, 2008) 

According to the survey by Beijing Statistical Bureau, the citizens’ satisfactory to Beijing 

environment improved in the past year. Environmental legal complain also decreased. 

Beijing held several special treatment actions to improve Beijing’s air environment, 

transportation in 2007 

http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/ywbb/200802/t20080228_222619.html 

Beijing to launch forestry carbon sequestration research and adaptation to climate change 

experiment (Mar.1, 2008) 

Beijing recently launched a promotion activity on Ecological Science Promotion and 

Forestry Carbon Sequestration. According to this promotion plan, Beijing will start 

technical research into basic theories on forestry carbon sequestration, establish carbon 

control pilot zone, and adapt to climate change and global warming actively. 


The largest national plastic bag manufacturer closed (Mar.2, 2008) 

The nation’s largest plastic bag producer, Luohe Huaqiang Plastic Ltd. closed recently and 

announced to quit from plastic bag producing industry. According to the announcement 

released by the Government Council, to restrict plastic bag usage, from June 1, 2008, 

plastic bags thinner than 0.025 mm will be banned from production, sales and usage. 


40










- Government work report by Premier Wen: emission reduction & energy 

saving 

- National Trade Union announces energy-saving month 

- Vehicles to be compensated for Beijing traffic ban during Olympics 

- UN: Kyoto Protocol Applicable To Macau 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Hong Kong Publicizes January's Pollution Convictions (Mar. 5, 2008) 

38 convictions were recorded in January 2008 for the infringement of the anti-pollution 

rule of Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department. 18 were about the violation of 

the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. 

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/03/05/2145-hong-kong-publicizes-januarys-pollution-convi 

ctions/ 

Qingdao: PM10 reduced apparently at the beginning of 2008 (Mar. 6, 2008) 

According to the autonomous air monitoring result, the concentration of PM10 reduced by 

13.6% until February 25, comparing with the same time last year. PM10 has been a key 

pollutant for Qingdao air. 

www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=23254 


Chongqing EPB exposed 26 air polluting sources failing environment standard (Mar. 5, 


Chongqing EPB released 26 polluting sources that failed the environment standard in 

urban areas. Chongqing EPB urged them to make reform plans, or those facilities will be 

stopped until they meet the standard. Those sources include 2 construction deserted sites, 

7 construction sites, 3 house moving projects and 6 green planting projects. 

www.chinademands.com/zxzx-detail 

Overseas investment policy to discourage smokestack industries (Mar. 6, 2008) 

41



China has been reforming its policies in an effort to discourage overseas investment in 

energy-intensive, polluting and resource-based ventures - the so-called smokestack 

industries. Delivering a work report to the 1st session of the 11th National People's 

Congress (NPC) on Wednesday, Premier Wen Jiabao made known China's determination 

to end its position as a global center of such industries. 



Tianjin will guarantee the air quality during Olympics (Mar.4, 2008) 

Tianjin Government approved the Tianjin 2008 Blue Sky Projects Implementation 

Suggestions, which includes three key aspects, air quality working goal for 2008, main 

tasks and guarantee measures. According to the suggestion, Tianjin will strive to 

guarantee air quality during Olympics above level 2. 

www.csid.com.cn/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=79425 

Qingdao Environment Monitoring Station to improve air monitoring network (Mar.7, 2008) 

Qingdao Environmental Monitoring Station has updated the facilities, and added several 

quality control equipments. It is indicated through those capacity building activities, 

relevant departments in Qingdao will get more precise monitoring result and provide more 

accurate air quality report for researchers and governments. 


Beijing starts census of 90,000 pollution sources (Mar.8, 2008) 

Beijing launched its first census of pollution sources for accurate statistics on Friday, amid 

a green drive to improve environment ahead of the Olympics. The survey will cover 

90,000 sources of pollution, among which 24,000 are industrial sources, 45,000 

residential, 21,000 agricultural and 128 facilities for centralized treatment of pollutants, 

according to the city's bureau of environmental protection. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Government work report, by Premier Wen: On track for energy targets (Mar.6, 2008) 

On March 5, Premier Wen Jiabao presented the government work report to the NPC. Wen 

said China's energy intensity index for last year was down 3.27 percent on its 2005 level. 

By comparison, the index, which shows how much energy is used in the production of 

every 10,000 yuan (one unit) of gross domestic product (GDP), fell just 1.23 percent in 

2006. China saw its emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) fall 4.66 percent and its chemical 

oxygen demand (COD), a key measure of water pollution, fall 3.14 percent, from their 

2005 levels. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008npc/2008-03/06/content_6512488.htm 


42



China to build first inland nuclear power plant (Mar.4, 2008) 

China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG) and the Hubei provincial government 

on Tuesday signed an agreement here to build the country's first inland nuclear power 

plant. The two sides said the project will be located in Xianning City, 421 kilometers 

southeast of Yichang City where the Three Gorges Dam lies. 


Guangdong to build nation's largest off-shore wind farm (Mar.4, 2008) 

South China's Guangdong Province plans to build the nation's largest off-shore wind farm, 

in a bid to quench its power thirst. The facility, with sea area coverage of 240 square 

kilometers, will be co-sponsored by the Lufeng municipal government and Guangdong 

Baolihua New Energy Stock Co Ltd. 


Union announces energy-saving month (Mar.4, 2008) 

Throughout this month, the country's 140 million workers are being urged to offer their 

help and ideas on how to save energy and reduce emissions, the national trade union 

said in Beijing yesterday. A series of events and competitions will be held throughout the 

month encouraging workers to put forward their designs, creations and ideas on how to 

save energy and protect the environment. 


Region launches energy program (Mar.8, 2008) 

Inner Mongolia is working on a number of pilot energy projects in an effort to take greater 

advantage of locally produced natural resources, the region's Party secretary said on 

Friday. Its rich natural resources, such as coal, gas and minerals, fuel the development of 

the Circum-Bohai Economic Ring and the eastern part of the country. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

Beijing subway line 10 opens for engineering trials (Feb. 28, 2008) 

The No. 10 Subway line connecting new city zones of Beijing opened for engineering trials 

here on Thursday as part of the subway expansion for the Olympic Games and as relief 

for the city's congested roads. The first phase of Line 10 connects new regions built in the 

past two decade in southeast and northwest Beijing. 


93% of buses in inner ring road of Shanghai meet emission standard (Mar. 7, 2008) 

According to the released inspection result on March 5, 93% of buses running in inner ring 

of Shanghai meet the emission standard. This will alleviate the black smog phenomenon 

significantly. 


43



Shanghai to renew 1750 buses in 2008 (Mar. 7, 2008) 

Shanghai has adopted a lot of measures to control air pollution from public transport, 

especially buses. Relevant governments launched a special action to deal with black 

smog of buses. In 2008, around 1750 buses will be renewed to meet the national III 

standard. 



Chengdu: New standard for new car registration from May 1 (Mar.6, 2008) 

From May 1, all new registered cars in Chengdu should obey the Phase 3 emission 

standard. To promote the implementation of the new standard, Chengdu will launch 

several relevant new regulation on new car sales, ownership management and use 

management. 

www.sc.xinhuanet.com/content/2008-03/05/content_12616610.htm 

Xiamen: Penalty of Max. 2000 RMB for excessive emitting vehicles (Mar.6, 2008) 

Vehicle ownership increase by 20% every year, resulting vehicle emission as one of the 

key sources of air pollution. It is revealed that the new Xiamen Environment Protection 

Regulation is under revise. According to the new regulation, an excessive emitting vehicle 

might be fined about 2000 at the maxim. 

www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=23256 

Vehicles to be compensated for Beijing traffic ban (Mar.7, 2008) 

Traffic ban shall be imposed during the Olympic Games in Beijing, with the vehicles 

affected compensated by the government, said Ji Lin, vice mayor of Beijing on Friday. The 

compensation plan is being drafted and the amount is yet to be published. Automobiles, 

excluding taxis, buses and emergency vehicles, are to stay off roads every other day in 

accordance with the even and odd numbers on the license plates. 



Changsha might implement National IV in two years (Mar.4, 2008) 

After Beijing adopted the National IV vehicle emission standard, local governments might 

adopt similar regulations consecutively in the next few years. Officer from Changsha EPB 

revealed that Changsha might adopt the new standard in next two years, as an important 

instrument to control urban air pollution. 

www.cnhunan.net/car/2008-2-27/article2008227162140.html 

Volkswagen promises 'green' motorcade (Mar.7, 2008) 

In line with the theme of hosting a "green" Olympics, Volkswagen will provide 

environmentally friendly vehicles for the Chinese mainland leg of the Olympic torch relay. 

At the announcing ceremony, Volkswagen unveiled that up to the end of 2007, all of 

Volkswagen Group's joint ventures have been awarded SO14001 certification for meeting 

44



strict environmental protection standards. 


OTHERS 

Low global environment rank; survive by low-carbon economy? (Mar.5, 2008) 

According to the 2008 Global Environment Performance Index Report on Global Economy 

Forum organized by Yale University, China’s rank fell from 94 in 2006 to 105 this year. Wu 

Xiaoqing, vice-minister of SEPA indicated that pushing forward the development of 

low-carbon economy is a serious issue for China 


UN: Kyoto Protocol Applicable To Macau (Mar.6, 2008) 

The Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau says that the United Nations has 

confirmed that the Kyoto Protocol will be applicable to Macau as of January 2008 and 

SMG has called on the public to coordinate with Macau SAR's efforts in improving the 

global environment. 

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/03/06/2154-un-kyoto-protocol-applicable-to-macau/ 

Guangdong not ready to approve chemical plant (Mar.7, 2008) 

Pollution concerns in the Pearl River Delta region continue to stall the approval of an 

evaluation on a massive petrochemical base planned for this southern city. Said to be the 

largest joint venture on the mainland, the plant has been highlighted as a key project in 

Guangdong's 2008 development plan and is scheduled to be completed within three years. 

Because the first draft of the overall environmental assessment hasn't been approved, it 

has yet to be submitted to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). 


45










- Government reshuffle: upgraded environment department, new energy 

bureau and uniformed transportation department 

- Beijing, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao implemented Olympic Air quality Guarantee 

Measures 

- Air quality improvement efforts surrounding Beijing areas: Hebei, Shanxi 

- Green governance ranking to be published 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Chongqing: good air quality in February (Mar.11, 2008) 

Days with air quality above level II took 72.4% in February, increasing by 8.1% from the 

same period of last year. PM10 was the main pollutant. 

www.zhb.gov.cn/info/gxdt/200803/t20080307_119093.htm 


China upgrades environmental administration to ministry (Mar.11, 2008) 

China is to elevate the status of State Environmental Protection Administration to a 

ministry, which is among the major 27 ministries and commissions of the Cabinet, said 

Hua Jianmin, secretary-general of the State Council, on Tuesday. 

http://english.gov.cn/2008-03/11/content_916879.htm 

Beijing targets dust pollution from construction sites (Mar.12, 2008) 

Four government departments including construction and environmental protection jointly 

issued the circular on Tuesday announcing that they will suspend construction in bad 

weather such as strong gales and sandstorms between March 20 and July 20 to prevent 

dust pollution, and a complete construction ban between July 21 and September 20. 


120 billion RMB invested to air quality (Mar.13, 2008) 

According to the recent past “two-meeting” in Beijing, a special press conference on 

environment, resource and energy-saving was held. Two officials released on the 

46



conference that more than 120 billion RMB has been invested to improve air quality in 

Beijing. Enterprises surrounding Beijing might be halted or restricted for air pollution 

concerns. 

http://news.sohu.com/20080312/n255654381.shtml 


Hebei:Active pollution treatment and apparent air quality improvement (Mar.10, 


Hebei air quality guarantee work leading group for Olympics held the second meeting. It 

was circulated that ever since the first meeting last year, air quality of Olympic relevant 

places in Hebei Provinces improved greatly. The blue sky days increased and 

desulphurization in coal-burned power plants has been going smoothly. 


Shanxi: Desulphurization facility for all coal-burned power plants (Mar.12, 2008) 

All coal-burned power plants in Shanxi should be installed with desulphurization and dust 

elimination equipments in 2008, to support air quality improvement in Beijing. All plants 

failing those requirements will be stopped before Olympics. 


4 Measure by Qingdao EPB to control Spring air quality (Mar.13, 2008) 

PM10 pollution became the main worry of good air quality in Qingdao, due to increasing 

city rehabilitation, real estate development and the warming weather. Qingdao local EPB 

released four measures to guarantee air quality in Qingdao, including enhancing industrial 

on-site monitoring, restricting monitoring to construction sites, implementing vehicle waste 

gas emission prevention method, and preventing vehicle floating dust. 


Chengdu launched Air Environment Comprehensive Treatment Advocacy (Mar.13, 


Chengdu recently held the Promotion Meeting on Comprehensive Air Environment 

Treatment. A series of tasks were arranged to control air quality in 2008, with focus on 

floating dust pollution, coal-fired induced pollution, vehicle waste gas pollution, agricultural 

livelihood garbage pollution and specific seasonal pollution. 

http://www.csid.com.cn/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=80065 

ENERGY 

- Facts 

China established energy bureau and national energy commission (Mar. 11, 2008) 

China on Tuesday announced an integration of its energy management supervision and 

policies, functions that are currently dispersed among many government agencies, 

through the establishment of a high-level consultation and coordination commission. The 

commission, called the national energy commission, will be responsible for studying and 

47



drafting an energy development strategy and considering energy security and 

development issues. 

http://english.gov.cn//2008-03/11/content_916963.htm 

TRANSPORT 


China launched bigger transport ministry (March 11, 2008) 

A government reshuffle plan announced by State Councilor Hua Jianmin to a parliament 

session said the new department under the State Council, or the cabinet, will incorporate 

the current Ministry of Communications, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the 

section of urban traffic management under the Ministry of Construction. 

http://english.gov.cn//2008-03/11/content_917003.htm 


Guangzhou to release vehicle pollution control method (Mar.14, 2008) 

The 2007 meeting of environmental goal responsibility implementation of Guangzhou was 

held recently. Officials urged to establish certain vehicle pollution control method, to 

manage the transportation pollution induced by non-local vehicles in Guangzhou. 


OTHERS 

Green governance ranking to come in months (Mar.11, 2008) 

China will check provincial-level governments' performances in conserving energy and 

reducing pollutant emissions, and the results, to be taken as a major index for 

administration evaluation, will be publicized in May or June, a senior official said Tuesday. 


Xie: Bigger role for developed nations against global warming (Mar.16, 2008) 

Governments of developed countries should play major roles in leading technology 

transfer and enterprises' financing in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) 

emissions, a Chinese official said at an international forum here on Sunday. Both 

developing countries and developed countries have realized the importance of 

technologies in building more energy-efficient and low-emission industries. 



Olympics Relevant 

Rogge: China making progress on air quality (Mar.9, 2008) 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge on Saturday said 

that China is making big strides in clearing up its air quality ahead of the 2008 Olympics. 

During the opening ceremony of the 4th World Conference on Women and Sports, which 

was opened in the sort of Dead Sea, Jordan, Rogge told some reporters that "we will see 

that Beijing has made major progress." 

48




Qinhuangdao: 20 key air pollution treatment projects in 2008 (Mar.10, 2008) 

Qinhuangdao government recently determined key areas, industries and pollution sources 

to control air pollution. Plans before Olympics and during Olympics were made out. In all, 

about 20 pollution treatment projects were arranged. 

http://www.bjba.com/news/qhd/200803/18642.shtml 

Beijing confident for clean, safe Olympics (Mar.11, 2008) 

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman voiced confidence on Tuesday that the country 

will host a clean and safe Olympics.China is confident in safeguarding the environment 

and security conditions during the period when the Olympic Games are being held in 

Beijing, spokesman Qin Gang said at a routine press conference. 


Qingdao: Emissions effort brings more blue skies (Mar.12, 2008) 

The number of vehicles in Qingdao has been increasing by 300 to 400 a day, totaling 1.36 

million by the end of 2007, according to official statistics. Vehicle emissions have brought 

serious pollution to the city, so the city government mandated a sharp reduction of car 

emissions in preparation for the coming Olympics sailing competition to ensure clear skies 

for the event. 


Qingdao keeping its Green Olympics promises (Mar.12, 2008) 

The local government has for years been working hard to fulfill its promise to build an 

environmentally friendly city - and its efforts are now bearing fruit. "The environment in 

Qingdao meets the requirement of a green Olympics - blue skies, clean water and 

harmonious city that all present a comfortable environment for the Olympic sailing 

competition and the life of residents" 


49










- Beijing strictly control floating dust during Olympics 

- Tianjin Blue Sky goal for 2008 

- Renewable Energy Development Plan for 11th Five-Year Period 

- Prosperous sustainable energy development in local cities 

- Chongqing to draft plans for climate change 

AIR QUALITY 


Shanxi: Differentiated SO2 emission charge (Mar. 18, 2008) 

From April 1 st , Shanxi will adopt a new SO2 emission charging system to differentiate the 

charges for different emitting behaviors. For those industrial units with waste gas 

desulphurization facilities, a charging standard of 630 RMB per ton SO2 emission will be 

adopted. For those without desulphurization facilities, per ton SO2 emission will be 

charged around 1260 RMB. 

Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/environment/2008-03/18/content_7813494.htm 

Tianjin released Blue Sky Project implementation plan for 2008 (Mar.20, 2008) 

Tianjin recently circulated the 2008 Blue Sky Project Implementation Plan. The blue sky 

goal for 2008 is that days with air quality above level II should be more than 83% of the 

whole year. Blue sky days during the Olympics should be 100%. Emission reduction 

targets should be reached. 

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=23582 


Shanxi: Cities will obvious air quality improvement will be awarded (Mar.21, 2008) 

To push forward Blue Sky and Clean Water Project, Shanxi Province launched an 

awarding system to six heavy polluting cities on March 17. This effort is predicted to 

accelerate air quality improvement steps. Heavy polluting cities, exiting the most serious 5 

cities will be awarded 1 million RMB. Those exiting the most serious 10 polluting cities will 

be rewarded 2 million RMB. 

Chinese link: http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/qt/200803/t20080321_223238.html 

50

ENERGY 

- Facts 



Eco-cities power green development (Mar.19, 2008) 

Many local cities have made great effort to construct eco-cities. Sustainable energy is an 

important part of eco-cities. Here is the story of different cities with different alternatives to 

develop sustainable development. Fuxin in Liaoning province, has an ambitious plan to 

"turn a coal-dependent city into a city of wind farms". The Ningxia Hui autonomous region 

will build nine new wind power plants with an investment of $2.2 billion by 2020. The Tibet 

autonomous region is promoting the development and application of solar power, wind 

and geothermal energies in several regions, amid efforts to realize the commercialization 

of renewable energy resources. 

English link: 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008npc/2008-03/19/content_6547877.htm 


Renewable Energy Development Plan for 11th Five-Year Period Unveiled (Mar.21, 2008) 

China's National Development and Reform Commission has just published the 

Renewable Energy Development Plan for the 11th Five-year Period in which it says that 

the country's renewable energy consumption shall account for 10% of the total energy 

consumption by 2010, which is an increase of 2.5% over that of 2005. 

English link: 

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x1398 

39-20k 


Hainan warms up to solar solution (Mar. 19, 2008) 

Hainan province, an island the size of Belgium, plans to harness its richest resource - 

sunlight. As part of a clean energy plan to protect its stunning coasts and semitropical 

ecology, the island has also mapped out a plan to construct wind farms. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-03/19/content_6547579.htm 

Henan province release energy-saving indicator (Mar.21, 2008) 

Henan province recently release energy-saving goal of 2008, urging local government 

should divide energy-saving goals to make comprehensive plans. In 2008, energy per unit 

GDP reduction goals in Zhengzhou, Kaifeng and Luoyang are 5.4%, 4.54% and 4.84%. 


Storms, industry policies reduce growth in China's power use (Mar.22, 2008) 

Growth in China's electricity consumption slowed in the first two months of 2008 as the 

government imposed curbs on heavy industry and winter storms cut power supplies in 

some areas. Policies to curb smokestack industries, which are energy-intensive and 

highly polluting, were taking effect during the period, the council said. Meanwhile, power 

51



was being diverted to residential areas affected by the severe weather. 


TRANSPORT 


Tianjin: Urban buses should reach Euro III emission standard (Mar.19, 2008) 

Tianjin Public Transportation Group indicated that 1000 high-standard new buses 

reaching Euro III emission standard will be put into use during Olympics. 1000 Euro II 

buses will be updated to meet Euro III. 


Guangdong to ban vehicles with nonstandard emission (Mar.19, 2008) 

Guangdong province will stop licensing vehicles that fail to meet the nation's stage III 

emission standard from July 1, according to a government statement released yesterday 

on its website. The province also aims to introduce the more stringent stage IV emission 

standard for vehicle licensing in the highly developed and more polluted Pearl River Delta 

region. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-03/19/content_6547693.htm 

Xinjiang will launched new vehicle emission standard (Mar.20, 2008) 

Xinjiang EPB recently held a discussion meeting on the new to-be-released vehicle 

emission standard for light vehicles. Some other regulations will be launched as well to 

improve the effect of new vehicle emission standard. 


Excessive emitting vehicles will be prohibited from central Chongqing (Mar.20, 2008) 

According to the new regulation by Yuzhong District of Chongqing, excessive emitting 

vehicles labeled with yellow badges will be prohibited from access into Jiefangbei. 


Panzhihua: excessive polluting vehicles will get penalty (Mar.21, 2008) 

Under the coordination of Panzhihua East Region Court of Sichuan Province, the first 8 

vehicle owners of excessive emitting vehicles have submitted the penalty to Panzhihua 

EPB. This is the first time in Panzhihua to fine excessive vehicles through legal procedure. 

Chinese link: http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/fz/qt/200803/t20080321_223250.html 


Shenyang: goodbye to black smoking for 1400 buses during Olympics (Mar.20, 2008) 

Before Olympics, at least 1400 buses will be replaced or renewed to eliminate black 

smoking phenomenon, released on an energy-saving emission reduction meeting on 

public transportation in Shenyang. To guarantee will buses meeting emission standard, all 

bus operation entrepreneurs should establish special fund for environment improvement. 


52



Jiaozhou: vehicle monitoring station for bid (Mar.21, 2008) 

Vehicle monitoring station has bided the operation and construction rights recently. 

According to relevant regulations, all vehicles should pass regular vehicle waste gas 

inspection and obtain environment classification labels, before running on the road. 


OTHERS 

Carbon Disclosure Project Gains Support To Target China (Mar.19, 2008) 

The Carbon Disclosure Project announced a three-year global partnership with Merrill 

Lynch to help support CDP's development and growth in China and around the world. 

English link: www.chinasourcingnews.com/tag/automobile/ 

Blair: China makes big efforts on climate change (Mar.20, 2008) 

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in Beijing Wednesday China was making big 

efforts on tackling climate change issue, calling for more support from developed 

countries to developing countries on clean technology transfer. 


China starts auto parts recovery program for circular economy (Mar.21, 2008) 

China Friday started a pilot program to recover discarded auto parts as part of its efforts to 

achieve circular economy. The National Development and Reform Commission Friday 

signed with three auto makers and 11 parts manufacturers letters of commitment on the 

pilot auto parts recovery program. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-03/21/content_6557800.htm 

Chongqing to draft plans for climate change (Mar.21, 2008) 

Chongqing is drafting a comprehensive plan to deal with climate change, according to 

official from Chongqing Development and Reform Commission. In the plan, industrial 

structure is adjusted, especially coal industry which Chongqing is dependent on. Small 

wind power generation plants will be treated and an expert tank for adaptation to climate 

change will be established as well. 


Jilin launch environment special action plan (Mar.21, 2008) 

Jilin Province recently started a special action plan to treat illegal emitting enterprises and 

guarantee health of citizens. The action plan will focus on enhancing pollution monitoring 

on Songhuajiang and Liaohe River, treat industrial parks and illegal emitting behaviors in 

the industrial park. 



Shenyang: Clear skies (Mar.17, 2008) 

Well known in the country for heavy industry and severe pollution, some cities in Liaoning 

53



province were not even visible by satellite in the 1980s. Today, however, the sky in 

Shenyang, the province's capital, is bluer than Beijing. Last year, Shenyang had over 320 

good air quality days, about 70 days more than Beijing, thanks to the province's efforts in 

energy savings and emission control. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bw/2008-03/17/content_6540616.htm 

Beijing will control floating dust during Olympics (Mar.18, 2008) 

Beijing relevant departments will strictly control floating dust during Olympics. Before the 

end of June, all construction sites should be covered by sands, roads solidified, in and out 

vehicles with wheels washed and barren lands greened. 


Qinghuangdao: 20 air pollution prevention projects (Mar.19, 2008) 

To guarantee good air quality during Olympics, Qinghuangdao started the Welcoming 

Olympics Air Quality Guarantee Program, in which about 20 air pollution prevention 

projects will be implemented. Air quality monitoring report and alarming systems will be 

established during Olympics. An official from Qinhuangdao EPB indicated that all air 

pollution prevention projects should be finished before Olympics, otherwise, heavy 

polluting units will be stopped. 


Air fit for Olympics: IOC report (Mar.19, 2008) 

Air quality in the capital this August will be good enough for Olympians during the Beijing 

Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said after a study by its medical 

commission. The commission studied and collected data on the city's air quality from an 

Olympic pre-run event last August. 


Shijiazhuang close black-smoking boilers to guarantee good air quality for Olympics (Mar. 

21, 2008) 

Shijiazhuang EPB held a promotion meeting on desulphurization and dust elimination of 

coal-burning boilers on March 19. The meeting urged all industrial boilers should finish 

treatment before end of June. All the failed boilers will be shut down. This is one of the 

measures adopted by Shijiazhuang city to guarantee good air quality for Olympics 


54










- Guangzhou swamped by acid rain in 2007 

- CAS established Air Quality Comprehensive Monitoring System in Olympic 

Region 

- Energy labeling system saved about 6.8 billion kw.h. in the past 3 years 

- Vehicles in Beijing to reach 3.35m during Olympics 

- Beijing: Subsidies provided to phase excessive polluting vehicles 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Guangdong pollutant indicators drop in 2007 (Mar.26, 2008) 

China's southern Guangdong Province saw its major air and water pollutant indicators 

drop in 2007, yet the environmental situation remained "severe", the Guangdong 

Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau (GDEPB) said Tuesday. Guangdong’s 

sulphur dioxide emissions fell by 5.05 percent. 


Guangzhou swamped by acid rain (Mar.28, 2008) 

Eight out of every 10 rainfalls in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, last year was 

classified as acid rain. The city suffered from the worst acid rain of any in the province, the 

Guangdong provincial environmental protection bureau said. Altogether, two-thirds of 

Guangdong's 21 cities were affected. 


Shanxi: Air quality in February improves (Mar.28, 2008) 

Air quality in February in Shanxi provinces show optimistic trend, days with good air 

quality increased comparing to the same time last year, expect Jincheng city. Air pollution 

index of 10 key cities reduced. 


Guiyang: Environment improved obviously (Mar.28, 2008) 

Guiyang’s environment improved obviously last year. Days with good air quality reached 

55



346, covering 94.79% of the whole year. The average daily concentration of NO2, PM10 

and SO2 reached 0.023, 0.0875 and 0.057 mg/cu.m., qualifying the Level II air quality 

standard the first time. 



China to spend 78% more on emission reduction (Mar.25, 2008) 

China's central government plans to increase spending on energy efficiency and 

greenhouse gas emission reduction schemes by 78 percent this year as part of a larger 

effort to meet its 2010 environmental targets, the Ministry of Finance said Monday. Total 

expenditure would rise to 41.8 billion yuan (5.89 billion US dollars) from 23.5 billion yuan 

last year. 


Hubei: 49million RMB invested on on-site pollution monitoring system (Mar.27, 2008) 

Hebei recently allocated 49 million RMB specifically on on-site pollution monitoring system 

construction, including 20 million construction subsidy and 29 million operation and 

maintenance fees. 


Hebei implemented environmental monitoring to 60 key polluting units (Mar.28, 2008) 

Hebei province will implement environmental monitoring to 30 key industrial polluting 

sources and 30 key counties, to promote pollution reduction in the provincial scale. The 

monitoring plan includes air quality, surface water quality and sewage treatment plant 

monitoring in counties, and key pollutant monitoring in 30 key enterprises. 


ENERGY 


Hainan: Enhance supervision on energy consumption of public building (Mar.27, 2008) 

Hainan Construction Department indicated that the Energy Efficiency Bulletin system will 

be launched. From now on, the energy consumption of public buildings will be supervised 

by the public. The construction department will implement energy-saving rehabilitation to 

high energy-consuming buildings. 


Energy labeling system saved about 6.8 billion kw.h in the past 3 years (Mar.28, 2008) 

It is indicated that the energy labeling system adopted in the past 3 years contributed 

greatly to energy saving, amounting to 6.8 billion kw.h. Ever since the beginning the 

labeling system, relevant department has launched three batches of energy-labeling 

product categories, covering cooling, heating, fluorescent light industries etc. 


56




Efforts urged for better energy efficiency (Mar.24, 2008) 

The government has taken various measures in recent years, such as linking 

energy-saving performance to decide the career future of officials and the leaders of the 

State-owned enterprises, in order to curb the growth of energy consumption. Last year, 

the country consumed 2.65 billion tons of standard coal equivalent, up 7.8 percent from 

the year before, even as consumption growth slowed 1.81 percent year-on-year. 


Huaneng to boost renewable energy (Mar.26, 2008) 

China Huaneng Group will boost the development of new energy such as wind and solar 

power, in line with the government's thrust for renewable energy. The company has 

accelerated its development of wind power in Guangdong, Jilin, Shandong, Inner 

Mongolia and Hainan, said Huaneng President Li Xiaopeng. Besides wind, solar and 

biomass power, the company will also increase its capacity of hydropower, thermal and 

nuclear power. 


Qinhuangdao: Garbage burning power generation to start (Mar.27, 2008) 

Released by relevant department of Qinhuangdao city, a garbage power generation plant 

will be launched, involving an investment around 450 million RMB. Currently, the initial 

preparation work for the project has been started, including field clearing and facilities 

bidding. It is indicated that the new power plant will cover an area of 99.96 squire 

kilometer. 


TRANSPORT 

Guangzhou: dust haze induced by vehicle worsened (Mar.26, 2008) 

In the past week, Guangzhou will annoyed by dust haze. Relevant authorities that air 

pollution and atmospheric condition are direct courses for the haze weather. Vehicle 

emission is believed to be a key polluting source. Guangzhou should emphasize pollution 

control floating dust from roads and construction sites, as well as vehicle pollution control. 



Vehicles in Beijing to reach 3.35m during Olympics (Mar.27, 2008) 

Beijing's motor vehicle total will reach 3.35 million in August, when the Olympics will be 

staged, according to sources with the Municipal government Thursday. With a daily 

growth of 1,300 vehicles, the city is faced with increasing problems of congestion and 

pollution. Up to Tuesday, the city has seen a total of 3.23 million vehicles. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-03/27/content_6571379.htm 

Beijing: Subsidies provided to phase excessive polluting vehicles (Mar.27, 2008) 

57



To guarantee good air quality during Olympics, Beijing Transportation Management 

Bureau revealed that excessive polluting vehicles, which need to be phased out before 

Olympics, might be subsidies if treatment is implemented before the end of June. The 

standard of subsidy is 15,000 RMB for cargo vehicle and 25,000 RMB for passenger 

vehicle. 



Macao: natural gas buses might be used in the next two years (Mar.26, 2008) 

On the business visit to Chongqing natural gas vehicles, an officer of Macao Special 

Administration Region revealed that natural gas buses might be put into use in the next 

two years. Relevant department is currently making related regulations on safety, 

technology on natural gas vehicles. 


OTHERS 

New ministry aims for greener China (Mar.24, 2008) 

The ministry last Tuesday replaced its website domain name SEPA to MEP (Ministry of 

Environment Protection). Minister Zhou and other high-level officials in charge are 

considering a reshuffle of SEPA, as well as its elevation into a real ministry. Zhou has 

required his staff prepare for the new ministry's launch ceremony even though the internal 

reshuffle will not be finished until July. 



Inner Mongolia assists Beijing to meet Olympic air quality goal (Mar.24, 2008) 

To assist Beijing to meet air quality commitment during Olympics, Inner Mongolia 

government recently launched the Beijing Air Quality Guarantee Measure Implementation 

Program during Olympics. The program includes 5 regions as key pollution control area, 

requiring all electric enterprise install desulphurization, dust elimination and control SO2 

and NOx emission. 


Shenyang launched Olympic Environment Safety Project (Mar.26, 2008) 

Shenyang recently launched the Olympic Environment Safety Project, with key focus on 

vehicle emission control. From June 1 st on, all renewed buses should meet national III 

emitting standard. Meanwhile, all the running buses should use fuel cleaning additives 

and avoid black smoking. 


CAS established Air Quality Comprehensive Monitoring System in Olympic Region 

(Mar.26, 2008) 

China Academy of Science (CAS) recently established the Olympic Region Air Quality 

58



Comprehensive Monitoring System. The system covers indoor air quality monitoring of 

Olympic Stadiums and Outdoor air quality monitoring of surrounding areas. 


Beijing adds new forest park for Olympic games (Mar.28, 2008) 

To improve air quality and attract tourists during the 2008 summer Olympics, Beijing has 

approved a national forest park, bringing the total number to 15, the municipal forestry 

authorities said Thursday. The forest park, called Labagou, boasts rich plant and animal 

species and is of great importance in protecting the environment protection of the 2008 

Olympics host city, said the municipal forestry department. 


59










- Beijing air quality in first season reaches historically high 

- Govt promotes energy-efficient buildings 

- Revised Energy-Saving Law will be implemented from April 1 

- Ningxia established leading group on adapting to climate change and 

energy-saving 

- Bio-ethanol fuel is promoted in 10 provinces 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Liaocheng strengthens environmental protection (March 31, 2008) 

Liaocheng, an ancient city in the western part of Shandong province, has taken any 

means necessary in recent years to strengthen environmental protection and build an 

eco-city while at the same time developing the economy. The city invested 1.6 billion yuan 

($228.11 million) in 2007 in desulfurization projects of its 20 coal-fired power plants. These 

projects helped Liaocheng reduce 6,022 tons of SO2 emissions every month. The city 

government also strengthened control of soot emissions in urban areas. 


Air quality monitors 'were not moved' (April 4, 2008) 

Beijing's air pollution monitoring stations in the downtown area remain where they were, 

the environmental chief of the Olympic organizing committee said yesterday. Yu was 

responding to an article in the Wall Street Journal in February that claimed the Beijing 

environmental protection bureau had manipulated the air quality index by removing 

monitoring equipment from heavily polluted areas. The city has 27 air pollution monitoring 

stations, more than trippling the number in 1998. 



Beijing air quality in first season reaches historically high (April 1, 2008) 

From January to March 2008, day with good air quality in Beijing reached 67, taking 

73.6% of the whole month. This is the highest good air quality level in the past nine years, 

60



with 12 more good air days than that of 2007. 


Calculator puts people in know on emissions (April 4, 2008) 

An online carbon emission calculator has been developed to help green commuters track 

their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when traveling by car, bus or subway. The 

calculator is part of the Green Commuting, Carbon Footprint campaign initiated by the 

Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the China 

Association for NGO Cooperation and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). 


ENERGY 


Govt promotes energy-efficient buildings (April 1, 2008) 

Five ministries yesterday vowed to join hands to enhance the building energy efficiency 

(BEE) of new structures this year in a bid to save energy and reduce pollution. To counter 

a trend of ingenuously dubbing buildings as "energy-saving", the authority will form six to 

10 expert groups to enhance supervision work among 30 provinces at the end of this year. 

The government has worked to improve legislation in this respect, and the country's first 

energy-saving law detailing BEE criteria takes effect today. 


Revised Energy-Saving Law will be implemented from April 1 (April 1, 2008) 

From April 1 on, the new revised energy-saving law will be put into practice. It is regulated 

in the new law that energy-saving should be a key national policy. New energy-saving aim 

responsibility and energy-saving assessment system will be adopted as well, to alleviate 

the worsening dilemma between economic development and energy shortage. 

Chinese link: http://www.mep.gov.cn/hjyw/200804/t20080401_120539.htm 


Window of opportunity in green buildings (April 1, 2008) 

With the largest construction market in the world, China's building area has been 

increasing by 2 billion sq m each year, nearly half of world's total. It is estimated the 

construction industry will take up 40 percent of the country's total energy consumption by 

2020 to become the largest energy user. This also means a huge potential of the green 

construction market, with an estimated value of 1.5 trillion yuan. 


Zhejiang promotes energy-saving tech trading (April 1, 2008) 

The nation's first specialty market for trading energy-saving and environment-friendly 

technology opened yesterday in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. The China Energy-saving and 

Environment-friendly Trade Space covers 250,000sq m and is backed by the Zhejiang 

61



Zhongcheng Industrial Group. It offers green services ranging from technology transfer, 

research, training and product marketing. 


Guangxi replaces oil with bio-ethanol fuel (April 1, 2008) 

South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region became the 10th Chinese locality to 

have replaced gasoline and diesel oil with bio-ethanol fuel on Tuesday out of 

environmental and energy efficiency concerns. Petrol stations in all the 14 cities of 

Guangxi began to sell bio-ethanol fuel on Tuesday and in two weeks, traditional petrol and 

diesel oil will be phased out. 


Bio-ethanol fuel is promoted in 10 provinces in China (April 2, 2008) 

Guangxi’ switch to bio-ethanol fuel is the 10 th province in China promoting bio-ethanol 

fuels. Before this, several places have adopted the switch, including Jilin, Liaoning, 

Heilongjiang, Henan, Anhui and part places in Shandong, Jiangsu, Hubei and Hebei 

Province. This is part of China’s energy switch strategy. 


TRANSPORT 


Qingdao adopts electric buses (April 2, 2008) 

Qingdao will start 4 electric buses from April, to reduce vehicle emission and prepared for 

Green Olympics. The new buses will be recharged to run 250 km at one time. Energy 

consumption for transportation is 1.6 kw.h per kilometer. 

Chinese link: env.people.com.cn/GB/7069323.html 

Chongqing will restrict high-polluting vehicles from central city (April 3, 2008) 

Chongqing will adopt monitoring to vehicles running in the central city, and release 

environment labels according to the monitoring result. All heavy-polluting vehicles will be 

restricted from access into central city. 


HK: Environmental business vehicles will be favored on initial registration tax (April 3, 


According to Hong Kong Environment Protection Bureau, all environmental business 

vehicles will be favored on initial registration tax. The tax favor covers those vehicles 

meeting Euro V emission standard. All buses, taxies, and vehicles for special purposes 

will be waived of the initial registration tax. Cargo vehicles will be got a favor of 50% 

waive. 



62



Tianjin will renew another 1500 buses before Olympics (March 31, 2008) 

Tianjin has launched a series of actions to promote public transport, including providing 

training in public bus industry, and enhancing public participation and supervision. In 

addition, 1500 vehicles will be renewed before Olympics, with another 500 vehicles to be 

renovated. All the new procurement on vehicles in public transport should meet national III 

standard. 


Tianjin to get three new railways in 2008 (April 3, 2008) 

North China's Tianjin Municipality will add three railways in 2008, transforming it into a 

comprehensive modern transportation center. The three lines are the Tianjin section of the 

Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, the railway from the Tianjin west railway station to 

the Tianjin station, and the Tianjin-Qinhuangdao railway. 


OTHERS 

China, US to work together on green issues (April 2, 2008) 

China and the United States, two of the world's largest emitters of carbon dioxide, have 

agreed to work together to research environmental science and technology. The 

monitoring of environmental protection and clean production systems are also key areas 

of interest for joint research. Scientists will discuss the specifics of the research at a 

three-day China-US Workshop on Environmental Science and Technology Cooperation, 

which opened in Beijing Tuesday. 


Ningxia established leading group on adapting to climate change and energy-saving (April 


Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has established a special leading group on adapting to 

climate change and energy-saving. Responsibilities of the group include making relevant 

policies or guidelines on climate change and energy saving, arrange relevant tasks on 

adaptation to climate change and energy –saving. 


People more aware of environmental issues (April 4, 2008) 

More than 10 percent of respondents said environmental pollution is the country's most 

pressing social problem, a survey jointly conducted by China Environment Awareness 

Program (CEAP) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) found yesterday. 

The survey gathered responses from more than 3,000 people from 20 provinces over a 

year. 



Olympic health monitoring program launched (April 1, 2008) 

In preparation for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the US Olympic Committee (USOC) 

63



and the General Electric Company (GEC), a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games, 

announced on Monday two research programs aimed at demonstrating that health 

monitoring and early intervention leads to injury prevention and enhanced health and 

sports performances for athletes. 


Shenyang: Environment classification system for Vehicles during Olympics (April 1, 2008) 

Shenyang will adopt vehicle environmental classification system. The vehicles will be 

labeled in green or yellow colors with different access permits. Also vehicles with different 

labels will follow different administrations separately. Shenyang will continue raise new 

vehicle access standard and adopt emission pollution control. 


Tianjin launched time line to reduce SO2 emission (April 1, 2008) 

Tianjin will push forward pollution reduction to finish 11 th FYP reduction aims, under the 

opportunity of co-holding Olympics. Tianjin will finish the desulphurization establishment 

in 9 power generation plants, including Datang Panshan Electric, Junliang Electric, to 

reduce SO2 pollution effectively. 


Top legislator urges preparation for successful Olympics (April 2, 2008) 

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo has urged the Beijing municipal government to make 

good preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games to ensure it will be unique and 

successful. Beijing should continue to improve its environmental protection and 

infrastructure, try harder to control air and water pollution, curb vehicle emissions and give 

priority to the development of the public transportation system, he said. 


Olympics power Qingdao transport construction (April 2, 2008) 

The city government plans to invest a total of 77 billion yuan in a modern transportation 

system during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) to ensure Qingdao's position as an 

international shipping center and regional airline hub, says the Qingdao Municipal 

Communication Commission. According to the plan, 23.2 billion yuan will be earmarked 

for road construction, 25.17 billion yuan for port projects, 4.3 billion yuan for air terminals, 

18.34 billion yuan for new railways and stations and 2.25 billion yuan for bus stations. 


“Green Olympics: From idea to empirics” exhibition started (April 2, 2008) 

Beijing Olympic Organization Committee Communication Department held an exhibition in 

Beijing recently, in the theme of “Green Olympic: from idea to empirics”. Hundreds of 

pictures and models were exhibited. The whole exhibition was divided into four segments, 

including green stadiums, eco-cities, energy-saving and emission reduction, and public 

participation. The pictures and models introduced briefly key ideas of Green Olympics, 

and efforts of Beijing government to improve environment and the already results. 

64




Qingdao will monitor key polluters all day (April 3, 2008) 

To guarantee the smooth-going of sports events during Olympic Sailing Games, Qingdao 

EPB has strengthened air pollution monitoring to key polluters, including 19 key 

monitoring polluting sources, to ensure all industrial polluters emit at a qualified level. 

Those failed the environment standard will be suspended during the game. 


65










- 2008 Boao Forum for Asia focuses on Green Asia 

- Energy Bluebook: high energy-consuming industries are barriers for energy 

saving work 

- Beijing: Drivers opened center for private cars 

- Temporary environment protection measure during Olympics will be 

launched 

- MEP launched the first compulsory standard on GHGs 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Annual conference of Boao Forum opens, focusing on Green Asia (April 12, 2008) 

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2008 opened on Saturday in 

Boao of south China's Hainan Province, focusing on the building of a Green Asia. 

Under the theme of "Green Asia: moving towards win-win through changes", the 

participants will discuss public-private partnerships in green energy sector, financial 

reform, and corporate social responsibility. The forum also features climate change, 

the future of the Internet and the intense competition in global markets. 


140 haze days in Pearl River Delta Region, CAS establishing special center to deal 

with air pollution in the region (April 14, 2008) 

In 2007, haze days in Pearl River Delta Region reached 140 days, ranking highest 

throughout China. To deal with the serious environment pollution in this region, China 

Academy of Science established a special center, named as Pearl River Delta Region 

on Environment Pollution and Control Research Center. It is indicated that this center 

will be a key research institution in environment science research study, regional 

environmental planning in this region. 



Yantai increased urban air monitoring stations (April 10, 2008) 

Yantai’s two new air quality monitoring stations has been operating since April 1 st . The 

66



two new monitoring stations will definitely provide more monitoring data and 

demonstrate more accurately and comprehensively the air quality condition in the city. 


Urumqi to invest 2.67 billion RMB on environment protection (April 10, 2008) 

To ease air pollution in the city, Urumqi will invest 2.67 billion RMB on several key 

environment protection projects, including urban heating provision, boilers 

reconstruction, building energy-saving etc. Currently, coal dust, floating dust, vehicle 

emission are key pollutants in Urumqi, resulting serious are pollution in the city. 


MEP released Auto-monitoring Facilities Operation Management Method (April 11, 


Ministry of Environment Protection released the Auto-monitoring Facilities Operation 

Management Method on April 9 th . The method will be implemented from May 1 st . 

Auto-monitoring facilities operation management is key to push forward pollution 

reduction and energy-saving. SEPA launched the pollution auto-monitoring 

management methods in 2005, requiring certain emitting units to install 

auto-monitoring facilities and relevant facilities in a certain period. 

Chinese link: http://www.mep.gov.cn/hjyw08/200804/t20080411_121030.htm 

Research Program on industrial emitting coefficients (April 11, 2008) 

From April 2006, under the guidance of former SEPA, China Academy of Environment 

Science and Research launched a program on industrial emitting coefficient 

calculation research. This project covers 32 key industries, 351 minor industries and 

23395 coefficients. This project is predicted to provide strong background for further 

environmental research and pollution reduction work. 


Guangzhou air quality to meet international standard in 2010 (April 11, 2008) 

Guangzhou government passed the 2008-2010 Air Pollution Comprehensive 

Treatment Plan of Guangzhou City in the past few days. The action will expand from 

the central city to new urban areas. All the small cement factories will be closed next 

year. The plan covers 50 detail measures in 7 aspects, including waste gas treatment, 

industrial NOx emission control etc. 


Chengdu to include air pollution into administrative assessment (April 14, 2008) 

Chengdu will include the indicator of pollutant concentration into administrative 

assessment system. This is another key effort, since Chengdu included good air 

quality days and good air quality rates into the assessment system. 


ENERGY 

67




Energy Bluebook: high energy-consuming industries are barriers for energy saving 

work (April 9, 2008) 

The Energy Bluebook of 2008 was launched recently. According to the bluebook, in 

the first half of 2007, six high energy-consuming industries increased by 20.1%, 

covering iron, nonferrous metal, construction material, oil processing and coal coking, 

chemical and electric industries. In addition, in the near future, those industries will 

keep growing trend. This will be key barriers for China to finish energy-saving goals. 


Nuclear power firms to get tax rebate (April 10, 2008) 

China will give a value-added tax rebate to nuclear power firms as the country strives 

to develop its nuclear power industry, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and 

State Administration of Taxation. Nuclear power companies would get a rebate of 75 

percent each year during their first five years of operation. The amount of the rebate 

would decrease to 70 percent in the following five years and 55 percent for the third 

five year period. The rebate took effect on January 1, 2008. 



Energy-saving efforts in China Army (April 10, 2008) 

Chinese army started to promote energy-saving and resource saving work. A special 

working group was formed to coordinate for this work in February 2008. The group 

held the first meeting on April 9 th , requiring the whole army should emphasize 

energy-saving work. 


- Facts 

Power plants urged to invest in coal sector (April 10, 2008) 

China's electricity regulator has advised major power companies to merge with or 

acquire coal producers and transporters to help stabilize costs and supplies. Utilities 

could slow the expansion of their thermal-power capacity and instead invest in coal 

transport firms and mines, Zou Yiqiao, director of the price and financial supervision 

department of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. 


TRANSPORT 


Guangzhou: air pollution control meeting for key vehicle users (April 11, 2008) 

To push forward vehicle emission monitoring and administration in Guangzhou, 

Guangzhou EPB, together with Guangzhou Environment Monitoring Center, held the 

label dissemination and air pollution control special meeting for key vehicle users. 

This is the first time Guangzhou focusing on the air pollution control on users with 

68



more than 100 vehicles. 


Kunming passed Vehicle Emission Pollution Control Measure (April 10, 2008) 

Kunming passed the new vehicle emission pollution control measure on April 9. The 

new measure made a series of requirements on vehicle emission standard, emitting 

monitoring, transportation restriction and vehicles fuels. 


Shenyang released vehicle environment labels (April 11, 2008) 

Shenyang EPB will release vehicle environment labels freely in three months. 

Environmental labels include green and yellow colors. Green vehicles covers those 

reaching national II emitting standards, while yellow vehicles covers those vehicles 

between qualified vehicles and vehicles with green labels. 



Qingdao: vehicle emission monitoring voluntary actions (April 11, 2008) 

In the past few days, Qingdao EPB staffs actively joined in to the vehicle emission 

monitoring voluntary actions. They located 6 monitoring sites to implement vehicle 

emission monitoring during rush hours. All those data collected will be great sources 

to know the transportation condition in Qingdao. 


Qingdao: 425 environmental friendly buses will be on line (April 14, 2008) 

Qingdao will invest 158 million RMB to improve public transportation in 2008, adding 

425 environmental friendly buses on way. Those new buses will be invested to 5 new 

lines. The other 10 to 15 bus lines will be adjusted as well. Those new buses have all 

meet national III emission standard. 


Center for private cars, drivers opened (April 14, 2008) 

Beijing established the nation's first administration center for private automobiles in 

the capital over the weekend. The center, directly under the municipal traffic 

management bureau, would provide automobile owners with education about 

traffic-related government policies and concerns to help them improve their driving 

skills and handling of automobile-related issues. Traffic management sub-bureaus 

among the city's districts and counties, in addition to 12 private car clubs, would also 

open branches of the center. 


OTHERS 

Program launched in China to tackle human health impact of climate change (April 7, 


69



The Chinese government and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly launched 

a program in Beijing on Monday to help the country to fight human health risks from 

climate change. Funded by the Spanish government, the program would support 

China-based United Nations organizations to conduct work in the country on climate 

change mitigation and adaptation, said Zhao Yuezhao, an official with the monitoring 

bureau of China's Ministry of health. 


China to fine retailers for giving free plastic bags (April 8, 2008) 

Chinese retailers could be fined up to 10,000 yuan ($1,428) for providing shoppers 

with free plastic shopping bags from June 1, the Ministry of Commerce has 

announced. The maximum penalty, included in a new draft regulation, was sharply 

down from 30,000 yuan previously reported by domestic media. 


China takes responsible attitude to climate change (April 13, 2008) 

China is taking a responsible attitude towards climate change and some measures 

taken by the country are even more pro-active than some developed countries, 

Richard Yorke, HSBC China chief executive officer. The temperature of all the 

country's air-conditioned public rooms should be kept at no lower than 26 degrees 

Celsius in summer and no higher than 20 degrees Celsius in winter. China's top five 

banks offered a total of 106.3 billion yuan in loans (US$ 15.18 billion) last year to help 

enterprises cut emissions and save energy. 


Climate Change issues on Boao Forum of Asia (April 14, 2008) 

BFA 2008 Annual Conference together with UN China agencies held a meeting on 

global climate change, with themes on “Climate change: changes on our lives and 

economy”. Many key international heads raise high appreciation of China’s active 

efforts to deal with climate change. 


MEP launched the first compulsory standard on GHGs (April 14, 2008) 

The new ministry of environment protection launched the first batches of national 

environment standard, with compulsory prohibition to emit high-density CH4 in coals. 

This is the first compulsory measures relevant to GHGs. Meanwhile, the MEP also 

launched four environment standard on coal CH4, livelihood garbage, industrial 

pesticide and vehicle emission. 

Chinese link: http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-04-14/152715353272.shtml 


Temporary environment protection measure during Olympics will be launched soon 

(April 8, 2008) 

Beijing government is making temporary environment protection measures during 

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Olympics, released by Yu Xiaoxuan, deputy chief of Project and Environment 

Department of BOCOG. The temporary measures might cover vehicle pollution 

control, polluting construction sites. Yu also indicated that even though Beijing will not 

release any strict prohibition on construction sites, however, heavy construction sites, 

which is easy to produce floating dust will strictly be prohibited. 


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- Chengdu: air pollutants in urban areas become more delicate 

- China released 46 national standards on energy consumption issues 

- International Forum on Climate Change and Technological Innovation 

- Beijing: Closure of factories will not hit economy during Olympics 

- Qingdao: air quality during Olympics will be 100% good 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Guangzhou: Plants given sulfur deadline (April 18, 2008) 

Eight large factories here, including the Guangzhou branch of Sinopec and the 

Guangzhou Paper Group, have been ordered to finish installing anti-sulfur equipment 

by 2010. The requirement is included in an air pollution reduction scheme that will run 

through 2010, according to the government information office. The scheme aims to 

combat the presence of smog both to clean the city and to ensure the 2010 Asian 

Games take place in a clean environment. 


Chengdu: air pollutants in urban areas become more delicate, with more harm to 

human being (April 21, 2008) 

Chengdu PM10 are mainly resulted from soil floating dust, vehicle emission, sulfate 

and coal-burning dusts, released as the result of one project. Relevant environment 

officers indicated that there are some obvious changes that should attract the 

attention of governmental officers and researchers. In 2007, the contribution of 

floating dust to air particulate pollution is 21.3%, 4% higher that in 2001. Small 

particulate in air pollutants increased obviously. Particulates smaller than PM2.5 

increased by 18% from that of 2001. 



Shandong inspects provincial desulphurization facilities (April 17, 2008) 

North China sub agency of National Electric Supervision Committee, together with 

72



Shandong Environment Protection Bureau started inspection on 153 coal-burning 

power plants, to check the operation of desulphurization facilities in the province. 

From July 2007 to February 2008, Shandong EPB checked around 258 enterprises, 

with 167 reaching national SO2 emission standards at the rate of 64.73%. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/qt/200804/t20080417_275032.html 

Henan province adopts veto voting in regions failing the pollution reduction targets 


Henan province recently set the pollution reduction targets of year 2008, with 5.5% 

reduction of COD and 6.2% reduction of SO2. About 84 units should finish 

desulphurization rehabilitation. Regions failing the annual pollution reduction targets 

will adopt responsibility taken and veto voting systems. 


China taking concrete measures to curb energy pollution (April 19, 2008) 

China has been taking concrete measures to control pollution caused by energy 

consumption in recent years, and is seeing improvements, NDRC deputy chief Xie 

Zhenhua said on the sidelines of a conference held in Paris on energy safety and 

climate change. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China 

proposed the strengthening of China's ability to tackle climate change, and that the 

country contribute more to protect the global climate. 


Hong Kong launches cleaner production scheme (April 19, 2008) 

Hong Kong launched a five-year cleaner production partnership scheme Friday, 

offering Hong Kong-owned factories in the Pearl River Delta funds to cut emissions 

and boost energy efficiency. The program covers four key initiatives, including 

awareness promotion, on-site improvement assessment, demonstration projects and 

verification of the effectiveness of improvement projects. 


ENERGY 


Standard issued for methane (April 15, 2008) 

The country's first emission standard for coalbed methane will take effect in July, the 

newly created Ministry of Environmental Protection said yesterday in a statement. The 

standard makes it illegal for coalbed methane and other mine gases that comprise 

more than 30 percent CH4 to be discharged into the air. 

English: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-04/15/content_6617096.htm 

New energy consumption standards released (April 18, 2008) 

China released 46 national standards on energy consumption issues ranging from 

coal-fired power to household induction cookers Friday, as part of efforts to promote 

73



energy conservation throughout the country. China currently had 46 standards, 

including 37 newly formulated and nine revised standards, of which 36 were 

mandatory. Most of the standards will go into effect on June 1 and the others are 

scheduled to take effect sometime on or before November 1. 



Fuel taxes set to be refunded (April 16, 2008) 

The government will refund value-added taxes on gasoline and diesel imported by the 

country's two largest oil companies in the second quarter, the Ministry of Finance has 

said. Analysts said the 17 percent tax refund is aimed at reducing the refining losses 

of the oil companies and increasing refined oil products supply in the domestic market 

to prevent a shortage. 


China will push forward international cooperative plan on renewable energy (April 16, 


Ministry of Science and Technology, together with National Development and Reform 

Committee, will push forward international cooperation on renewable energy, released 

on the recent Energy, Renewable Energy International Cooperation Strategy Forum. 

Renewable energy international cooperation is expected to cover solar energy, 

biomass energy and biomass power generation, wind energy, hydro power etc. 


Guangxi promote un-crop ethanol fuels (April 21, 2008) 

Beihai and Guigang city in Guangxi Province will use ethanol fuels produced from 

certain local plants from February 15 on. The whole Guangxi Province will switch from 

common gasoline to non-crop ethanol fuels from the end of March. 


TRANSPORT 


Electric vehicle an option for China (April 14, 2008) 

Figures showed that by 2006, China was home to approximately twenty-two million 

private motor vehicles. Around 6.4 million passenger cars were sold in 2007, with a 

further 2.5 million commercial vehicles, making a rise of 22 percent on the previous 

year. At this staggering rate of growth, the total fleet could increase more than ten-fold 

to 250 million by 2030. Electric vehicle might be an option for China, considering the 

example of Tianjin Qingyuan E-vehicle Ltd. 


OTHERS 

CSR guideline spurs sustainable development (April 14, 2008) 

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The guidelines for CSR (corporate social responsibility) were released earlier this 

month, which urge industrial corporations and related institutions to shoulder social 

responsibilities to obtain sustainable development. The guidelines are issued by 11 

national industrial federations and associations. 


Heilongjiang Province established Environment Protection Department (April 15, 


After SEPA (State Environment Protection Administration) updates to MEP (Ministry of 

Environment Protection), the subordinate organizations start institutional reform as 

well. Heilongjiang Province has just changed Environment Protection Bureau to 

Environment Protection Department. This became the first environment protection 

department nationally. 

Chinese link: http://www.cenews.com.cn/tpxw/200804/t20080417_274994.html 

Wuhan Iron & Steel Ltd launched the first social responsibility report (April 16, 2008) 

Wuhan Iron & Steel Ltd. launched Social Responsibility Report 2007, covering three 

sections, including strategy and management, social responsibility, resource and 

environment. The state-owned-enterprise invested about 3.25 billion RMB on 

environment facilities in 2007. Key pollutants have been reduced obviously as a 

result. 


China likely to levy carbon tax (April 16, 2008) 

China is considering levying carbon tax to rein in the nation's greenhouse gas 

emission, said a researcher from the National Development and Reform Commission 

at a forum yesterday. The plan will follow the US and EU moves in introducing 

financial tools to mitigate climate change. 


National Environment Monitoring Capacity Building Plan approved (April 16, 2008) 

To meet environment targets in 11 th Five-Year-Plan, MEP compiled the 11 th FYP on 

National Environment Monitoring Capacity Building. NDRC and Ministry of Finance 

have approved the plan in the recent past. According to the past, a sum of 14.959 

billion RMB will be invested, including 7.847 billion RMB from central fiscal systems 

with 50 key environment projects. 

Chinese link: 


Environment Protection Summit to open (April 17, 2008) 

China Energy Strategy and Environmental Protection Summit, hosted by the State 

Council Development Research Center, would run in Beijing from April 26 to 27. It 

would address topics such as energy efficiency, emissions control and sustainable 

development. It is co-sponsored by 165 State-owned enterprises, 67 multinational 

75



companies and 45 financial institutes, including Sinopec, PetroChina and Siemens. 


International Forum on Climate Change and Technological Innovation to be held (April 


Ministry of Science and Technology together with several UN agencies will hold 

International Forum on Climate Change and Technological Innovation from April 24 to 

25 in Beijing. The forum will cover a lot of issues in technological adaptation to climate 

change, including five sub-forums, like key scientific problems, climate change 

mitigation, impacts and adaptation to climate change, key technological and 

international scientific cooperation, financial and market mechanisms. 


Beijing EPB has finished all the preparatory work on environment information publish 


It is indicated that Beijing EPB has finished all the preparatory work on environment 

information publish in the end of February. The system is trialed interiorly from March 

1 st . The new information publish system will be adopted in mid-April by Beijing EPB 

website. 

Chinese link: http://www.bjepb.gov.cn/bjhb/tabid/68/InfoID/10384/frtid/40/Default.aspx 

Regional Environment Strategy research goes smoothly (April 21, 2008) 

MEP recently held the regional environment macro strategy research meeting, with 

reports from 7 regional areas, including Jiangsu, Liaoning, Guangdong, Guangxi, 

Chongqing and Shannxi. MEP is currently carrying out national environment macro 

strategy research, while those 7 areas were chosen as pilot regional environment 

macro strategy cases. 

Chinese link: 



Green Commuting from July 20 (April 16, 2008) 

Beijing will promote green commuting during July 20 to September 20. This is also 

included in the Air Quality Guarantee Measures during 2008 Olympics. Key measures 

cover vehicle management, outdoor spray prohibition and industrial boilers restriction. 

It revealed that after the Olympics, some measure will be maintained to improve 

environment in Beijing, including stricter vehicle fuel standard, green commuting 

advocacy etc. 


Beijing: Closure of factories will not hit economy (April 18, 2008) 

Beijing's economic growth this year will not be significantly affected by its plans to 

temporarily shut down factories, reduce their production, and limit the use of cars to 

improve air quality during the Olympic Games, an official said Thursday. Yu declined 

76



to give an estimate as to how much the shutdown from July 20 to September 20 will 

cost the industrial sector. 


CAS to provide scientific support for Beijing Environment Protection (April 18, 2008) 

Beijing government and CAS (China Academy of Science) signed a joint framework 

agreement on environment protection in Beijing. CAS took the responsibility of air 

quality monitoring and test during the Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test Games in 

August 2007. CAS will continue support Beijing environment protection in the future, 

especially in environment monitoring and ecological environment protection. 

Qingdao: air quality during Olympics will be 100% good (April 21, 2008) 

Xia Geng, mayor of Qingdao city, indicated that air quality of Qingdao during Olympics 

will be guaranteed to be 100% good in August. In the past 6 year, Qingdao has 

adopted a lot measure to improve environment locally, including closing small boilers, 

adopting clean fuels and enhancing pollution control measures. 


77










- China Energy Strategy and Environment Summit to be held 

- Beijing: 20% vehicles reached national III standard 

- Lanzhou to eliminate trolley bus next month 

- Climate change became a priority in international technological cooperation 

AIR QUALITY 


Hebei: 726 major enterprises need to obtain a certificate for emission (April 22, 2008) 

Hebei Province recently held the first meeting by newly established energy saving and 

emission reduction leading group. It was concluded that Hebei Province will focus on 5 

aspects to push forward energy saving and emission reduction, including adjusting 

industrial structure, enhancing pollution control of projects and key enterprises, pushing 

forward circular economy and institutional reform. 


Haiyang to launch daily report on the urban air quality (April 28, 2008) 

Haiyang city, a local city in Shandong province, announced to release daily report on 

urban air quality. Those air quality information will be revealed through TV every day. In 

August 2007, Haiyang invested around 810 thousand RMB, establishing 2 

auto-monitoring facilities in the urban areas. This is an important progress for local cities 

in China to release daily air quality. 


ENERGY 


China Energy Strategy and Environment Summit to be held (April 23, 2008) 

The Summit on Energy Strategy and Environment Protection in China will be held 

between April 26 and 27, covering energy saving, emission reduction and sustainable 

development. The summit is organized by Information Center of Development Research 

Center of Government Council. It is indicated that 45 key industrial enterprises will launch 

an advocacy to build energy-saving and environmental friendly enterprises. 

78




Guangxi’s ethanol plan serves Hong Kong and Macau areas (April 23, 2008) 

In the middle of April, Guangxi has replaced gasoline by biomass ethanol, making 

Guangxi province becoming the first pilot province to produce biomass ethanol. It is 

revealed all those biomass ethanol will serve many south regions, including Yunnan, 

Guizhou, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. 


HK to introduce tax cuts for green facilities (April 27, 2008) 

Hong Kong will soon introduce one-off and accelerated tax cuts for environment-friendly 

machinery and installations, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) 

government said Saturday. A 100-percent deduction under profits tax will be provided in 

the year of purchase for the capital expenditure incurred on the provision of eligible 

machinery," a government spokesman said, referring to the tax cuts proposal. 


Fujian: Industrialization of biomass diesel (April 28, 2008) 

Currently there are 6 biomass diesel producing enterprises with capacity larger than 10 

thousand tons. The production capacity reached 300 thousand tons in 2007 with actual 

production capacity around 150 thousand tons. Fujian’s special environment, economic 

and social condition provides great prospects of biomass diesel industrialization there. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

Beijing: 20% vehicles reached national III standard (April 25, 2008) 

Revealed by the Discussion Meeting of Vehicle Pollution in Metropolitan Cities, vehicle 

emission regulations will be at the same step with European cities by 2020. Beijing, as the 

most strict emission regulated city in the country, has accelerated the step to replace old 

vehicles. In all 3.08 billion vehicles, 20% has reached national III standard. From the 

beginning of 2009, Beijing will adopt National IV emission standard. 



Guangzhou: black-smoking vehicles will the forbidden to enter (April 28, 2008) 

All public vehicles, including buses and taxies, will use clean energy by the end of 2008. In 

addition, from January 1 st , 2009, vehicles from other regions will be restricted on travel 

time and travel scale in Guangzhou. This will be an important measure for Guangzhou 

Transportation industry to meet the energy-saving, pollution reduction goals. 

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24282# 

79



Guangzhou: all diesel buses will the switched to LPG (April 28, 2008) 

Transport Administration Committee indicated that all urban buses in Guangzhou will use 

clean energy by the end of 2008. Empirical data proves that the maintenance cost of LPG 

buses is similar to that of diesel buses now. Currently there are still more than 1000 buses 

need to be switched from diesel buses to LPG buses. 



China in driver's seat for global green autos (April 22, 2008) 

China is a fast growing auto market that is still far from reaching its potential, granting the 

country powerful leverage in shaping the world's next generation of eco-friendly cars. The 

question of hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles arises because the world's 

automakers are gathering this week for the Beijing Auto Show, an event that is growing in 

clout as the world's second largest auto market is set to be No 1 soon. 


Lanzhou to eliminate trolley bus next month (April 28, 2008) 

Lanzhou will eliminate all 97 trolley buses in the city from May 6 th on. 100 new gas-burned 

buses will be put into use. Those trolley buses were put into use from 1959. Lanzhou 

government decided to replace those buses, mainly because that they don’t fit well with 

the general city planning. Local environmental organizations and several citizens criticized 

this policy, claiming that this disobeys the national idea of energy saving. 


Qingdao: Environmental-friendly Bus Project passed (April 28, 2008) 

Qingdao launched the Environmental-friendly Bus Project, to improve the pollution 

condition of all buses and taxied in the city. On April 24, 2008, inspection on all buses and 

taxies finished. This projects aims to reduce emission from public vehicles, enhance 

environmental awareness on environment protection and get fully prepared for Green 

Olympics. 


OTHERS 

Officials held responsible for environmental woes (April 23, 2008) 

China's supervision authorities have prosecuted 3,822 government officials from 2004 to 

2007 for dereliction of duty causing damage to the natural environment and wasting 

energy resources. Prosecutors would start a campaign from May this year to November 

2009 to crack down on environmental damage and energy resource waste caused by 

official dereliction of duty. 


Ministry of Technology to invest 7 billion RMB on energy reduction and adaptation to 

climate change (April 24, 2008) 

80



Ministry of Science and Technology planned to devote 7 billion RMB from central fiscal 

system to energy reduction and adaptation to climate change. The investment covers 

many key scientific research aspects, including energy saving, new energy, circular 

economy, clean production and climate change etc. 


Taigang Steel, Camco reach carbon deal (Aprl 25, 2008) 

Camco Group has reached an agreement to buy 1 million tons of CO2 emissions from the 

world's largest stainless steel producer Taigang Stainless Steel Co by late 2009 under the 

clean development mechanism (CDM) project. 


Planning regulation to be ready by year end (April 28, 2008) 

The Planning Environmental Impact Assessment regulation (EIA), whose draft is now 

available for comment, is likely to be officially released this year, a senior environmental 

official said on the weekend. The draft will then be submitted to relevant authorities for 

review before its eventual release by the State Council at the end of the year. 


Climate change became a priority in international technological cooperation (April 28, 


Minister of Science and Technology, Wan Gang, indicated that China has signed 103 

technological cooperation agreements with 97 countries, among which, climate change 

has became a priority and key field in bilateral technological cooperation. Climate change 

relevant technologies cover clean production mechanism, mitigation and adaptation to 

climate change, policy and capacity building and capture and storage of greenhouse 

gases. 



Qingdao: Comprehensive measures to guarantee air quality during Olympic Sailing 

Games (April 24, 2008) 

Qingdao has adopted several measures to guarantee environment quality during Olympic 

Sailing Games. Those measures include promoting clean energy, such as biomass, wind, 

solar and ocean energy, promoting natural gas to facilitate 400 thousand livelihoods to 

use it. In addition, Qingdao will phase out small coal-fired boilers and enhance 

desulphurization of coal-fired boilers. 


Olympic traffic lanes to open in July (April 25, 2008) 

Beijing will rope off 264 km of traffic lanes in late July so that vehicles carrying athletes 

and other figures connected to the Olympic Games can move freely through the city and 

from venue to venue, The Beijing News reported this week. Vehicles will be able to travel 

at least 60 kph on these lanes, it said. They will operate around-the-clock for 63 days from 

81



July 25 to Sept 25. 


82










- Chengdu enhances floating dust control 

- MEP is making Vehicle Inside Air Pollutant Restriction Standard 

- Urumqi to finish waste gas inspection of all 60,000 vehicles 

- Guangdong to adopt national III oil through 4 stages 

- National Energy Bureau appreciates energy-saving vehicles 

AIR QUALITY 


Chengdu: Enhance floating dust control (May 2, 2008) 

Chengdu held an on-site meeting to control floating dust. It is required that all 20 regions, 

including districts and counties should emphasize floating dust control. Measures include 

enhancing floating dust management in construction sites, pushing forward barren land 

coverage, road solidification, and enhance management to sand-transportation vehicles. 


MEP is making Vehicle Inside Air Pollutant Restriction Standard (May 4, 2008) 

To prevent Inside-vehicle air pollution, Ministry of Environment is making a new pollutant 

restriction standard for vehicle-inside air pollution. MEP has recently launched the new 

restriction and measuring methods for vehicle waste gas pollution in vehicle ignite engines 

and special-used ignite engines. 


ENERGY 


Biomass power plant settles in Changchun (April 28, 2008) 

Huaneng Changchun Biomass Power Plant, Huaneng's first biomass power plant, settled 

in Changchun, Jilin province on April 26, 2008. Expected to be operational by August 

2009, the plant has an installed capacity of 50,000 kw and has received a total investment 

of 300 million yuan ($42.84 million). It is designed to generate as much as 180 million kwh 

of electricity annually after its completion. 


83



Qinghai: Enhance monitoring to key energy-consuming enterprises (May 2, 2008) 

To finish the 11 th Five-Year-Plan on energy saving, Qinghai will hold special inspection to 

123 key energy-consuming enterprises, including document inspection on 87 enterprises, 

on-site inspection to 36 enterprises. The energy inspection to key enterprises was 

regularly since the beginning of 11 th FYP. Compared to the past inspections, this year’s 

new inspection increased some new aspects, like compiling new regulations for new, 

reconstructed, expanded projects, and energy-saving assessment. 


ADB supports energy-efficient projects in China (May 4, 2008) 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending over $114 million in a partial credit 

guarantee program to support energy-efficient projects in China. The pilot program, 

which is the ADB's first credit guarantee to mobilize commercial financing in China, will 

initially target energy efficiency projects for buildings in southern and eastern China, the 

more industrialized part of the country. 


Sino-Italian Renewable Energy Cooperative Program Launched in Sichuan (May 4, 2008) 

Sino-Italian Renewable Energy Cooperative Program launched a pilot research project on 

Jatropha curcas biomass in Sichuan. The project aims to promote biomass diesel 

research and industrialization using Jatropha curcas. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

China imports more motor vehicles in first two months (May 2, 2008) 

China's motor vehicle imports soared sharply on strong demand at home in the first two 

months of this year, sources with the General Administration of Customs said on Friday. 

From January to February, China imported 62,000 motor vehicles for $2.26 billion, up 82.6 

percent and 93.4 percent, respectively, on the same period of last year. The growth rates 

were 63.9 percentage points and 80.8 percentage points higher, respectively. 



Urumqi to finish waste gas inspection of all 60,000 vehicles (May 4, 2008) 

During a recent interview on relevant officers from Urumqi EPB, it is revealed that 60,000 

vehicles will finish waste gas inspection in 2008. Those vehicles will be labeled with green 

and yellow signals. Yellow labeled vehicles will be restricted to access to certain areas. 

The detailed inspection standards will come out. 



84



National Energy Bureau appreciates energy-saving vehicles for national energy safety 


On the recent International Advanced Diesel Vehicle Technological Strategy Discussion 

Meeting in 2008, relevant officers from National Energy Bureaus highly appreciated the 

role of energy-saving vehicles to guarantee national energy safety. 


Guangdong to adopt national III oil through 4 stages (May 4, 2008) 

Guangdong will promote national III diesel fuel from May 1 st on. The whole province will 

use national III oil by July 1 st after 4 stages’ efforts. It was regulated in the Vehicle Waste 

Gas Prevention & Implementation Plan that Guangdong province would adopt national III 

fuel in the whole nation scale in 2008. In the first stage, Guangzhou will promote national 

III fuel from May 1 st on. In the second stage, 5 cities will promote fuels sales in 5 cities, 

including Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan, Zhuhai and Zhongshan. From January 1 st 2009, 

another 9 cities will promote the new fuel standard. From July 1 st 2009, all fuel stations will 

sell national III fuel. 


Tianjin: 350 buses and taxies switch to natural gas (May 5, 2008) 

There have been 350 buses and taxies switching to natural gas in Tianjin in 2008. 7 public 

bus transportation lines will be Green Energy Lines. This will a new initiate to reduce 

urban air pollution. Certain award will be given to those pioneer buses. Tianjin Gas Group 

will award 2000 fro the first 1000 taxies switching to natural gas and using natural gas 

more than 3600 cubic meters this year 


Liaoning: natural gas vehicles promoted in Chaoyang City (May 5, 2008) 

Transportation department in Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, held a natural gas 

promotion meeting on April 30 th . Chaoyang is planning to build 4 natural gas stations. It is 

predicated that about 500 taxies will benefit from those new facilities. All 4 new gas 

stations will finish before 2010, and will serve needs from 3000 taxies and buses. 


OTHERS 

Exporters confront rising environmental costs (May 1, 2008) 

China has conducted special campaigns against polluting companies since last year. And 

violators have lost more than just export opportunities: blacklisted firms find it difficult to 

get loans. The State Environmental Protection Administration, now the Ministry of 

Environmental Protection, along with the central bank and the Banking Regulatory 

Commission, jointly issued a "green loan" policy in July that banned loans to blacklisted 

companies. 



85



Conference hails Green Olympics (April 30, 2008) 

Officials from the United Nations and representatives from nongovernmental 

organizations from China and around the world gathered in Beijing on Monday to pay 

tribute to the concept of a "Green Olympics" that starts in 100 days. The China NGO 

Network for International Exchanges and the UN jointly staged the conference, which 

involved more than 80 Chinese NGOs. Representatives from nongovernmental 

organizations from North and South America, Europe and Africa also took part. 


Qingdao: buses along the sea should meet Euro III emission standard (May 30, 2008) 

To improve air quality for Olympics, Qingdao drew out a special region requiring that 

vehicles in this region should meet Euro III emission standard. The center of the region is 

Olympic Sailing Base, and the region covers 6 kilometers surround the base. 

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24351# 

Beijing: Crop straw burning banned in the city and surrounding areas (May 5, 2008) 

From the beginning of May to the end of September, crop straw burning will be banned in 

Beijing and surrounding areas, including Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Anhui, 

Jiangsu, Liaoning etc. This new regulation is released by Ministry of Environment and 

Ministry of Agriculture, to guarantee air quality during Olympics in Beijing. During the 

requiring banning period, Ministry of Environment will monitor the crop straw burning 

condition by satellite remote monitoring technologies. 

Chinese link: http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-05-05/021513829040s.shtml 

86










- 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 



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. 


Chengdu: Key pollutant concentration indicator to be included in monitoring system (May 


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 

87



energy renovation in Out-ring areas before the end of 2009. 


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. 


Guangxi: Energy saving and emission reduction financial distribution plan approved (May 


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. 


ENERGY 


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). 


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. 


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. 

88




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. 


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. 


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. 


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. 



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. 


NDRC approved 7 new energy vehicles (May 6, 2008) 

National Development and Reform Committee recently launched a notice to approve 7 

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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. 



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. 


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. 


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. 


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. 


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. 


China, Singapore build eco-city in Tianjin (May 8, 2008) 

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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. 


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. 


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. 



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. 


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 

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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. 


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. 


92










- Green Olympics and Environmental-friendly Society: theme of the Chinese 

2008 International Environment Day 

- Qingdao increases autonomous air quality monitoring station 

- Qingdao Environment Monitoring Center to guarantee air quality report 

during Olympics 

- Olympic air quality guarantee measures go smoothly 

- Plastic bag regulation finalized 

AIR QUALITY 


Sichuan launched key pollutant emission reduction implementation plan (May 13, 2008) 

Sichuan government recently launched Sichuan Key Pollutant Total Volume Reduction 

Implementation Plan, regulating the general 5-year goal and annual goal for emission 

reduction. Several measures were launched as well to guarantee to achieve the goal. All 

coal layers with sulphur content above 3% should be prohibited to build new mines. 

Restriction and suspension will be applied to current coal mines with sulphur content 

above 3%. 


Qingdao increases autonomous air quality monitoring station (May 16, 2008) 

Qingdao EPB recently installed another autonomous air quality monitoring station in 

Olympic Game areas, to back up air quality management during Olympics. This station 

covers all surrounding areas of the stadium. It can reflect daily air quality condition 

scientifically, accurately and quickly. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China's LPG shortfall to hit 7.3 million tonnes in 2010 (May 12, 2008) 

China's liquid petroleum gas (LPG) shortfall is expected to hit 7.3 million tons in 2010, led 

93



by the country's surging industrial demand. Bai Yi, deputy head of National Petroleum and 

Chemical Planning Institute, made the remarks at an industry forum held in the port city of 

Tianjin over the weekend, attributing the demand surge to soaring demand from the 

country's eastern and southern regions, and rural areas. 


US sees big market in China's energy saving drive (May 18, 2008) 

China could see the rise of a market that worth tens of billions of US dollars by just 

changing the way of managing its office buildings, according to executives from a leading 

US environmental technology company. As China's investors now focus on projects of 

higher growth, international capital market are channeling fund to projects of lower cost. 

Therefore, China is at the threshold of shifting to a more efficient and environmental 

friendly pattern of growth. 



China sets energy-saving light bulb target (May 15, 2008) 

China has ordered provincial governments to replace 50 million traditional incandescent 

lamps with heavily-subsidized energy-efficient lights this year. In a circular published on its 

website on Wednesday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) set 

a three-million target for each of the following provincial areas: Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, 

Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan and Guangdong. Beijing, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, 

Guizhou and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region each has target of 2 million. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

Dalian: Vehicles increased by 10,000 in the first four months of 2008 (May 19, 2008) 

Dalian’s vehicle ownership has reached 650,000, comparing with the 610,000 vehicles at 

the end of 2007. The total number increased by 10,000 in the first four months of 2008, 

much bigger than that of the past few years. The accelerating vehicle increasing speed 

laid heavy challenges for Dalian to control air pollution and reduce vehicle emission. 



Zhejiang to include vehicle waste gas pollution prevention into environment protection 

plan (May 13, 2008) 

To push forward air pollution prevention and noise pollution control, Zhejiang province 

included vehicle waste gas emission prevention and control into the 811 Environment 

Protection 3-year Action Plan. The plan indicated that Zhejiang will build an urban vehicle 

waste gas monitoring system in three years, covering all processes in vehicle waste gas 

inspection, including manufacturing, sales, plating, annual inspection, maintenance, and 

phase out etc. 

94





Lanzhou: cargo vehicles with capacity larger than 10 tons will be prohibited to enter the 

city during day time (May 19, 2008) 

To alleviate transportation congestion in the urban areas of Lanzhou Province, heavy 

cargo vehicles will be prohibited to enter the city during day time. This new regulation may 

contribute to alleviate serious vehicle emission, noise pollution and congestion in Lanzhou 

urban areas. 


Dalian: free vehicle waste gas inspection for the whole society (May 19, 2008) 

To control urban air pollution effectively, free vehicle waste gas inspection will be provided 

to public in Dalian. It is indicated that the main source of air pollution in Dalian is switching 

from coal-induced smoke to combined pollution of coal-burning and vehicle emission. 

According to an inspection result in 2007, more than 10% of vehicles in Dalian are 

emitting excessively. 


OTHERS 

Green-tech collaboration set to increase (May 12, 2008) 

Japanese enterprises are expected to play an active role supporting China's efforts to 

build an environment-friendly society following President Hu Jintao's "warm spring" visit. 

Before flying home on Saturday, Hu visited the headquarters of electronics giant 

Matsushita - maker of Panasonic products - where he asked the firm to collaborate in 

environmental protection technology. 


Experts sent to quake area to assess pollution risks (May 13, 2008) 

The central environmental authorities have sent a 21-member expert team to 

quake-stricken southwest Sichuan Province to assess nuclear and water pollution risks 

and direct relief work. The Ministry of Environmental Protection announced the move in a 

circular on Tuesday. The ministry's local environmental supervision centers in the 

southwest and northwest, and the Sichuan nuclear safety supervision station, have 

already sent staff to the worst-hit areas. 


UN sustainable development meeting China special was held in New York (May 16, 2008) 

UN sustainable development meeting China special session was held in New York on 

May 14 th . Relevant officers from China government introduced key policies in China on 

energy-saving and pollution reduction. They also introduced China’s principal policy and 

efforts to control climate change. 


95



Plastic bag regulation finalized (May 17, 2008) 

The final version of a regulation on the compulsory sale of plastic shopping bags at retail 

outlets was released in Beijing on Friday. From June 1, retailers could be fined up to 

10,000 yuan ($1,400) for providing free plastic bags to shoppers. Under the new law, 

retailers will be free to set their own prices for the bags, as long as they are above the cost 

price. The plastic bags must also meet national quality standards. Also, markets face fines 

of up to 20,000 yuan if they fail to buy bags from legally incorporated producers, 

wholesalers or importers, or if they fail to obtain related certificates and record relevant 

data. 


City to launch guidelines on greenhouse gas measurements (May 17, 2008) 

The government will launch a set of guidelines in June or July this year to report on the 

emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHG) from buildings used for commercial, 

residential or institutional purposes. The guidelines are being drafted by a task force which 

comprises experts from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Electrical and 

Mechanical Services Department and Architectural Services Department. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2008-05/17/content_6691997.htm 

Green Olympics and Environmental-friendly Society: theme of the Chinese 2008 

International Environment Day (May 19, 2008) 

Ministry of Environment recently published the Chinese theme for 2008 World 

Environment Day: Green Olympics and Environment-friendly Society. Ministry of 

Environment required all local bureaus should arrange activities based on this theme, and 

promote the whole public to join in environment protection affairs. 



Qingdao Environment Monitoring Center to guarantee air quality report during Olympics 

(May 16, 2008) 

Qingdao Environment Monitoring Center has put forward 3 measures to guarantee daily 

air quality report during Olympics. Three key measure included enhancing monitoring to 

the operation of monitoring facilities, enhancing the effectiveness of monitoring data, and 

enhancing air quality forecast work. 


Olympic air quality guarantee measures go smoothly (May 19, 2008) 

The 5 th coordination meeting of 29 th Olympic Air Quality Guarantee Work was held in 

Beijing on May 15 th . Representatives from Beijing surrounding provinces and regions, 

including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Shandong province. In 

addition, many key industrial corporations attended the meeting as well, including Sinopec, 

China Petro and State Grid. 


96



MEP: all vehicles entering Beijing during Olympics should hold environment labels (May 


According to Beijing Air Quality Guarantee Measure for 29 th Olympics, all vehicles 

entering Beijing during the Olympics should hold environment labels. Vehicles failing to 

get environment qualifying labels will be prohibited to enter Beijing. The above vehicle 

restriction will be implemented from July 1 st to September 20 th 2008. 


97










- Hong Kong: Air quality in Spring 2008 was the worst in the past 9 years 

- Shenyang: 2007 Environment Quality Report launched 

- Oil deregulation reports denied 

- June 15-21: National energy-saving week in China 

- MEP: Direct economic loss of environment departments in the earthquake 

reached 700 million RMB 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Hong Kong: Air quality in Spring 2008 was the worst in the past 9 years (May 22, 2008) 

Air quality in Hong Kong is becoming worse. In spring 2008, Air Pollution Index of the 

roadside monitoring stations larger than 100 took 10.69% of the whole period. The past 

spring became the worst in the past 9 years, since 1999. 


Shenyang: 2007 Environment Quality Report launched (May 26, 2008) 

Shenyang EPB recently launched 2007 Environment Quality Report. Days with good air 

quality, i.e. air quality above national II, reached 323, increasing by 2 days comparing to 

the same period of last year. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Greener power generation (May 19, 2008) 

China Huadian Corporation (CHD) recently replaced thermal providing system into a 

gas-burning one of Tianning Temple in Beijing. The old thermal power, with 200,000 

kilowatts capacity, supplied heat for 500,000 people and 12 million square meters of 

construction areas in Beijing for more than 30 years after it opened in 1972. Fueled by 

natural gas, the new plant will save emissions of 500 tons of sulfur dioxide, 400 tons of 

dust, and 1300 tons of NOX every year. 


98



Coal provision in China to be tight in 2008 (May 26, 2008) 

The sub-meeting of the Fourth Energy Strategy High-level Forum in China, coal industry 

meeting was held on May 24, 2008. Experts indicated that the supply and demand for coal 

both reduced in 2008, with coal demand around 2.74 to 2.82 billion tons. However, coal 

provision will continue to be tight, resulting increasing coal price. 

Chinese link: http://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/b/20080526/07104908472.shtml 


Oil deregulation reports denied (May 23, 2008) 

China's top economic administrator yesterday denied reports the government might 

liberalize the prices of refined oil and natural gas soon. Media reports had said the 

government would end its controls on refined oil prices in the near future and that the 

NDRC, the National Energy Bureau and the country's leading oil companies PetroChina 

and Sinopec were in final discussions about the liberalization of fuel prices. Both 

PetroChina and Sinopec yesterday said they had not got any notices on price 

liberalization from the government. 



Towngas to invest HK$2b in mainland energy projects (May 20, 2008) 

Hong Kong and China Gas (Towngas), the city's main piped gas distributor, said the 

company intends to invest HK$2 billion annually in mainland's projects using new energy 

sources. Projects include using new energy sources including coal chemicals and coalbed 

methane, a form of natural gas stored in coal seams. Chan said as the reserves in 

petroleum and natural gas are limited, the potential of developing coal-based projects is 

good. 


China WindPower plans to construct up to 10 projects on mainland (May 21, 2008) 

China WindPower Group has set its sights on the fast-growing clean energy market on the 

mainland. Chief Executive Director Liu Shunxing told China Daily that the company 

endeavors to ride on the green energy business boom with the hope of increasing its 

market share on the mainland from current 3 percent to 10 percent in five years. Wind 

power industry on the mainland has been undergoing 100 percent growth per annum over 

the past four years, reaching 5,561 megawatt (MW) in terms of installed capacity in 2007. 


Shanghai: First Clean Air Forum held (May 22, 2008) 

After more than half year’s preparation, Shanghai recently held the first clean air forum. 96 

representatives from more than 28 research institutions, universities, and enterprises 

participated in the forum. The forum discussed air quality improvement instruments in 

Shanghai, covering environment monitoring, air pollution prevention, air environment 

research etc. 

99




June 15-21: National energy-saving week in China (May 23, 2008) 

China will welcome its 18 th energy-saving week during June 15 to June 21, 2008. The 

theme of this national energy-saving week is “Save Energy According to Legislations, 

Efforts from the Whole Country”. A lot of activities will be organized during the 

energy-saving week this year, including promoting green Olympics, energy-saving lights, 

forbidden plastic bags etc. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

Urumqi OBD vehicle emission monitoring terminal technology passed national expert 

assessment (May 20, 2008) 

OBD vehicle emission monitoring terminal technology developed by Urumqi recently 

passed national expert assessment, representing that the system will be put into pilot use. 

Experts from other research organizations indicated that the OBD system can detect 

excessive polluting vehicles, and is worth to be promoted in the whole country. 


OTHERS 

MEP: Direct economic loss of environment departments in the earthquake reached 700 

million RMB (May 26, 2008) 

Launched on the press conference relevant to Sichuan 5.12 Earth quake, Wu Xiaoqing, 

vice minister of Ministry of Environment Protection, environment department in Sichuan 

province and surrounding provinces were seriously affected. The direct loss reached 700 

million RMB in Sichuan, Shannxi, Gansu, Chongqing and Yunnan province. The damage 

mainly involved damage in infrastructure of environment institutions, monitoring facilities, 

pollution control facilities in enterprises. 



Rizhao in Shandong province held air quality guarantee meeting for Olympics (May 22, 


Rizhao city in Shandong Province recently held the air quality guarantee for Olympics 

cheer-up meeting. Detailed air quality guarantee tasks were arranged, with key focus on 

air quality monitoring in excessive-polluting enterprises. 


Games to have 'lasting' impact on Beijing (May 23, 2008) 

Recently, Jones Lang LaSalle, a global professional services firm that specializes in real 

estate, launched a White Paper titled Accelerating Toward a New Beijing, examining how 

the Games would drive the transformation of Beijing. Since Beijing won the Olympic 

100



Games bid in 2001, approximately $41 billion has been budgeted for the city's 

transformation, and a substantial portion of this has been invested in improving the 

environment and expanding infrastructure. Efforts to improve the environment are making 

Beijing a more comfortable place to live and conduct business in. 


Hebei: government officer is responsible for air quality goals in specific areas (May 23, 


Hebei recently held the national teleconference on safety and environment quality during 

Olympics. Hebei will enhance the provincial air quality through energy-saving and 

emission reduction efforts and straw burning ban. Government officers will be responsible 

for air quality improvement efforts in separated areas, to guarantee the efforts to increase 

air quality will be promoted in all places in the whole province. 


Inner Mongolia: Air Quality Guarantee Meeting during Olympics in Key Areas (May 26, 


Recently, the air quality guarantee meeting during Olympics in key areas was held by 

environment department of Inner Mongolia Province on May 22. Detailed air quality 

guarantee tasks were arranged to specific responsible person and specific areas. Detailed 

implementation plans were discussed in the meeting. 


101










- Haze weather affected North China last week 

- Beijing: only 13 blue sky days in May 

- WB to lend $441m for energy efficiency in China 

- Qingdao Environment Monitoring Station responsible for air pollution and 

sound auto monitoring surrounding Olympic stadiums 

- Diesel National III standard might launch in 2008 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Hunan release main pollutant reduction of 14 regions for the first time (May 28, 2008) 

Hunan province recently launched the main pollutant reduction census result of 14 

regions in 2007. 3 cities, Zhuzhou, Changde and Zhangjiajie reached the 

double-reduction goal, i.e. both reduction of COD and SO2 emission. However, SO2 

emission in 6 cities increased in the past year. 

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=24838\ 

Haze weather affected Qingdao, North China last week (May 30, 2008) 

Affected by the floating dust in North-East Mongolia and west side of Northeast China, 

most North China areas experienced heavy haze weather in the past week. PM10 

concentration stayed around 150. resulting serious and light pollution rank in those cities. 


Beijing: only 13 blue sky days in May (June 1, 2008) 

Affected by serious floating dust pollution from Mongolia, Beijing only got 13 blue sky days 

in the past month, with main pollutant as PM10. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China, US, Spain to drive wind energy growth (May 27, 2008) 

Global wind energy companies expect future growth in the industry to be mainly driven by 

102



the United States, China and Spain, said a German research study published on Monday. 

Global annual new installations are expected to grow fivefold in the next 10 years to reach 

107,000 megawatt (MW) in the year 2017, according to the study. In 2007, all global 

installations rose by 27 percent to 94,593 MW, with 78 percent of new installations made 

in the United States, China, Spain, Germany and India, the study said. 



WB to lend $441m for energy efficiency in China (May 28, 2008) 

The World Bank (WB) has approved loans of $441 million to improve energy efficiency 

and reduce emissions from power plants in China, the China office of the WB said on 

Wednesday. The loans, which account for almost one third of planned loans for China in 

fiscal 2008, would go to three projects, according to the lender. The energy efficiency 

project, co-financed by the WB and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), would get a 

loan of $200 million. 


Researchers make breakthrough in renewable energy materials (May 29, 2008) 

A group of Australian and Chinese researchers have made a ground-breaking discovery 

which could revolutionize solar energy. Max Lu, professor at the University of Queensland 

(UQ)'s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), said Thursday 

they were one step closer to the holy grail of cost-effective solar energy with their 

discovery. 


China tackles coal shortages to ensure quake zone power supply (June 1, 2008) 

China takes emergency measures to cope with "short supplies of coal, diesel and power 

in some areas," and vows to ensure energy supply during reconstruction in quake zones. 

Guizhou, Shaanxi provinces and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region should continue to 

supply coal to quake-hit areas to ensure the power generation of thermal power stations 

there, said an emergency circular of the State Council made available to Xinhua on 

Saturday. The overall supply and demand for coal, oil, electricity and agricultural goods 

and materials are now in balance, with short supplies in some areas, said the circular. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

China Petro Newspaper: Diesel National III standard might launch this year (May 30, 


It is indicated that China will launch diesel national III standard this year. The new 

standard might be implemented in the whole country before the end of next year. The 

diesel standard will be divided into normal diesel and vehicle diesel standard. 


103



Qingdao’s Vehicle Label Management System runs smoothly (June 3, 2008) 

Qingdao has adopted vehicle environmental categorized label management system since 

March 1, 2008. Vehicles will be labeled in yellow or green color according to its 

environmental performance. After 3 months’ implementation, the system runs smoothly 

and contributes to transportation emission reduction. 



NDRC promotes biomass vehicle, methanol technological standard to launch in 2008 

(May 29, 2008) 

NDRC recently launched a report on alcohol-ether fuel in China and the development of 

alcohol-ether vehicles, to collect feedbacks. Relevant officers indicated that China will 

definitely launched the national standard on methanol petroleum mix fuel in 2008. 

Relevant incentive measures will be launched meanwhile. 


Chongqing: First national gas industry management regulation in China (May 30, 2008) 

After the approval from Chongqing Government, Chongqing Condensed Natural Gas 

Vehicle Safe Management Regulation will be launched on July 1 st , representing the first 

similar regulation in China, 


OTHERS 

China to build 1.5 million make-shift houses (May 25, 2008) 

China will build 1.5 million make-shift houses in the quake-stricken Sichuan Province, 

which are expected to endure at least three years, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural 

Development Jiang Weixin said Saturday. The houses, offering 20 square meters floor 

space each, should be made of anti-quake and environment-friendly materials and 

equipped with lighting facilities. 


MEP: Urgent environment monitoring support for earthquake areas (May 27, 2008) 

Environment monitoring facilities were destroyed seriously in earthquake areas. On May 

25 th , MEP urgently collected a batch of monitoring facilities from Liaoning, Jiangsu, 

Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan and Guangdong to support the reconstruction of 

environmental monitoring system in Sichuan Province. 


Xie Zhenhua: CO2 reduction mid-term goal needs to be made soon (May 28, 2008) 

On the past G8 environmental minister meeting held in Japan, Xie Zhenhua, vice 

chairman of NDRC indicated that a clear mid-term goal for CO2 reduction should be 

urgently made. Many countries disagree on the long-term reduction goal for a long time. 

This G8 environmental minister meeting was held from May 24 to 26, with focus on 

104



climate change and biodiversity. 


Tianjin pioneers new model of green growth (May 30, 2008) 

Tianjin and its Binhai New Area carry high expectations not only as the next growth engine 

for China, but also as a model of sustainable development. Tianjin is now working in full 

swing with Singaporean counterparts to build a demonstration eco-city project in its Binhai 

New Area. 


China to build 7 industrial bases for new materials (May 31, 2008) 

China will build seven production bases for new materials to boost the development of 

high-tech industries, the top economic planning authority said Friday. The National 

Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said the bases would be built in Ningbo, 

Dalian, Luoyang, Jinchang, Guangzhou, Baoji and Lianyungang. These bases will turn 

out new materials for industries covering information technology, biotechnology, 

aeronautics, new energy and environment protection. 


Ban on free plastic bags takes effect (June 1, 2008) 

From Sunday on, all Chinese retailers, including supermarkets, department stores and 

grocery stores, would no longer provide free plastic shopping bags. China will try to 

reduce the use of plastic bags in a bid to reduce energy consumption and polluting 

emissions. Retailers have begun to charge fees, ranging from 0.2 yuan for small sized 

plastic bags to more than 10 yuan for fabric ones, for the shopping bags. 


Chairman Hu Jintao will deliver speech on climate change on G8 summit (June 3, 2008) 

It was indicated that Chairman Hu Jintao might deliver a speech on climate change on the 

upcoming G8 summit. Hu’s speech may include key policy guidelines for China’s 

response to the challenge of climate change. 



Qingdao Environment Monitoring Station responsible for air pollution and sound auto 

monitoring in Qingdao Olympic stadium (May 30, 2008) 

Qingdao Environment Monitoring Station will be responsible for air quality and sound 

automatic monitoring in stadium surrounding areas. Key air quality monitoring items 

include CO2, NO2, CO, O3 and PM10. All the data will be transferred through wireless 

system. The Station will launch regular report on air quality and sound environment in 

stadium surrounding areas. 


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- 2007 Environment Condition Report: National, Shanghai, Lanzhou and 

Xinjiang 

- Green Olympics propagate activities in Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao 

- Shannxi to implement provincial climate change action plan 

- Shenyang to publish ozone monitoring result from June 5 th on 

- Shanxi: 2000 Yuan subsidy for vehicle energy-saving refit 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Shanxi: Air quality in 11 key cities improved (June 5, 2008) 

Air quality in Shanxi key cities improved in the first 5 months of 2008. On the recently 

press conference held by Shanxi EPB, all environment departments have focus on 

pollution reduction and Olympic air quality guarantee since the beginning of this year. As a 

result, air quality in Shanxi key cities improved obviously. 


Shanghai: good air quality days took 85% for consecutively 5 years (June 6, 2008) 

According to the recently published Shanghai Environment Condition Report of 2007. 

SO2 emission in 2007 reduced by 2.0% of that in 2006, achieving the remission reduction 

goal. Good air quality days in 2007 of Shanghai reached 328, 4 more than that in 2006, 

taking around 89.9% of the whole year. 


Lanzhou: 2007 Environment Condition Report (June 6, 2008) 

On June 4 th , Lanzhou EPB published 2007 Environment Condition Report. It revealed that 

air quality in Lanzhou improved obviously, as the cleanest year since time with air quality 

auto-monitoring records. Average API index reduced from 122 in 2006 to 90 in 2007. 

Haze days or days with floating dust reduced comparing to the same period last year. 


Air Quality in Xinjiang: still bad in Urumqi (June 10, 2008) 

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According to the recently published Environment Report of Xinjiang in 2007, air quality in 

Urumqi improved obviously, however, it is still labeled as the third standard air quality. 

Days with air quality above the second standard reached 69% of the whole year, slightly 

better than the record in 2006. 



Shenyang to publish ozone monitoring result from June 5 th on (June 10, 2008) 

Shenyang will publish ozone monitoring result from June 5 th on. According the new 

regulation of Ministry of Environment Protection, pilot ozone monitoring activities will be 

held in six cities, including Shenyang. The pilot monitoring activities started on January 1 st 

2008, however, monitoring results were not published initially. After several months’ pilot 

operation, the monitoring results will be published. Resulted by high-speed economic 

development and continual vehicle ownership increase, Ozone and accompanied 

photochemical fog has become new pollutants of many cities. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy ministers focus on oil prices, global warming (June 8, 2008) 

Energy ministers of the Group of Eight member countries and China, South Korea and 

India gathered Sunday in the northeastern Japanese city of Aomori to talk about rocketing 

crude oil prices and the role of energy efficiency against global warming. China, South 

Korea and India were invited to take part in discussions following G8 members' one-hour 

exclusive meeting in the morning. 


MEP published environment report of 2007 for China (June 10, 2008) 

MEP recently published China 2007 Environment Report. Both key pollutants, including 

COD and SO2 reduced meanwhile. Pollution prevention has changed from negative 

pollution prevention to positive pollution control. It is the first time for both COD and SO2 

reduced at the same time. The rate of power generation units with desulphurization 

facilities in all power generation units increased from 12% in 2005 to 48% in 2007. 



Forum on solar energy applications kicks off (June 6, 2008) 

The three-day First West China Solar Photovoltaic Industry and New Energy 

Development Forum started Friday morning in Shuangliu, a county under the 

administration of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. The forum, which has drawn 

more than 300 government officials, domestic and overseas experts in the solar 

photovoltaic and new energy sectors and investors, will discuss the development trends of 

China's solar photovoltaic and new energy sectors, said Shi Dinghuan, chairman of the 

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Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association. 


Huaneng banks on development of clean energy (June 9, 2008) 

Huaneng is also quickening its development of hydropower and nuclear power. It is now 

constructing several hydropower projects on the Lancang River in Yunnan, with total 

capacity of 15,000 mW. The company is also planning China's first nuclear power project 

using high-temperature gas-cooled technology. With an investment of 3 billion yuan, its 

200-mW Shidaowan nuclear power plant in Rongcheng in Shandong is expected to start 

construction in 2009. 


China gears up civilian nuclear power (June 9, 2008) 

China's nuclear power firms aim to join the auto and electronic companies as export 

powerhouses, analysts say, but massive domestic expansion plans may not leave them 

the capacity to make an overseas push for more than a decade. A $1 billion deal signed 

late last month with Russia to build and supply a uranium enrichment plant in China was 

another step toward civilian nuclear independence, less than two decades after its first 

nuclear generator came on stream. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

Beijing phased out yellow-labeled vehicles ahead of time (June 10, 2008) 

Approved by Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Civil Management Committee will 

start to phase out yellow-labeled construction transportation vehicles. Vehicles failed the 

environment standard should be phased out or improved. 



Shanxi: 2000 Yuan subsidy for vehicle energy-saving refit (June 4, 2008) 

On June 2 nd 2008, Shanxi Provincial Government published the Shanxi Energy-saving 

Special Fund Management Method. It was regulated that vehicles will get a subsidy of 

2000 Yuan for energy-saving refit. The energy-saving special fund is mainly used to save 

energy and reduce emission. The supporting refit vehicles cover those CNG, coal gas and 

methane vehicles. 


Research on vehicle emission factor estimation passed expert evaluation (June 9, 2008) 

The research project on vehicle emission factor estimation, carried out by VECC of MEP, 

passed expert evaluation recently. This research project is the first from national scale to 

estimate vehicle emission. The research was based on reported emission test data of new 

vehicles in the whole nation and adjusted by many other actual factors. The project finally 

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got all emission factors of 34 vehicles and emission factor list of 345 regions or areas. 


OTHERS 

The Fourth China Economy Forum: focus on green growth in China (June 4, 2008) 

The Fourth China Economy Forum was held in Beijing, themed on ecology, environment 

and economy in China. Experts and officials discussed several key environmental issues 

on the forum, including relationship between energy consumption and economic 

development, ecological protection and sustainable development, and response to 

climate change. 


Taiwan to construct the largest GHG monitoring platform in the world (June 4, 2008) 

It is indicated by a media that Taiwan would establish the largest GHG monitoring platform 

in the world. The facility will start collecting 3D atmospheric data from 2009 on. GHG 

accumulative and transfer effects will be monitored as well. 


First national monitoring on pollutant disperse launched (June 5, 2008) 

China will launch its first national monitoring on pollutant disperse condition, piloting in 410 

underground watersheds. In addition, it is the first census on pollutant disperse in planting 

industry. The result will be revealed at the end of this year. 


Shannxi to implement provincial climate change action plan (June 6, 2008) 

Shannxi Climate Change Action Plan, drafted by Shannxi Development and Reform 

Commission and Shannxi Meteorological Bureau, was passed on the recent government 

meeting, will be implemented soon. The provincial action plan made a general aim for 

Shannxi’s action for Climate change. The plan required that key tasks for Shannxi 

Meteorological departments should be “control GHGs emission effectively, enhance 

climate change adaptation capacity, enhance technological innovation on climate change, 

enhance the public’s awareness on climate change, enhance climate change monitoring 

capacity and etc. ” 



Shanxi: Efforts to guarantee blue sky during Olympics (June 5, 2008) 

On a recent governmental meeting, Shanxi Province revealed that a special action to 

guarantee Blue Skye for Olympics would start from June 5 th . The whole action will be 

divided into two stages, pollution abatement stage before the end of June and pollution 

prevention stage from July 1 st to September 20 th . Shanxi aims to guarantee air quality of 

key cities to reach national II standard. 


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Beijing: Green Olympic Propagate activities held in Huairou District (June 5, 2008) 

Environment Protection Committee in Huairou District of Beijing held a series of Green 

Olympic Propagate activities on June 4 th . These propagate activities aim to promote public 

environmental awareness, Green Olympics and environmental-friendly society 

construction. 


Green Olympics, Construct environmental –friendly society (June 6, 2008) 

Olympic cities recently held different kinds of Green Olympic Exhibition to promote Green 

Olympic senses of citizens. Road of Green Olympics Exhibition was held the first time in 

August 2007. From June 5 to June 15, Beijing EPB will provide the exhibition free to 

citizens. Similarly, Tianjin held an exhibition on Ecological Culture and Green Olympics. 

Qingdao held an environmental educational exhibition on June 5 th as well. 


Qingdao: environment ideas collection for Olympic Sailing Games (June 6, 2008) 

To welcome Olympics Games, Qingdao recently held an environment ideas collection 

activity to publics. It aims to collect detailed or small environment protection ideas from 

public in daily lives, and to enhance environment awareness of the public. 


Italian experts: It is wrong to say that there is no improvement in Beijing air quality (June 


Recently an Italian media reported that there is no improvement in Beijing air quality. An 

Italian expert rejected this conclusion. He indicated that Beijing had achieved a lot to 

improve air quality in the past 5 years, while many European countries took 20 to 25 years 

to achieve the same effect. He believed that Beijing’s air quality improvement efforts had 

performed effectively. Many activities should be promoted in other cities to improve air 

quality in the whole nation scale. 


Carpet ban on fireworks in Beijing during Games (June 10, 2008) 

All fireworks will be banned across Beijing between July 1 and Oct 8 for safety reasons 

ahead of and during the Olympics and Paralympics, the city's safety administration said 

yesterday. According to a new regulation published on the administration's website, the 

ban on firecrackers and fireworks will be extended to areas beyond the Fifth Ring Road. 

Previously, it applied only to areas within the Fifth Ring Road. People in that area could 

use fireworks only on special occasions, like Spring Festival and other festivals, the 

administration said. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2008-06/10/content_6749140.htm 

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- National Energy Saving Week in China: Save energy according to low, Public 

actions 

- Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shanghai: Industrial pollution control to guarantee 11 th 

FYP environment goals 

- G8 plus three agree to increase energy efficiency 

- China to include energy-saving in local government assessment system 

- Vehicle emission inspection stations established nationally: Nanjing, Baotou 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Henan released polluting black list (June 12, 2008) 

Henan province recently held a special meeting for environment integrated control and 

pollution reduction, reviewing urban environment treatment efforts of local cities. Relevant 

officers revealed a polluting black list of enterprises with serious pollutions and serious 

environment pollution events. Enterprises included in the black list should adopt 

appropriate environment treatment measures, otherwise, all new projects and land 

approval will be stopped. 



Shanghai goes all out in green effort (June 12, 2008) 

Shanghai will tighten pollution restrictions in the next three years to reach its target to be a 

national model city for environmental protection before World Expo 2010 - and 

horn-honking motorists beware. Officials released major tasks for the fourth round of 

Three-Year Environmental Protection Action Plan, which will run from next year through 

2011, at a city government press conference yesterday. 


Liaoning: districts failing desulphurization goals will be restricted in approval (June12, 


To reach 11 th FYP of SO2 emission reduction, Liaoning government recently delivered 

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pollution treatment requirement to 45 key SO2 polluting enterprises. Regional government 

should be responsible for pollution control in the region. Regions or areas failing emission 

control goals will be restricted for project approval. 


Jiangsu: enterprises failing environment standard will be closed (June 13, 2008) 

Jiangsu launched new emission standard for 6 key polluting industries, including printing, 

chemical, paper-making, iron, food-making and electroplating. Enterprises failing 

environment standard in those six industries before January 1 st 2009 will be closed. 


ENERGY 


G8 plus three agree to promote energy efficiency (June 11, 2008) 

The Group of Eight developed member nations and China, India, South Korea agreed on 

June 8 to step up efforts for energy efficiency so as to lower global market demands and 

cut greenhouse gas emissions. Energy ministers from the G8 and the three Asian 

countries, which were invited to take part in broader discussion over energy- related 

issues, jointly issued a declaration on concluding their meeting in northeastern Japan's 

energy capital of Aomori, announcing the establishment of the International Partnership 

for Energy Efficiency Cooperation, a new framework aimed at facilitating energy-saving 

measures and transfer of related technologies. 


Environmentalist urges green reconstruction in earthquake areas (June 13, 2008) 

Renowned Chinese environmentalist Yang Xin has called for an environmentally friendly 

reconstruction of regions hit by the May 12 Sichuan quake and is proceeding with plans to 

build a nature preservation center in the province. Yang, the founder of the Suonandajie 

Nature Protection Station, a private nature preservation center for protecting ecological 

systems in Qinghai province, is planning to build a second station in Sichuan. 


Beijing to construct the largest e-vehicle recharge station (June 13, 2008) 

The world’s largest e-vehicle recharge station will be established in ten days in Olympic 

Stadium. The station will serve 50 Olympic e-vehicles during the Olympics for 24 hours 

every day. As an important part of electric vehicle, the scaling and management of 

recharge station affects the development of e-vehicles greatly. 


China to include energy-saving in local government assessment system (June 15, 2008) 

According to the newly revised Energy-saving Law, energy-saving performance will be 

included in the local government assessment system. Provincial governments should 

report local energy-saving efforts or activities to the government council every year. This 

week is the energy-saving propagate week, themed on “Saving energy according to law, 

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Public actions”. 


TRANSPORT 

- Facts 

Xi’an in Shannxi Province finished vehicle emission pollution control Stage 1 tasks (June 


The first stage of vehicle emission control has finished by the end of May; around 66 

buses were phased out or updated. This black-smoking vehicle pollution control started 

from the end of April. All diesel buses were treated or updated concentrically, based on the 

inspection result all 792 diesel vehicles of 28 bus lines. Vehicles with excessive emissions 

took 10.3% of the whole vehicles. 



Nanjing: five vehicle emission inspection centers established (June 11, 2008) 

Nanjin has established 5 vehicle emission inspection centers recently. Detailed 

implementation method and time will be published soon. It was indicated that inspection 

fee for private small vehicles would be 65 RMB. Vehicles passing the inspection will be 

labeled to run on roads. 


Tianjin promotes clean fuel buses (June 12, 2008) 

To promote the development of green public transport, Tianjin encourages clean fuel 

vehicles. Up until now, Tianjin has organized 9 gas bus lines with 219 gas buses. 


Baotou: first vehicle waste gas inspection center established (June 12, 2008) 

Baotou established the first vehicle waste gas inspection center recently. From this year 

on, vehicles failing vehicle emission inspection will not be approved for annual check. In 

the recent two years, vehicle ownership increased at the speed of 15% annually. Vehicle 

emission has become key polluting source of air pollution in Baotou, emitting 70% in CO, 

60% in carbon hydrate and 40% of NOx. 


Tianjin to upgrade 4000 buses before the Olympics (June 13, 2008) 

To accelerate the development of green public transportation, Tianjin has listed bus 

upgrade in 20 social projects. It plans to renew 3000 buses and upgrade 1000 buses 

before the Olympics. As a result, Euro III vehicles will take 50% of the whole operating 

vehicles. 


Shanghai encourages government officers carpool (June 15, 2008) 

113



Shanghai adopted many detailed energy-saving measures recently, like ‘Less Cloth in 

Summer’, ‘No elevator lower than Floor 4’, Carpool or taking bus. Government officers 

were encouraged to choose carpool during the period of business. 


OTHERS 

Beijing launch green finance (June 12, 2008) 

Beijing government recently launched a special regulation to push forward green finance, 

i.e. Suggestions to Push Forward Financial Development in the Capital. It encourages the 

development of green credit, green insurance, green securities, and promotes financial 

institutions to be involved in circular economy, emission reduction and energy-saving. This 

is another important regulation for green finance since the guideline of green credit and 

green securities. 


Lenovo fosters spirit of Togetherness for climate (June 13, 2008) 

Lenovo joined a campaign to combat global climate change early this month, its latest 

move to offer energy-saving and user-friendly products to consumers. The "Together" 

campaign is an initiative backed by The Climate Group. To date, the group claims to have 

helped consumers save more than 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide and more than $200 

million on household energy bills. Lenovo, for its part, has set a voluntary target of 

improving its operational carbon efficiency rate by 10 percent from 2007 to 2012. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympian/2008-06/13/content_6758425.htm 

WWF & CCICED: China Ecological Footprint Report (June 13, 2008) 

WWF together with CCICED recently launched China Ecological Footprint Report, 

indicating that it is urgent to push forward low-carbon livelihood and low-carbon economy. 

Ever since 1960s, the average ecological footprint per capita in China has increase d by 

two times. 



Beijing launched response strategy to urgent environment events (June 11, 2008) 

Beijing recently launched a special response strategy for urgent environment events. 

Environment pollution events resulting more than 30 deaths’ will be recognized as 

significant urgent environment events to launch a red alarm. 


Chongqing will label all vehicles entering Beijing with Olympic Environmental signs (June 


Chongqing will provide free vehicle outlook and emission inspection to all vehicles 

entering Beijing, and label them with Olympic Environmental signs. Vehicles which will 

enter Beijing should pass three procedures, including outlook check, emission inspection 

and labeling. 

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Traffic, air quality emphasized during Olympics (June 13, 2008) 

China's Vice President Xi Jinping Thursday urged guaranteeing smooth traffic, sound air 

quality and sound food safety during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He urged 

guaranteeing subway safety and smooth traffic during the Olympics, improving Olympic 

food safety supervision mechanism and using the latest technology to monitor air quality. 

He ordered strengthening efforts in improving environment and air quality and living up to 

the promise of sound air quality during the Olympics. 


Beijing to offer precision air quality forecast for Olympic venues (June 14, 2008) 

A new forecasting system is now able to tell the air quality at each Olympic venue 72 

hours in advance. The now operational computer system can assess how after being 

emitted from a source, pollutants flow in the air, undergo what kind of physical change and 

chemical reaction, generate what kind of secondary pollutant and its density. Beijing has 

spent more than 120 billion yuan (17.3 billion U.S. dollars) to contain air pollution since 

1998. The city has expanded public transport, tested a temporary traffic ban that is to be 

adopted during the Games and relocated polluting factories. 


Shandong: Forbid agricultural straw burning to guarantee air quality (June 13, 2008) 

Shandong province released a notice to enhance agricultural straw burning forbid, to 

guarantee good air quality during Olympics. A special team was organized by various 

departments, including science and technology, agriculture, environment protection, 

development and reform committee etc. The team will be in charge of inspection for this 

forbid regulation. 


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- Beijing sky gets bluer as pollution controls pay off 

- Pearl River Delta region: enhance control on Ozone, particulates and NOx 

- Transportation Ministry: energy-saving and emission-reduction goal 

- Fuel price rise part of reform on resources prices 

- Traffic control during Olympics: Odd-even rule to reduce traffic by 70% 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Beijing sky gets bluer as pollution controls pay off (June 20, 2008) 

The Chinese capital had 115 "blue sky" days, with fairly good air quality, between January 

1 and Wednesday. The number of "blue sky" days was 12 more than the same period last 

year, according to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau. It was a clear 

sign that years of anti-pollution efforts by the Olympic host city continue to pay off, said Du 

Shaozhong, the bureau's deputy chief and spokesman. 


Pearl River Delta region: enhance control on Ozone, particulates and NOx (June 23, 


Guangdong EPB recently held a special forum on air pollution control in Pearl River Delta 

region. It was concluded that various air pollution might restrict social and economic 

sustainable development in Pearl River Delta region. The dominate pollutant in this region 

is SO2, NOx and PM10, however, secondary pollution of Ozone and particulates is 

becoming serious as well. Daze atmospheric day was much more frequent in the recent 

years. More specific measures need to be adopted to control this. 



Xi’an: 3 measures to control SO2 emission (June 23, 2008) 

Xi’an will adopt 3 measures to control SO2 emission for the 16,000 reduction goal this 

year. Those measures include to establish and operate desulphurization facilities in key 

construction projects and industrial zones, to implement coal restriction policies in specific 

116



areas, and enhance approval control process 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China's renewable energy project wins global green energy prize (June 20, 2008) 

China's Renewable Energy Development Project (REDP) was rewarded the Ashden 

Awards for Sustainable Energy, the world's leading green energy prize, in a final 

competition taking place here Thursday. The REDP was launched in 2001 by the National 

Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the World Bank (WB), with 

international grant financing provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with one 

of its main aims to promote the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar home systems in 

remote off- grid homes in nine western Chinese provinces 



China, US list electricity, transportation as focus of energy co-op (June 18, 2008) 

China and the United States have identified power generation, transportation and three 

other areas as priorities under a 10-year framework of energy and environment protection 

cooperation, a Chinese official said Tuesday. The two sides are pushing for the 

formulation of action plans in the five areas, Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice minister in charge of 

China's National Development and Reform Commission 


Transportation Ministry: energy-saving and emission-reduction goal (June 20, 2008) 

The transportation ministry recently revealed the energy-saving and emission reduction 

goal of transportation industry, i.e. to reduce energy consumption per unit transportation 

load of vehicles by 5% from 2005 and energy consumption of ships by 10% in 2010. They 

also made the goal of 2020, to reduce energy consumption per unit transportation load of 

vehicles by 16% from 2005 


Fuel price rise part of reform on resources prices (June 21, 2008) 

National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) experts told Xinhua on Friday 

that Thursday's move to raise fuel and electricity prices was intended to adjust market 

supply and demand and better allocate resources with the leverage of prices. The move 

was in line with the country's goal to bring the market more into play in forming prices 

under macro controls. 


Vice president: China sticks to sustainable energy strategy (June 23, 2008) 

China will stick to the a sustainable energy strategy and make active contributions to the 

sustainable energy development and energy security in the world, Chinese Vice President 

117



Xi Jinping said on Sunday. China will put emphasis on both energy exploitation and 

conservation with priority given to economizing on energy consumption, Xi said at the 

ongoing International Energy Conference. 


TRANSPORT 


Shanghai enhances vehicle emission legislative enforcement (June 19, 2008) 

Shanghai has enhanced vehicle emission legislative enforcement ever since the 

beginning of this year. Up until now, about 549 plates were distressed. 


Beijing: Clean air campaign targets buses, trucks (June 20, 2008) 

About 1,900 public buses are to be refitted and thousands of trucks will be rerouted 

around Beijing this summer, in order to keep skies there blue and the air clean, the 

Ministry of Transport has said. From next month, all commercial passenger buses 

entering Beijing will be required to meet national emissions standards, it said. After a 

two-month investigation that began in March, the ministry found that 2,610 long-distance 

buses entering the city failed emissions tests. 


China to phase out high energy consuming and high polluting vehicles (June 23, 2008) 

Transpoort Ministry will accelerate the research, legislation and implementation of 

entering and quiting mechanisms of energy-saving and pollution reduction market, 

indicated by a vice minister, Gao Hongfeng. China will establish mandatory quitting 

system, to phase out high-polluting and high-emitting vehicles or transporting facilities. 

Energy consuming standard for all passenger and cargo vehicles will be established this 

year, and it might take 5 years for all national vehicles to meet the standard. 


OTHERS 

Hainan: to promote national III vehicle fuels (June 17, 2008) 

Hainan passed a special work plan to promote national III vehicle fuels, with clear working 

timeline in separate phases. Key implementation plans include to establish local national 

III diesel standard, quality monitoring and control plan and measures according to the new 

standard. 


Qomolangma to go on green drive (June 23, 2008) 

Tibet may limit the number of tourists and mountaineers to Mount Qomolangma to protect 

its fragile ecology, the region's top environmental official has said. The rising number of 

tourists and mountaineers makes protecting the environment a tough job. Precisely 

because of that, the bureau made it mandatory in 2003 for all vehicles carrying tourists 

118



and mountaineers not to venture beyond the Rongbuk Monastery, from where 

animal-drawn carriages carry them to higher altitudes. 


Planned Shanghai town maps out carbon-neutral future (June 23, 2008) 

Shanghai's Dongtan Eco-city has a lofty ambition: To become the world's first 

carbon-neutral city. But the project has been marred by delays and faces rising doubts 

over whether it will be a model for China's rapid urbanisation, or just a posh community for 

wealthy commuters eager to flee the smog and traffic of Shanghai. Ten wind turbines 

already stand at the boundaries of the city, which will run on energy from sources 

including wind, solar power and biogas extracted from municipal waste. 


Fujian: 7 banks support enterprise energy-saving and pollution-reduction efforts (June 23, 


A special meeting on energy-saving and pollution-reduction government-bank-enterprise 

cooperation was held recently in Fujian Province. 7 banks reached green loan 

(worth7.568 billion RMB) agreements with 15 enterprises to promote energy-saving and 

pollution-reduction efforts. In all, about 21 financial institutions and 70 enterprises 

participate in the meeting. 48 enterprises raised a energy-saving and emission reduction 

financial need worth 8.7 billion RMB. 



Tianjin: Obvious air quality improvement (June 16, 2008) 

Tianjin government recently held a press conferment about environment and Olympics. 

Relevant officials indicate that air quality in Tianjin had improved obviously. Tianjin has 

made a special working and implementation plan to guarantee air quality during Olympics. 

The plan covers key air pollution control measures, including industrial pollution control, 

new vehicle emission standard, transportation management, and air quality monitoring 

and forecast capacity building etc. 


Beijing to restrict vehicles during Olympics (June 20, 2008) 

Beijing will impose an even-odd system based on license plate numbers that will keep 

vehicles off the road on alternate days from July 20 to September 20 to ease congestion 

and improve the air quality for the Olympics and Paralympics, the municipal government 

said on Friday. Exceptions to the restrictions will include police and other emergency 

vehicles, taxis, buses and embassy cars, according to a statement on the website of the 

Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications. 


Traffic during Olympics: Odd-even rule to reduce traffic by 70% (June 21, 2008) 

More than 2.3 million cars, up to 70 percent of the total, could be removed from Beijing's 

119



roads during the Olympics, as a result of new measures, the local transport authority said 

on Friday. In a bid to ease congestion and reduce emissions, between July 20 and Sept 

20, Beijing's 3.3 million private car owners will be required to abide by an odd-and-even 

license plate rule, which allows them to drive into the city only on alternate days. 


Qingdao: Chengyang sub-EPB to guarantee air quality during Olympics (June 23, 2008) 

Chengyang sub-EPB of Qingdao province has implemented blue sky measures this year, 

to guarantee good air quality during Olympics. A series of measures were adopted, 

including to control the sales and usage of high-sulfur coal, to accelerate the phase out of 

coal-burning boilers, to control floating dust and enhance vehicle inspection and transport 

management. 


Beijing launched transport guarantee plan during Olympics (June 24, 2008) 

To guarantee good air quality in Beijing during Olympics, Beijing recently launched a 

special transport guarantee plan for Olympics and Paralympics. Key measures include 

add-even plate number traffic control, postpone operation period of public transport, 

establish special traffic zone for Olympic relevant vehicles, and environment management 

to other vehicles entering Beijing. 


Qingdao: Air quality has met Olympic requirements (June 24, 2008) 

On a recent press conference held in Qingdao, it was indicated that air quality in Qingdao 

had met Olympic requirements. There will be great possibility that air quality of Qingdao in 

August and September will reach national II standard. 


120








(Compiled by Xiaojia BAO and Shan HUANG) 


- Beijing: air quality is the best in the recent 9 years 

- Energy consuming industries developing too fast in China 

- China launched provincial climate change action plans on June 30 th 

- Beijing mulls peak-shifting plan for Olympics 

- Traffic control during Olympics: Beijing drives high-emission vehicles off the 

road 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Shen Yang: Clearer skies, brighter days (July 3, 2008) 

Shenyang, a famous old industrial base, used to be among the world's 10 most polluted 

places, has energetically developed new energy sources and accelerated the economic 

development in the last five years, says Deputy Mayor Wang Ling. The city has invested 

66 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) on more than 1,000 projects to reverse the city's pollution. 

Last year, Shenyang had over 320 good air quality days, about 70 days more than Beijing. 

As a result, it has received numerous awards, such as National Model City in 

Environmental Protection, National Forest City, and the United Nations Best City for 

Living. 


Beijing: air quality is the best in the recent 9 years (July 3, 2008) 

In the first half of 2008, good air quality days in Beijing reached 123, taking about 67.6% of 

the whole year, with an increase of 13 days comparing to the same period of last year. 

This is the best record in the recent 9 years. In June, good air quality days in Beijing took 

24 days, increasing by 9 days than the same period of last year. 


Pollution emission permits delayed (July 4, 2008) 

The issuance of pollution emission permits will be delayed, as more time is needed to 

gauge public opinion, an official with the Ministry of Environmental Protection said 

yesterday. Promotion of the permits nationwide will face difficulties because strict 

requirements in emission reduction will add to the costs of industries. The calculation of 

121



how much pollution an area can receive, and how to optimize the allocation of emission 

credits to individual plants are also the problems. 



Tianjin: First emissions trading exchange postponed (July 1, 2008) 

The creation of China's first emissions trading exchange has been postponed indefinitely 

amid disagreements on foreign ownership in the bourse. At the beginning of 2008 the 

CNPC Assets Management Co, an affiliate of the China National Petroleum Co (CNPC), 

the Tianjin Property Rights Exchange (TPRE) and the US-based Chicago Climate 

Exchange (CCX) agreed to set up an emissions bourse in Tianjin, the first in China. And 

this project, which was to have started before May, was postponed for an unspecified 

period over disagreements on allowing foreign investment. 


Wu'an city in Hebei provides subsidy for SO2 reduction (July 4, 2008) 

Wu'an City in Hebei province launched an initiative to provide subsidy for iron 

corporations to reduce SO2 emission. The subsidy will be provided based on 

desulphurization facility style and SO2 emission amount. As the first case of this initiative, 

Hebei Puyang Iron received a subsidy of 2 million RMB for desulphurization efforts. 

Another 3 million RMB will be awarded to the company after the desulphurization facilities 

are established. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy consuming industries developing too fast in China (July 2, 2008) 

Industries with high energy consumption and emissions are developing too fast in China, 

along with the quick economic growth, the State Council, or Cabinet, warned on Tuesday. 

The traditional industry structure remained unchanged, while the service sector and 

high-tech manufacturing weighting fell in the national economy, State Councilors heard at 

a meeting focusing on energy saving and emission reduction, chaired by Premier Wen 

Jiabao. However, the government has admitted the difficulty of hitting the targets to cut 

China's total energy consumption by about 20 percent and emissions of major pollutants 

by 10 percent by the year 2010, a goal the government set in 2006. 



China plans to replace diesel buses with clean buses (July 3, 2008) 

On the recently-held summit meeting on international ethanol/LPG chain market, it was 

revealed that China will replace the current diesel buses with clean buses, to ease diesel 

shortage and air pollution in China. In 2007, Shanghai for the first time introduced 10 

Dimethyl Ether buses and established the first recharge station. In 2008, the number of 

buses will increase to 100. 

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TRANSPORT 


Guandong: to implement national III emission standard (July 4, 2008) 

From July 1st on, all new vehicles should meet national III emission standard and bear 

OBD systems on board. Vehicles failing to meet those standards will be forbidden from 

plating. In June 2008, Ministry of Environment Protection recently launched a notice to 

implement national III emission standard. Guangdong's new initiative is a response on 

national regulation. 


OTHERS 

China launched provincial climate change action plans on June 30 th (July 1, 2008) 

China launched provincial climate change action plans on June 30th. This plan covers 

detailed provincial actions on climate change, based on China Climate Change Action 

Plan. This provincial climate change action plan was implemented by UNDP, NDRC and 

sponsored by Ministry of environment protection and ministry of finance etc. 

Chinese link: http://www.zhb.gov.cn/hjyw08/200807/t20080701_124690.htm 

Hu calls for new vim to fight climate change (June 30, 2008) 

President Hu Jintao has pledged China will make greater contributions in the global battle 

against climate change. Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) 

Central Committee, called on developed countries to step up emission-reduction efforts, 

and provide financial and technical support for developing countries, Xinhua reported on 

Saturday. He said the country must enhance its abilities to monitor, forecast and withstand 

extreme weather-related disasters. 



Hebei implemented special inspection to guarantee environment quality during Olympics 

(June 30, 2008) 

Hebei EPB recently organized 7 monitoring groups to inspect the implementation of 

environment guarantee measure. Those groups will be dispatched to many key cities, 

such as Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, Lanfang, Chengde and 

Zhangjiakou in the next 3 months. The inspection group will focus on air quality condition, 

implementation of biomass burning forbidden measures and other environment guarantee 

measures. 


Beijing drives high-emission vehicles off the road (July 1, 2008) 

Beijing banned more than a quarter million high-emission vehicles from its roads on 

Tuesday, part of a drive to curb pollution ahead of the Olympics. In the capital, about 

300,000 high-emission motor vehicles that don't meet the exhaust standards won't be 

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allowed on the road until September 20. However, their owners will be compensated with 

tax breaks and exemption from road maintenance fees during the period. Previously, such 

vehicles were only allowed to hit the road in certain areas and hours. Vehicles registered 

outside Beijing must obtain special permits and meet emmission standards before 

entering the capital during the period. 


Beijing mulls peak-shifting plan for Olympics (July 2, 2008) 

Beijing is deliberating a plan that will allow employees in different sectors to go to work at 

different hours in the morning to relieve traffic pressure on the rush hours during the 

Olympics. Meanwhile, some employees may also be asked to wrap up work earlier than 

normal to avoid jamming the roads during evenings. The moves are aimed at curbing 

traffic and reducing air pollution during the Olympics. 


Beijing: citizens commits on green commuting (July 3, 2008) 

In the past week, about 160 community representatives and 70 volunteers made a 

commitment on green commuting during Olympics. They committed to choose riding, 

walking for commuting, reduce carbon emission and air pollution by driving less. They 

also promised to promote those active environmental-friendly commuting and living habits 

after the Olympics. 


Jinan: to adopt vehicle environmental labeling system for vehicles entering Beijing during 

Olympics (July 3, 2008) 

To guarantee good air quality during Olympics, all vehicles entering Beijing from July 1st 

to September 20th should get environmental labels, regulated by relevant national 

departments. As a response to this regulation, Jinan will send out environmental labels to 

vehicles that will enter Beijing, after those vehicles passed vehicle outlook inspection and 

emission inspection. 


Qingdao: to enhance vehicle environmental label management (July 4, 2008) 

Qingdao recently adopted 4 measures to guarantee vehicle management for better air 

quality during Olympics. Main measure include enhancing environmental label 

management for vehicles entering Beijing, emphasizing air quality guarantee work during 

Olympics, controlling vehicle emissions and establishing a special environment 

information inquiring system on vehicles during Olympics. 


124


shan.huang@cai-asia.org. 





Issue No. 27, 2008 

(Compiled by Shan HUANG) 


- Guangxi, Shandong on green blacklist 

- China's coal exports surge in June 

- Environment ministry adds 2 departments 

- Beijing nears fulfillment of seven years' work in Green Olympics 

- Beijing steel maker cuts output, pollution by 70% for Olympics 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Guangxi, Shandong on green blacklist (July 8, 2008) 

The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has the dirtiest rivers and lakes and Shandong 

province spewed the highest amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2). These are some of the 

findings for last year that the country's top environmental watchdog released yesterday. 

The Ministry of Environmental Protection said Guangxi's polluting industries have not only 

made its rivers and lakes filthy, but also raised its chemical oxygen demand (COD), a 

water pollution measurement, to the highest at 1.06 million tons. Thanks to the high 

concentration of thermal power plants, Shandong emitted more than 1.8 million tons of 

SO2, making its skies the most choked in the country. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2008-07/08/content_6828161.htm 

Jinan: background site for environmental air quality monitoring has been chosen. (July 8. 


Monitoring Station for Environmental Protection of Jinan city has determined the location 

of a background site, where is in the Paomalin wild zoo, 40 km far from the urban area. It 

is expected to support the integrated monitoring information and data for air quality 

management in Jinan city based on the technology of continuous monitoring for 

background air. 


Ministry of Environment Protection (MEP) informed emission reduction situation about, 

Beijing taking the first (July 9, 2008) 

MEP and relevant government departments finished the emission reduction assessment 

of the main pollutants in every province, region, cities and five electric companies of 2007 

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in July 7, 2008. In 2007, the emission of the main pollutants tended to be lowered down. 

The emissions of both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were 

decreased for the first time. The amount of COD emission was 13818 thousands ton, 

lowered by 3.2% comparing to 2006, while the amount of the SO2 emission was 24681 

thousands ton, reduced by 4.7% comparing to 2006. Beijing took the first position of the 

whole country to reduce the emission of SO2, which is lowered by 13.8% than 2006. 


Changsha: excellent/good air quality days reached 96.77% of June. (July 9, 2008) 

EPB of Changsha city informed the air quality report in June. It said that excellent air 

quality days reached 4, good days reached 25 and tiny polluted day is only one. The rate 

for excellent or good air quality days was 96.77% in June. In the first half year, the 

excellent/good air quality days in Changsha reached 156, increasing by 7.26% than the 

same period of last year. 

Chinese link: http://cswb.csonline.com.cn/CSWB/20080709/Cont_1_2_70804.HTM 

Guangzhou: air quality keeps excellent/good for two months (July 11, 2008) 

According to the monitoring results of environmental monitoring center of Guangzhou, 

excellent air quality days reached 21, while good air quality days reached 9, which means 

that air quality of June were 100% above National II emission standard. Air quality in 

Guangzhou keeps excellent or good for two months. 



Hebei: the process of auto-monitoring for main pollution sources expect to be accelerated. 

July 9, 2008) 

Hebei EPB launched 6 measures in order to accelerate the process of auto monitoring for 

the main pollution sources, including powerfully promoting equipments installation for 

auto-monitoring by law, reporting the process to the EPB in 5 th of every month, 

standardizing the market of online monitoring equipments, enhancing the comparison of 

data from online and offline monitoring and improving the network building of 

auto-monitoring system amount province and cities. 


Environment ministry adds 2 departments (July 11, 2008) 

The Ministry of Environmental Protection will set up two supervision and monitoring 

departments, as part of efforts to fight pollution, officials said yesterday. The move is 

expected to pave the way for a system to cap and trade in emissions, such as sulfur 

dioxide (SO2) pollution from industries, analysts have said.With the latest beef-up, the 

State Council has allowed the ministry to recruit another 50 employees for the new 

departments, bringing its headcount to 300, the ministry's spokesman said.The expansion 

signifies the ministry's added emphasis on controlling emissions nationwide and is in line 

with the country's target to cut 10 percent of major pollutants by 2010, he said. 


126



Urumqi: 52.1 bullion yuan will be invested to control air pollution (July 11, 2008) 

52.1 bullion yuan will be invested to control air pollution and build eco-environment in 

Urumqi from 2008 to 2010 for totally changing the environmental situation. Based on the 

environmental protection strategy of the 11 th five years in Urumqi, the city government will 

arrange 26 projects for integrated control of environmental pollution, including researches 

of source, formation and control strategy of air pollution, improvement for capacity of 

environmental management, improvement for urban energy structure, saving energy and 

reducing emission, controlling mobile exhaust, building eco-environment in urban area, 

controlling water pollution and so on. More than 2% of every year’s GDP will be invested 

for environment protection. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China's coal exports surge in June (July 11, 2008) 

Coal exports soared 83.5% year-on-year in June to 6.99 million tonnes, the highest 

monthly total since March 2005, the General Administration of Customs said on Thursday. 

Analysts said the surge likely reflected a widening gap between higher world prices and 

domestic prices, which are capped by the government. The gap was about $54.70 per 

tonne in the week ended on July 4, the China Business News reported on Thursday. 

Enlish link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-07/11/content_6838438.htm 

TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

China auto sales up 17% in first half year (July 10, 2008) 

China saw a slowdown in auto sales growth in the first half of 2008, due largely to 

increasing gas prices and looming restrictions on vehicle operation for better air quality 

during the upcoming Beijing Olympics. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers 

said on Wednesday that between January and June, the country sold 3.61 million 

passenger motor vehicles, a growth of 17.07 percent over the same period a year 

previous. The growth rate, however, was 5.19 percentage points lower than the 22.26 

percent level recorded in the same period last year. 


-Initiatives 

Yantai: 102 buses start using natural gas (July 10, 2008) 

City Transport Company spent 6 million yuan in buying 22 buses using natural gas in 

Yantai, Shandong province. So far, the number of gas buses in Yantai reaches 102, 

renewing buses of 42 lines, which will reduce the fuel cost by 30% and hazardous exhaust 

by more than 50% comparing to the traditional diesel buses. 


127

OTHERS 



China 'committed to fighting' climate change (July 10, 2008) 

The world has to fight climate change together but the responsibilities of the developed 

and developing countries in this battle have to be different, President Hu Jintao reiterated 

Wednesday on the Group of Eight (G8) Summit. Hu reaffirmed China's pledge in the fight 

against global warming, and said it is determined to tackle the issue. China is committed 

to meeting these targets, and is "ready to work with the rest of the world to achieve 

harmonious, clean and sustainable development", Hu said. 


China's two environmental programs are world model: study (July 11, 2008) 

Two environmental programs in China are generally successful, and key reforms could 

transform them into a model for the rest of the world, according to research results 

published this week in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

As two of the world's largest programs, they seek to alleviate environmental problems and 

offer alternative ways for people to make a living. Both programs also have important 

global implications because they increase vegetative cover, enhance carbon 

sequestration and reduce dust to other countries by controlling soil erosion. 



Tianjin to limit pollution during Olympics (July 7, 2008) 

Tianjin, one of the co-host cities of the Beijing Olympic Games, is to ban construction at 

key building sites and limit factory sewage from July 25 to September 20 to help improve 

environment for the Olympic Games, the city announced recently. During the Beijing 

Olympic Games, Tianjin is to suspend the constructions of 26 building sites around the 

Olympic stadiums, including the Line-3 subway construction. The city will also suspend 

some operations of 40 factories, including two cement factories and 6 factories which 

cause effluvial contamination. Tianjin is also to ban strictly the transportation of dangerous 

chemicals between 7 am and 10 pm during the Olympic Games. 


Beijing: concrete working has to stop by July 20. (July 8, 2008) 

The implementation to guarantee the air quality in Olympic period goes well, and the 

integrated controlling project before Olympics is close to end. 90% of catering units has 

changed or cleaned their clean instruments required by Beijing EPB, and other companies 

which could not finish the clean work will be shut down during Olympic period. All concrete 

working will be suspended by July 20. Vehicle limit strategy started on June 23, and 

stopping vehicle of each unit will reach 70% of their all vehicles after July 20. 


Authorities ratchet up fight for better air quality (July 11, 2008) 

Twenty-four heavily polluting and water-consuming firms have been closed or have had 

128



their operations suspended since early last year to ensure clean air during the Beijing 

Olympic and Paralympic Games, an official said Thursday. These firms produced cement, 

glass, paper, chemical products, or were involved in casting, printing, dyeing and 

electroplating industries. With the closure of the firms, energy equivalent of 123,000 tons 

of standard coal and 3.248 million tons of water will be saved every year. The move will 

also help reduce exhaust gas emission by 480 million cu m and solid waste by 40,000 

tons every year. 


Beijing steel maker cuts output, pollution by 70% for Olympics (July 11, 2008) 

Beijing Shougang Group, one of China's leading steel makers and the capital's major 

polluter, is fulfilling its commitment to cut output and pollution by 70 percent for the 

Olympic Games, a company source said Friday. Shougang's efforts will hopefully pay off 

with pollution cuts, as it plans to reduce emission of sulfur dioxide, soot and dust by 49.18 

percent, 50.32 percent and 49.22 percent, respectively, this year. Further output cuts in 

the third quarter will hopefully bring down emissions of the three major pollutants by 70 

percent compared with last year. 


Hundreds of alternative-fuel vehicles hit the Olympics road (July 11, 2008) 

About 500 vehicles that run on a range of alternative fuels were handed over to the Beijing 

Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad here on Friday. They'll provide 

what's been billed as zero-emission transportation during the Games. According to 

Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, the vehicles include 53 electric buses, 25 

hybrid buses, 75 hybrid taxis, 20 fuel-cell cars and more than 320 other electric vehicles. 

English link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/11/content_8531358.htm 

Beijing nears fulfillment of seven years' work in Green Olympics (July 12, 2008) 

“From July 13th 2001 when Beijing awarded the Olympic Games, 140 bullion yuan has 

been spent for environment protection in Beijing City. And Beijing nears fulfillment for the 

environment promise.” the vice minister of environmental engineering of Olympics 

Committee said. For seven years’ work in reducing pollutant emission and regulating the 

structure of industrial economy, Beijing government has implemented to displace more 

than 200 heavy polluted enterprises. Treatment rate of living garbage and solid waste 

from industry reached 96.5%, and treatment rate for hazardous waste reached 76.6%. 

Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2008-07/12/content_8534981.htm 

Shanxi finished 40 air pollution control projects for Olympics. (July 13, 2008) 

“We have finished 40 air pollution control projects before Olympic Games requested by 

center government.” the director of Shanxi EPB said in July 9. In addition, Shanxi made a 

contingency plan for air quality during Olympic Games, as well as the periodic check 

system for key air pollution control projects. 


129










-Taiyuan: 158 days above Grade II air quality standard in the first half year 

- Sino-Italy Cooperation Program aim to reduce PM emissions from diesel 

vehicles in Beijing 

- The Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform 

Commission advise government to start fuel tax from this year 

- Beijing: Olympics air quality daily report in both Chinese and English, 

broadcasting API from 27 monitoring stations 

- For Olympics: Beijing starts driving curbs to ensure clear air 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Fushun: excellent/good air quality days reach 176 in the first half year (July 14, 2008) 

Up to June 30, the excellent/good air quality days in Fushun, Liaoning province, reached 

176 based on the monitoring data, increasing 34 days comparing with the same period of 

the last year. More importantly, there are 30 days more than the same period of the last 

year reaching the Grade II air quality standard in January and February, when the air 

pollution was very heavy in the past. 


Shanghai: the amount of SO2 emission and COD lowered by 2.0% and 2.52% 

respectively (July 15, 2008) 

“Inflection Point” showed on the progress of the emission reduction in Shanghai City 

according to the result of 2007 emission reduction assessment of the main pollutants 

managed by MEP and relevant departments. The amount of SO2 emission was 497.8 

thousands ton, lowered by 2.0%, while the amount of the COD was 294.4 thousands ton, 

reduced by 2.53%, 0.52% over fulfilling. The factor of Shanghai city that showed the 

long-term management level for reducing emission ranked first in the whole country, 

which is appreciated by MEP. 


Taiyuan: 158 days above Grade II air quality standard in the first half year (July 15, 2008) 

Excellent/good air quality days reached 158 in the first half year in Taiyuan, Shanxi 

province, said by the official of Taiyuan EPB July 15. In the first half of 2008, the excellent 

130



air quality days reached 21, increasing 15, while good air quality days reached 137, 

increasing 10. And above Grade III, tiny polluted days reached 22, while above Grade IV, 

moderate polluted days reached 2. No heavy polluted days happened in the first half of 

2008. 

Chinese link: http://www.tynews.com.cn/news_center/2008-07/15/content_3492110.htm 

Yunnan: the process of emission reduction enter key step (July 18, 2008) 

Based on the speech of Director of the Yunnan EPB July 17, a passel of projects aiming to 

reduce emission have been accomplished in 2007, which made Yunnan province 

achieved the annual purpose, that is, the SO2 emission and COD decreased by 3.14% 

and 1.36%. One of the purposes in 2008 is to ensure reducing SO2 emission by 3%, best 

for 4%, comparing with 2007. Besides, the mission requested by the 11 th five plan need to 

be accomplished, that is, to reduce the SO2 emission by 54%. It means the process of 

emission reduction enter key step for Yunnan province. 



Qingdao: monitoring system pre-run in petrochemical area (July 14, 2008) 

In order to watch the air quality of petrochemical area in Qingdao city, an auto-monitoring 

system for air quality has been installed and pre-run recently. The system is able to 

auto-monitor 10 target pollutants and special pollutants meanwhile. The monitoring center 

can deal with sudden events effectively by coordinating with departments of police, fire 

protection, agriculture and environmental protection in an area of 19.18 km 2 . 


Sino-Italy Cooperation Program aim to reduce PM emissions from diesel vehicles in 

Beijing (July 18, 2008) 

A cooperation memorandum has been signed by Beijing government and department of 

Environmental Domain and Ocean of Italy July 10. According to this memorandum, Italy 

will support the fund to attempt to set the PM filters on the buses in Beijing city. More than 

95% of PM emission of diesel vehicle can be reduced by the technology which has been 

applied on buses in Italy and other European cities. The first pilot vehicles will be watering 

carts and buses, and other kinds of vehicles like cleaning cars will be considered 

consequently. The memorandum is a part of the Sino-Italy cooperation of Environmental 

Protection. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy consumption per unit of GDP continues to fall (July 15, 2008) 

China's energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) value continued to 

fall last year, as a result of the country's efforts to make energy use more efficient and cut 

pollution, official figures show. The energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan ($1,429) of 

131



China's GDP stood at 1.16 tonnes of coal equivalent in 2007, down 3.66 percent from the 

year 2006, the National Bureau of Statistics, National Development and Reform 

Commission (NDRC) and National Energy Administration under the NDRC said in a 

statement Monday. 

Beijing saw the energy use per unit of GDP shrink 6.04 percent last year, the biggest drop 

among all provincial jurisdictions, as the Chinese capital strove for energy efficiency and 

clean environment ahead of the Olympics. Southern China's Hainan Province had the 

smallest reduction of 0.8 percent in the indicator. 


-Initiative 

The Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission advise 

government to start fuel tax from this year (July 14, 2008) 

Jiang Kejun, a researcher and official from the Energy Research Institute of National 

Development and Reform Commission publicized partial report about low carbon scene in 

2050 China in the forum on “low carbon economy and energy Marketization” yesterday. 

The report suggested that fuel tax should be levied from 2008 and increased by 4 to 5 

yuan per liter by 2020, and government should also start to tax for energy between 2012 

and 2014, increasing gradually. The economist Sheng Hong, present in the same forum, 

thought the other taxies, like actual income tax, should be lowered down equally while the 

new taxies on energy and environment start to be collected. 


TRANSPORT 


Qingdao: vehicle allowance started for improving update cars and reducing exhaust 

emissions (July 15, 2008) 

Qingdao starts to implement the policy made by Departments of Finance and Business 

with expending range and standard of allowance for old vehicles. Country buses could get 

10 thousands yuan of allowance for the first time in 2008. It is important for improving 

update cars and reducing exhaust emissions. 


Kunming: statutes on preventing and reducing the emissions from vehicles officially 

published (July 15, 2008) 

The government of Kunming city held a press conference to publish the statutes on 

preventing and reducing the emissions from vehicles officially published July 4, which will 

be implemented from October 1. 

The statutes support the enforcement for controlling the vehicles emissions and aim to 

improve the air quality in Kunming City. 


Benxi: the detecting lines for simplized vehicles in work-condition started running (July 17, 


132



Following with waste water treatment factory and medical waste treatment center founded, 

the detecting lines for simplized vehicles in work-condition started running in Benxi City. 

More than 6.6 million yuan was spent in this project from November, 2005. Because three 

detecting lines ran at the same time, the experiment time was much shorten, which made 

high efficiency for detecting the vehicles and expended management arrange for vehicles 

in Benxi City. 


OTHERS 

Energy and environment issues for Sino-EU relations (July 14, 2008) 

French Ambassador to China Herve Ladsous said here on Monday the major issues for 

Sino-European Union relations in the next six months would still be energy and 

environment problems. With France being the rotating chairman of the EU since July 1, it 

had four major tasks during its term -- climate change response, joint agriculture policy 

pushing, new emigration policy practicing and national defence policy making, “Although 

the policies are targeting the EU mostly, their influences are across the world, making 

extensive connections with China. Thus it is quite necessary to cooperate with China on 

these issues.” said French Ambassador. 


The first pilot project on CO2 trapping for coal power station has been accomplished. (July 


CO2 trapping pilot project in Huaneng Beijing Coal power station, the first pilot project in 

China, declared to be accomplished today. After 72 hours pre-running, the system had 

succeeded in trapping CO2 with 99.99% purity, achieving the design standard. This is the 

first application of CO2 reduction technology in China, and the project is a part of the 

international cooperation program of China and Australia. The project started in 

December 2007 and can succeed in trapping CO2 3000 tons annually, with a recycle rate 

of more than 85%. Recycled CO2 will be purified for food class and used in food and 

beverage industries. Besides, the whole project used the devices made in China. 

Chinese link: http://www.cfej.net/Environment/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=16478 


Smart road system to make Olympics green (July 14, 2008) 

Besides the zero-emission vehicles plan, about 500 vehicles using the electricity, mixed 

and batteries, another one drawn up by Beijing to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, and thus 

cause less pollution, is the "intelligent transport system". The system will ease the traffic 

pressure caused by the influx of millions of spectators and tourists to the city, Sui Yagang, 

deputy director of Beijing traffic management bureau, told a press conference Sunday. A 

total of 126 "intelligent road sensors" have already been installed at intersections of 

special traffic lanes for the Games, he said. 


Inner Mongolia: Balin Right Flag set up special action teams for environment to guarantee 

133



the air quality during Olympics (July 14, 2008) 

Balin Right Flag started a special activity on “The nearest grassland to Beijing—guarantee 

the air quality for beijing Olympics” has been started in Inner Mongolia. Special action 

teams for environment were set up to reduce the pollutants emissions and prevent the 

dust by work in 5 aspects. 


Beijing: Olympics air quality daily report in both Chinese and English, broadcasting API 

from 27 monitoring stations (July 15, 2008) 

Olympics air quality daily report in Beijing started in July 14, broadcasting air pollution 

index of SO2, NO2 and PM10, which were regulated by International Olympics 

Commission. From July 14 to the end of the Olympic Games, the public can look over the 

air quality situation by logging in website of Beijing EPB(bjepb.gov.cn). What different 

with the general air quality daily report is that Olympics daily report will be broadcasted 

with API from 27 monitoring stations replacing the city average API, in both Chinese and 

English. As a result, people can quickly find the API of surrounding area of Olympics 

stadiums and the area where he or she is. 

Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/olympics/2008-07/15/content_8546638.htm 

Polluters to cut emissions for Olympics (July 16, 2008) 

Beijing's polluting businesses are ready to suspend operation or cut emissions for the 

upcoming Olympic Games, municipal environmental protection officials said on Tuesday. 

More than 150 heavily polluting enterprises have prepared themselves to stop production 

during the event, according to Zheng Jiang, Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau 

deputy director. Some petrochemical plants in the capital have already suspended 

operation in advance. 


Jinan: EPB will implement special selective examination for buses (July 16, 2008) 

From August 1, Jinan EPB will start the special selective examination for buses of 

Transport Company of Jinan city to control the vehicles emission and guarantee the air 

quality for Olympics and National Games. The selective examination will focus on the 

main lines buses, old and smoke buses reported by public and selective rate will not less 

than 85% of the amount of the transport company. 


Baoding: 2 more detecting sites set for entry Beijing vehicles’ exhaust monitoring (July 18, 


Baoding EPB set two more detecting sites in urban area and Zhuozhou for entry Beijing 

vehicles. Meanwhile, EPB extended the license deadline for eligible vehicles to 

September 20. 


Transportation: Beijing opens 3 new subway lines ahead of Olympics (July 19, 2008) 

134



Beijing opened three new subway lines on July 19 morning to ease traffic during the 

Olympic Games. An opening ceremony was held at Beitucheng Station, the transfer 

station of Line 10 and the Olympic Branch Line. Journalists and a limited number of local 

residents with intra-day tickets witnessed the scene. The other line opened was the Airport 

Line. The three lines will begin carrying passengers from 2 pm. "Trains, staff, all kinds of 

materials and signal facilities are ready for passengers," said Jia Peng, spokesman of 

Beijing Subway Co Ltd. 


Beijing starts driving curbs to ensure clear air (July 20, 2008) 

Beijing - The Chinese capital began on Sunday a two-month-long control of vehicle use to 

ease traffic pressure and improve air quality 19 days before the opening of the Olympic 

Games. 

According to a short-term traffic rule effective from July 20 through September 20, 

vehicles with even and odd plate number run on alternate days in the metropolis, which 

boasts 3.29 million vehicles. Car emissions have been considered as one of the major 

sources of air pollution in Beijing. An additional 4 million people were expected to resort to 

the public transport system due to the vehicle use control. 


135










- Chongqing: 151 days above Grade II air quality standard in the first half year 

- Rising coal prices slash profit of power producers 

- Five provinces in Northwest agreed on developing reproducible energy 

- Beijing: Good air quality in the first day of car ban policy 

- Beijing promises air quality during Games 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Chongqing: 151 days above Grade II air quality standard in the first half year (July 23, 


Excellent/good air quality days reached 151 in the first half year in Chongqing city 

published on the government website. According to the data in the first half of 2008, the 

excellent and good air quality days reached 151, increasing 12 comparing with the same 

period of last year. Chongqing regulated the system to examine and approve pollutants’ 

amount in building programs in order to control the pollutants’ amount from its sources. 

Meanwhile, the census for the pollution sources has been accomplished for the first phase 

and the relevant data has been reported to superior department. 


Yunnan: 80% of small power plants have been shut down (July 24, 2008) 

The small power plants units in Yunnan province have been shut down achieving the 

amount of 900 thousand kilowatt, which takes for 85.5% of the purpose amount, 1053 

thousand kilowatt, of the 11 th five years plan in Yunnan. 



Government steps up green gas monitoring (July 25, 2008) 

A voluntary carbon audits scheme was launched by the government yesterday to help 

reduce carbon dioxide emissions from buildings. Thirty-seven organizations including 

enterprises, universities and non-profit organizations have signed up for the scheme. 

They include Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd, HSBC and the University of Hong Kong. They 

will carry out carbon audits on their buildings and start a carbon reduction program in the 

next two years. Besides, the government has also promised to conduct carbon audits on 

136



over 10 government buildings this year. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Rising coal prices slash profit of power producers (July 21, 2008) 

China's power producers were feeling the pinch of soaring coal prices with more and more 

companies starting to report huge losses in the first half. 

Of the 31 power producers who had released profit forecasts for the first half, 19 expected 

losses and six forecast profit decrease, the Wind Info, a provider of financial data, said on 

Sunday. However, the price increase could only cover 15 percent of the losses in 

coal-fired power plants, said a Citic Securities analyst. 


Energy-efficiency ratings to be set (July 24, 2008) 

Energy-efficiency ratings on electronic devices of eight categories will be published at the 

end of this year and put into force next year, the country's authority of standardization said 

yesterday, warning manufactures, importers and exporters involved to be prepared. 

The eight categories that will be labeled will include both white goods and office 

appliances, such as water heaters, electric cookers, fans, variable-frequency air 

conditioners, computer monitors and copy machines, according to Wang Ruohong, 

deputy director of resource and environment standardization under China National 

Institute of Standardization (CNIS). 



Energy Conservation Law will be implemented in road and waterway traffic (July 23, 2008) 

The fifth regulation in 2008, named “Method of implementing Energy Conservation Law of 

the Peoples Republic of China in road and waterway traffic”, has been approved in the 

seventh ministry affairs conference of Ministry of Transport June 25 and been published 

July 16. This regulation will be implemented from September 1, 2008. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.moc.gov.cn/zizhan/siju/tifasi/jienengguanli/guanliwenjian/200807/t20080723_5 

08677.html 

Chinese premier orders nationwide energy saving efforts (July 23, 2008) 

The government and the public should take more responsibility for saving electricity and 

fuel to ease energy strains, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday. Wen made 

the comment at a meeting of the State Council, or cabinet, saying that tight energy 

supplies have greatly hindered China's economic development. 

The State Council also passed two draft regulations on energy saving measures for public 

institutions and residential buildings. China's energy use per 10,000 yuan (US$ 1,429) of 

gross domestic product was 1.16 tonnes of coal equivalent in 2007, down 3.66 percent 

year-on-year. 

137




Five provinces in Northwest agree on developing reproducible energy (July 26, 2008) 

Five provinces in Northwest China, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai and Sinkiang have 

agreed on developing reproducible energy based on the discussion by government 

officials, energy companies and experts on the forum about electric network and clean 

energy technology in 2008. In order to decrease the pollution occurred by energy crisis, 

five provinces make their own plans to develop the reproducible energy because of the 

abundant resources like wind, solar and water resources in Northwest. For instance, 

National Development and Reform Committee approved the project from Gansu province 

to develop wind energy in Jiuquan, in which capacity of wind energy power will reach 

12.71 million kW. 

Chinese link: http://www.lzbs.com.cn/rb/2008-07/27/content_1547396.htm 

China, Russia launch energy resources negotiation mechanism (July 27, 2008) 

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor 

Sechin launched an energy resources negotiation mechanism here on Saturday. Energy 

cooperation plays an important role in the strategic cooperation between China and 

Russia, he said, noting the establishment of the energy resources negotiation mechanism, 

which was decided by the two presidents, injected new vitality into the China-Russia 

energy cooperation. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir 

Putin also reached an important consensus on the energy cooperation, according to 

Wang. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

Shandong: EPB held a scheme on monitoring network of vehicles exhaust (July 22, 2008) 

The department of Science and Technology Standard of Shandong EPB held a scheme 

named the Monitoring Network System of Vehicles Exhaust Project July 17, emphasizing 

the network building and online monitoring technology, and planning to finish setting up 

and pre-running the monitoring network system in Information Center of EPB and 

Qingyuan Vehicles Examination Company to complete the project. The project will 

improve the level of monitoring technology and support the strategy to solve the problem 

of vehicles exhaust pollution. 



Shanxi: government will give allowance to private cars for changing the fuel (July 23, 


From now on, every private or organization’s vehicles using oil can get properly allowance 

from government if they change the vehicles’ fuel into natural gas, coal gas or methanol 

gasoline above M85. The policy is expected to encourage private cars to use gas, coal 

138



gas or methanol gasoline above M85. Each car master will get 2000 yuan for allowance in 

this year and 1000 yuan in the following years. Buses and taxies will get more allowances 

for their fuel change, that is, 10000 yuan each bus or taxi this year and 5000 yuan in the 

following years. And the details for implementing this policy will come soon. 


OTHERS 

Hainan: financial support for responding to climate change from EU (July 23, 2008) 

Because of representative climate and frail eco-environment, Hainan province got the 

financial support to its proposal for responding to climate change from Norway 

government, UNDP and EU, with the help of National Development and Reform 

Committee. Hainan became one of the seven pilot provinces in China supported by EU. 


Greener rural China (July 26, 2008) 

The first national environmental protection meeting for rural areas the State Council held 

on Thursday sounded the clarion call to fight environmental degradation and pollution in 

China's vast countryside. It marked a vital step forward to enhance rural environmental 

protection and to boost the country's efforts in energy-saving, environmental-friendly and 

sustainable development. 

The State Council has made it clear that the focus of the latest protection work is to ensure 

water safety in rural areas and further promote the building of sewage treatment facilities. 

But in the long run, policymakers should also come up with a holistic approach to rural 

environmental protection. 



Beijing: Good air quality in the first day of car ban policy (July 22, 2008) 

The API in the first day of car ban policy is 55, which means the air quality is good. At the 

same time, 12 domestic and foreign experts started the monitoring and assessment for air 

quality during Olympics. The 27 monitoring stations and 18 temporary monitoring stations 

around Olympics Gyms as well as the 12 ground monitoring stations set by CAS including 

Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Tangshan, Zhuozhou, Yanjiao and Qinhuangdao began to work. 

Du Shaozhong, Vice director of Beijing EPB, said that the effect is hard to be observed in 

short time unless the car ban activity continued for about 20 days. In case the air quality 

exceeds the standard Beijing EPB will immediately start a contingency plan including 

banning more vehicles or shutting down more factories. 


The 14 th phase of air pollution control has been accomplished (July 24, 2008) 

Based on the information from Beijing EPB, the comprehensive missions of fourteenth 

phase to controlling air pollution has been accomplished, and all guarantee measures are 

implemented smoothly. Pollutions from vehicles and industry, including coal burning, dust 

139



and volatile organic compounds, have been in control. And each department has prepared 

well to guarantee the air quality during Olympics. 


MEP published the first group of eligible cleansing of vehicle (July 24, 2008) 

Aimed to control vehicle pollution, based on three policies, the affiche about the request to 

manage the cleanser for vehicles, cleansing of vehicle (GB 19592-2004), and control 

standard of hazardous compounds of vehicle (GWKB 1-1999), MEP published the list of 

the first group of eligible cleansing of vehicle, which should be used during Olympics and 

Paralympic. 

Chinese link: http://www.zhb.gov.cn/info/bgw/bgg/200807/t20080724_126456.htm 

Beijing's car controls cut emissions by 20 percent (July 25, 2008) 

Major air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particle matter emitted 

by vehicles have dropped by 20 percent in Beijing, thanks to the city's vehicle restrictions 

for the Olympics. Twenty-two days out of the first 25 days in July reached the standard of 

"blue sky" days, or days with fairly good air quality, said Li Wei, deputy secretary general 

of the Beijing Municipal Government. Beijing took 300,000 high-emission cars off its roads 

in early July. From July 20 private cars will be banned on alternate days according to their 

odd or even number license plates, in a bid to improve air quality and ease traffic 

congestion. 

But residents and visitors still complain as the city is covered by mist and fog as usual. 


Tianjin: examination about taxies’ gas cylinders for free in order to keep safe (July 25, 


To guarantee the safety of high pressure cylinders in taxies during Olympics, Department 

of Quality and Technical Monitoring in Tianjin city started the safety examination for taxies 

for free from July 21 to 31. So far, there are about 500 taxies using natural gas and 

effective to save energy and reduce emission. The examinations include leak examination 

of gas supply system, examination of high-pressure cylinders, shelf examination and 

regular maintenance. The taxies without the Olympic eligible mark of safety examination 

will be refused by gas station from August 1. 


Beijing promises air quality during Games (July 26, 2008) 

An environment official on Saturday pledged to maintain Beijing's air quality "on good or 

moderate levels" during the Olympic Games, denying a recent haze over the city was 

caused by pollution. "Beijing has made three major leaps in improving the air quality," said 

Du Shaozhong, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, told 

a press conference at the Main Press Center (MPC) of the Beijing Olympic Games. 

"Monitoring analysis shows the emergency measures adopted since July have helped 

improve the air quality," the deputy director said, adding that there has been 22 days with 

API under 100 from July 1 to 25. 

140



About the haze happened from 25 th , "Technically, the haze was partly caused by rainy 

weather," Guo Hu, head of the Beijing Municipal Observatory, said at the conference. 

Du Shaozhong discourages people from wearing face masks during the Games, saying it 

is "totally unnecessary". 


Xingtang: activities focus on illegal mining to improve the air quality (July 27, 2008) 

Xingtang County, the nearest county to the capital of Hebei province, launched special 

activities to examine and ban the illegal mining in order to welcome the Olympic torch to 

the capital of Hebei and improve the air quality during Olympics. 45 illegal mining sites 

have been banned and 12 mining devices have been destroyed. 

Chinese link: http://www.heb.chinanews.com.cn/news/fzzx/2008-07-27/25493.shtml 

141










- Shanxi: monitor air quality at the public places for the first time 

- China and Thailand will enhance the development of renewable energy 

coping with the climate change 

- Beijing: environment-friendly cars with small displacement will be used as 

official cars 

- Emergency measures are constituted to guarantee the good air quality during 

Olympics and Paralympics 

- China will improve regional air quality after Olympics 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Ningxia: better air quality in the first half year (August 1, 2008) 

In the first half year of 2008, Ningxia Municipality EPB carried out a series of measures to 

improve environmental quality, including removing another 94 boilers and monitoring the 

heavy polluted industries. The excellent or good air quality days in the first half year are 5 

days more than the same period of the last year. 



Chengdu: Accountability System is carried out to improve air quality (August 2, 2008) 

Chengdu government showed the new regulation about cleaning the air in city to request 

the advice on July 29. According to the new regulation, the accountability system will be 

carried out in Chengdu to improve the air quality. Besides, the regulation will expend the 

ban area of burning from 6 districts to the whole urban areas. 

Chinese link: http://news.sohu.com/20080802/n258542735.shtml 

Yantai: another 5 auto-monitoring stations are set up in urban area (July 31, 2008) 

Yantai EPB set up another 5 auto-monitoring stations, the total number achieving 11, in 

urban area. The auto-monitoring stations in urban area and important industries build 

the network system of online monitoring, which can perform 24h-monitor the air quality. 


142



Shanxi: monitor air quality at the public places for the first time (July 28, 2008) 

Beginning from the third quarter of this year Shanxi province will monitor the air quality in 

the public places like cinemas, supermarket and hotel for the first time in the country. 

Shanxi EPB will begin to monitor the pollutants including carbon monoxide, ammonia, 

formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene at the public places in the most crowded 

period. 

Chinese link: http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/07-28/1326584.shtml 

ENERGY 

- Facts 

China unleashes clean revolution, says report (August 1, 2008) 

A report published on Friday hailed China as the world's leading renewable energy 

producer, overtaking more developed economies in exploiting valuable economic 

opportunities, creating green-collar jobs and leading development of critical low carbon 

technologies. The report was released by the Climate Group, an independent organization 

that works internationally with government and business leaders to advance climate 

change solutions and accelerate a low carbon economy. The report, entitled "China's 

Clean Revolution," shows that China's transition to a low carbon economy is well 

underway, led by supportive government policies which are not only driving innovation in 

low carbon technologies but also diverting billions of dollars of investment into energy 

efficiency and renewable energy. 



China start a project of developing bio-diesel by planting Jatropha curcas (August 1, 2008) 

China will start a project of developing bio-diesel by planting Jatropha Curcas in Hainan 

Province. According to the report, the seeds of these trees could be used for extracting 

the bio-diesel. And every 3 tones seeds will epurate for 1 ton bio-diesel. the plant area of 

the first phase will be 100 hektare, gaining 60 thousand ton seeds. 


China and Thailand will enhance the development of renewable energy coping with the 

climate change (July 28, 2008) 

The officials and experts from China and Thailand said that the two counties will enhance 

the cooperation on developing the renewable energy to improve the regional sustainable 

development and cope with the climate change on the scheme in Kunming. 

The officials from Yunnan said they hoped to cooperate with Thailand and other counties 

to solve the technology about the bio-energy like bio-diesel and solar energy in 3 to 5 

years. 


TRANSPORT 

143

-Facts 



Beijing: 97% of buses achieve Grade III emission standard (July 30, 2008) 

The number of buses above Grade III emission standard has reached 20453, 97% of the 

total. According to the Public Transport Company of beijing, the number of buses using 

natural gas is 4158, most in the world and bigger than the sum of buses in the same kind. 

Currently, all 20904 buses reach the “green emission standard”. 



Beijing: environment-friendly cars with small displacement will be used as official cars 

(July 31, 2008) 

The next half of this year, the government of Beijing will adjust the price and standard of 

official cars. Economic and environment-friendly cars with small displacement will be 

chosen as official cars to save energy and become the example to encourage people to 

save energy. 


OTHERS 

Qinghai: propagandize the plan coping with the climate change (August 2, 2008) 

Qinghai government held the news press to pronounce the implementation of Qinghai 

Local Plan for Coping with Climate Change. The plan includes 5 parts of the main body, 

for example, the situation of climate change and endeavor for coping with it in Qinghai, 

main climate change problem and their impacts and the main strategies and measures to 

cope with the climate change. 

Chinese link: http://news.sohu.com/20080802/n258552564.shtml 


Blue sky continues, excellent air quality on August 3 (August 3, 2008) 

Blue sky continues in Beijing. The average API from 27 monitoring stations of air quality is 

36, a little higher than 34 of yesterday, keeping excellent air quality. The air pollutants are 

slowly accumulated because no obvious rainfall and wind happen. The data from 

monitoring center of Beijing EPB showed that the API from 20 monitoring stations such as 

Olympic Center in Chaoyang District are all below 50, achieving excellent air quality, 

whereas the air quality clarified by the rest 7 stations is good. The most polluted place is in 

Daxing District with API 61, and the cleanest place is in Changping District with API 16. 

Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-08/03/content_8928184.htm 

China will improve regional air quality after Olympics (August 3, 2008) 

After Olympic Games, the Chinese government will strengthen the environmental 

protection work, improve the air quality in Beijing and further enhance the control of the 

regional air pollution, said by Fan Yuansheng, director of Department of Pollution Control 

in MEP on the News Press held at International News Press Center in 2008. The air 

pollution is a complex and regional problem. In order to improve the air quality in Beijing, 

144



MEP, Beijing EPB and governments of surrounding provinces and cities get together to 

implement the measures of air quality control. According to the air quality situation in July, 

the measures work obviously. Most of them will continue after Olympics because they are 

long-effective. 


MEP: another 200 thousand cars will go off road in case of extremely adverse weather 

conditions (August 3, 2008) 

The official from China MEP showed his confidence to the good air quality during 

Olympics in the news press today. Beijing will suspend another 200 thousand cars 

responding to the extremely adverse weather conditions, according to the Emergency 

Measures of Air Pollution Control in Extremely Adverse Weather Conditions during 

Olympics and Paralympics. 


The “sauna weather” will not appear continuously during Olympics (August 2, 2008) 

“There will be less adverse weather conditions in August”, said vice director of National 

Weather Bureau, Zhai Panmao. And based on analysis of the meteorology data in the 

same period of 30 years, the “sauna weather”, which can cause bad air quality, will not 

appear continuously during Olympics. The average temperature will be 24.9℃ and the 

probability of occurrence of daily extremely warm weather above 35℃ is 0.4%. After the 

“Autumn Begins” coming on August 7, the weather will become cooler so the “sauna 

weather” will not happen continuously like July. 

Chinese link: http://2008.sina.com.cn/hx/other/2008-08-02/1001139830.shtml 

Beijing sky turns blue (August 2, 2008) 

The National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, is seen over a man-made lake, at 

sunset in Beijing, August 1, 2008. The Beijing sky turned from grey to blue Friday, with the 

average air pollution index dropping to 28, dubbed as "level 1" or "excellent", local 

environment authorities said. 


More 10% cars could go off roads for cleaner air (August 1, 2008) 

Another 10 percent Beijing vehicles will go off the roads if the weather is "extremely 

unfavorable" during the Olympic Games, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has 

said. The traffic restriction already in force allows vehicles with even and odd license 

numbers to hit the roads only on alternate days, reducing them by half. The emergency 

measure would make private cars whose last two license plate digits match the date 

(between August 8 and 24) to be off the roads. This could reduce the total number of 

private cars on the capital's roads by 60 percent. 


Beijing: Excellent air quality on 30 July makes people confident to achieve Green 

Olympics (August 1, 2008) 

145



According to the data from Environmental Monitoring of China, from 20 to 28 in July, the 

API in Beijing is 55, 65, 67, 85, 113, 110, 118, 113 and 96, respectively. And excellent air 

quality appeared on July 30, with 43 of API. Vice director of Beijing EPB Du Shaozhong 

responded that the data indicated the decreasing trend of the pollutants, averagely 

decreased by 20%. And the accumulation of the pollutants has been slowed down, which 

will improve the air quality soon. 


Hohhot: destroy 70 boilers to ensure the air quality in Beijing (August 1, 2008) 

To solve the problem that annual average concentration of SO2 exceeds the standard 

and guarantee the air quality in Beijing during Olympics, Hohhot carried out the activities 

to destroy and improve the boilers in the past two months, ending by July 31. 70 of 237 

boilers in the whole city have been destroyed and the rest are being improved. And the 

monitoring measures will be implemented to prevent the air pollution from new unqualified 

boilers. 

Chinese link: http://www.northnews.cn/news/2008/200808/2008-08-01/158079.html 

Emergency measures are constituted to guarantee the good air quality (August 1, 2008) 

The principle of air quality from MEP pronounced to the public: in order to guarantee the 

good air quality in extremely adverse weather conditions during Olympics and 

Paralympics, MEP and governments of Beijing, Tianjin Municipalities and Hebei province 

together constituted the Emergency Measures of Air Pollution Control in Extremely 

Adverse Weather Conditions during Olympics and Paralympics. The time point to start or 

end the implementation of these measures would be suggested by the operation 

headquarters based on the air quality forecast in coming 48 hours. 


Industry, traffic control may expand for cleaner air (July 31, 2008) 

Beijing and the neighboring areas may impose stricter measures to curb industrial and 

vehicle emission in case of serious air pollution during the Olympics, according to China's 

environmental watchdog. Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province will expand their current 

curbs on cars and factories, should meteorological departments foresee an unfavorable 

air quality induced by "extreme unfavorable weather conditions" in the coming two days, a 

report on the website of China's Ministry of Environmental Protection said. Under such 

circumstances, Beijing would shut down 105 more electric, furniture, building material and 

chemical plants, halt all construction work, and pull more vehicles off the road. 

In Tianjin, 56 more coal-fueled power companies, coal-fired heating projects, building 

materials, electric and chemical factories would be suspended from production in case of 

unfavorable air quality forecasts, with cars banned on alternate days according to their 

odd or even plate numbers. 

Similar measure would be carried out in Hebei Province's Zhangjiakou, Chengde, 

Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Langfang, and Tangshan. The emergency plan would be 

terminated after relevant authorities confirm that air quality in the coming two days could 

meet official standards. 

146




Stricter car controls mulled if weather worsens (July 30, 2008) 

If Beijing's "sauna weather" returns during the Olympics, officials will need to pull more 

cars from the roads to ensure good air quality, said Professor Zhu Tong, of Peking 

University, as an air quality adviser to the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday. Officials would 

then have to consider further measures, including banning from the roads pre-Euro 3 

emissions standard vehicles, he told the media in a group interview. 

"Statistics showed that the nitride in the air has dropped by 48 percent since July 20 when 

a series of curbs were implemented to improve air quality ahead of the games," said Liu 

Zongchao, a researcher of World Economics and Politics Institute of Chinese Academy of 

Social Sciences. Beijing's air pollution index for particulate matter dropped to 44 on 

Wednesday from 90 on Tuesday. 


Power plants in the area of Beijing, Tianjin Municipalities and Hebei province start the 

information management system for smokes (July 28, 2008) 

The information management system for smokes in power plants in the area of Beijing, 

Tianjin Municipalities and Hebei province starts to run on July 24. The system can 

online-monitor the smokes including sampling, storing and releasing the information, and 

will be used for 150 units in 47 power plants in Beijing, Tianjin Municipalities and Hebei 

province. It is also a part of strategies to guarantee the air quality during Olympics. 

Chinese link: http://www.cepn.sp.com.cn/bwtj/200807/t20080728_247963.htm 

At most 40% of vehicles in Beijing will be suspended during Olympics (July 28, 2008) 

During Olympics, at most 40% of vehicles in Beijing will be suspended and 60% will be 

remained on the road, said by Du Shaozhong vice director of Beijing EPB this morning. In 

peak time that all measures done for vehicles, the number of the suspended vehicles will 

be 2 million. And the measures will reduce the pollutants emitted from the vehicles by 63%, 

118 thousand tones. 

"We are confident to meet our commitment to air quality for the Olympics. In case of 

extremely bad weather hindering the diffusion of the pollutant particulates, we will take 

further measures to cope with them. The measures are in the works and they will be 

carried out one by one," said Du. 

Chinese link: http://news.runsky.com/2008-07/28/content_2587585.htm 

147










- Beijing: excellent/good air quality days reached 149 by the end of July in this 

year 

- Ozone, particle pollution to be included in monitoring 

- Energy exchanges launched 

- New energy rule in the works By Fu Jing 

- Yangtze Delta urged to restructure industry 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Beijing: excellent/good air quality days reached 149 by the end of July in this year (August 


By the end of July, the excellent and good air quality days reached 149, accounting for 

70%, increasing by 16 days. The number of excellent and good air quality days in July is 

26, taking 83.9% of the whole month, increasing 3 days comparing with the same period 

of the last year. And the air quality of 5 days was tiny polluted. The policies show the 

effects to reduce the pollutants and improve air quality. The CO, NO2 and PM10 relative 

with transport sources decreased by 20% or so, and the acceleration of the pollutants 

were obviously slowed down. 


Qingdao: the projects of SO2 reduction are finished (August 4, 2008) 

The projects of SO2 reduction in Qingdao are finished on July 29, ending by checking and 

accepting the project of reducing SO2 in 75-ton coal boilers in Jintian Power Plant. There 

are 64 projects of reducing pollutants in Qingdao 2008, including 8 projects of SO2 

reduction in Chengyang District. These projects expected to reduce 1014 tones SO2 

annually. 



Ozone, particle pollution to be included in monitoring (August 5, 2008) 

China is likely to start monitoring ozone and particle pollution from next year to keep 

148



anti-pollution campaigns going strong after the Olympics, an environmental official said on 

Sunday. Fan Yuansheng, of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), said the two 

pollutants had caused great concern, and the MEP was making technical preparations to 

monitor them. "We should be able to start regular monitoring of ozone and PM2.5 (particle 

matter) next year, which would lead to measures to deal with them," Fan told a press 

conference. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy exchanges launched (August 6, 2008) 

Two environment and energy exchanges were launched yesterday in Shanghai and 

Beijing, as the country increases efforts in emission cutting and energy conservation. 

The Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange will collect, filter and publicize 

information for the environment and energy-related equity and emission credit trading, 

and provide a platform for such deals between companies or institutions, according to a 

statement from Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange (SUAEE), the sole owner of 

the environment and energy exchange. 

The exchange will also provide consultancy, project design and evaluation, fund operation 

and technical support to equity owners, energy reservation integrators, research 

companies and investment institutions. 


Yaoming became the UN Environment Programme's first-ever Environmental Champion 

(August 10, 2008) 

Top Olympic athlete Yao Ming agreed to accept the invitation from the UN and he became 

the UN Environment Programme's first-ever Environmental Champion, UNEP announced 

yesterday. Yao promised to commit himself to sustainable development all over the world 

including China and other places. “As an athlete, I believe sports can strongly promote the 

environmental protection. So I will endeavor with other youth to plant trees, use clean 

energy, recycle the rain and become the environmental champion in his own community.” 

said Yao. 

Chinese link: http://2008.hexun.com/2008-08-10/108013919.html 


New energy rule in the works By Fu Jing (August 7, 2008) 

The government is drafting an energy regulation to stop new fixed-asset projects that do 

not meet national energy standards. Aiming to curb the investment frenzy and help realize 

China's energy-saving targets, the regulation means investors cannot be given a 

go-ahead if they don't design detailed energy-efficient schemes. 

Currently 10 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions such as Beijing, Tianjin, 

Jiangsu and Inner Mongolia have started to put the rule into pilot operation. 


149

TRANSPORT 

-Facts 



Transportation: Traffic rule driving rapid improvement (August 7, 2008) 

The alternating odd-even license plate restriction on private cars introduced in Beijing 

from July 20 has effectively reduced traffic, an official said Wednesday. 

Traffic congestion on major avenues has declined by 21 percent, while average traveling 

speeds have increased by about 27 percent, deputy director of the Beijing municipal 

committee of communications Li Jianguo told a press conference. 

The measure, which will be repealed from Sept 20, targeted Beiijng's 3.3 million drivers 

and intend to improve traffic flow and air quality. 


OTHERS 

Siemens China will create the value of 4 billion EUR in 2010 by portfolio related with 

environmental protection (August 6, 2008) 

Based on the aim of “Green GDP” in China, Siemens China will create the value of 4 

billion ERU by portfolio related with environmental protection in 2010. Besides, Siemens 

will invest 5 billion Yuan on researching and innovating the technology of environmental 

protection and saving energy. 

Chinese link: http://www.gkong.com/html/news/2008/8/25050.Html 

MEP named the eco cities and counties in the second phase (August 7, 2008) 

MEP named the eco cities and counties by examining and publishing, including Miyun and 

Yanqing County in Beijing. There are just 11 eco-cities and counties in the whole country. 

Source: Beijing EPB 

Yangtze Delta urged to restructure industry (August 6, 2008) 

China's State Council, or the cabinet, on Wednesday approved guidelines to boost the 

development of the Yangtze River Delta. The Yangtze River Delta Region, which covers 

affluent Shanghai, as well as Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, is a major economic engine 

in China. "The region should quicken its industrial restructuring and seek to create an 

industrial structure with a modern service industry as the pillar," said the guidelines. 

The region should improve its overall capacity and ability to innovate while aiming for 

sustainable development, the guidelines said. The delta region should also coordinate the 

development of rural and urban areas. 


China's environment watchdog expands (August 5, 2008) 

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) has expanded, with three new 

departments. These are the Department for Control of Pollutant Discharge, the 

Environment Monitoring Department, and the Department of Publicity and Education. 

"The reshuffle is conducive to the historic improvement of environmental protection," said 

Zhou Shengxian, minister of the MEP, at the ministry's mobilization meeting on July 25. 

150



"We would aim to strengthen our roles in coordination, policy-making, law-enforcement, 

and public service," Zhou added. 

The expansion was approved by the State Council on July 10 and the MEP announced 

the results last Friday. 


OLYMPICS RELEVANT 

CAI-Asia Center compiles the special daily newsletter of air quality in Olympics cities 

during Olympics. For more about Olympics, please check your email for the daily 

newsletter. 

Previous news: http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-72783.html 

151










- Anqing: environmental monitoring center to be founded 

- Guangdong: government is likely to launch new system of air quality 

assessment 

- China, US benefit from cooperation on energy issues 

- Australia keen to push clean energy in Guangdong 

- China raises taxes on big cars to curb emissions 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Guilin: No. 1 in the environmental examination in Guangxi province for the 13 th time 


According to the result of the environmental examination in Guangxi province in 2007, 

Guilin city is in the first place of all 21 cities, followed by Liuzhou city. This is the 13 th time 

for Guilin winning the examination from 1995. In 2007, NO2, PM10 in the air in Guilin city 

reached the Grade I Emission Standard, and SO2 reached the Grade II Emission 

Standard. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.gx.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-08/14/content_14126247.htm 


Anqing: environmental monitoring center to be founded (August 15, 2008) 

The environmental monitoring center of Anqing city, Anhui province, was approved and 

would be founded in order to auto-monitor the sources of pollutants and monitor the 

situation of the main pollutants emissions, the surface water and air quality. The center 

shows the willingness to endeavor in work of saving energy and emission reduction and it 

is expected to help the environmental protection of the city. 

Chinese link: http://www.ah.gov.cn/zwzb/showcontent2.asp?newsid=8055&tabname=ds 

Guangdong: government is likely to launch new system of air quality assessment (August 


Guangdong EPB disclosed that they would coordinate with meteorology department to 

152



formulate new system to assess air quality correctly and comprehensively as the 

respondence to the comment from a CPPCC member. The new system will include the 

index of visibility and fine particles (PM2.5). Current system of air quality assessment was 

oppugned by CPPCC member Wu Peiguan in Guangdong province, because sometimes 

the haze happened in the cities but the data of API still showed that the air quality was 

excellent or good. Wu suggested adding the index of sources of the haze into the system 

of air quality assessment. 

Chinese link: http://www.nfdaily.cn/gd/v3sz/content/2008-08/12/content_4532126.htm 

ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy-saving rules (August 13, 2008) 

The regulations adopted by the State Council at the weekend on energy-saving in civilian 

buildings and public institutions are a further step in pressing ahead with the country's 

general strategy of sustainable development. 

With the construction area of civilian buildings increasing by 1.8 to 2 billion sq m annually 

on the average and energy consumption in this area accounting for 27.5 percent of the 

total energy used nationwide, the potential for energy-saving in this sector can make a 

great difference to China's overall energy strategy. 


CNOOC announces new oil, gas discovery in Bohai Bay (August 12, 2008) 

China National Offshore Oil Co., Ltd. (CNOOC Ltd.) announced on Tuesday it had 

discovered oil and natural gas in its wildcat well, drilled in the Yellow River Mouth Sag of 

east China's Bohai Bay. Test flows were about 1,500 barrels of oil and 220,000 cubic feet 

of gas per day, according to the Beijing-based oil giant. 



China, US benefit from cooperation on energy issues (August 14, 2008) 

The cooperation between the Unites States and China on energy issues will benefit both 

countries, a senior US official said on Wednesday. 

"Working cooperatively with the Chinese to both develop new energy technologies and 

increase the energy efficiency of our economies is a worthy goal that we believe will 

contribute to a stable bilateral relationship," said Katharine Fredriksen, acting assistant 

secretary of US Energy Department in a hearing in Congress. 


Hubei: 5 billion yuan is invested to build the bio-energy plants base to mitigate the 

shortage of diesel (August 13, 2008) 

The plan of refining bio-diesel using plants was approved by experts and the bio-energy 

plants base will be built according to this plan. This base, built by 5 billion yuan of 

investment, is expected to mitigate the shortage of diesel and become a reformation from 

traditional forestry to the bio-energy development. 

153




Australia keen to push clean energy in Guangdong (August 13, 2008) 

Australia is seeking to strengthen cooperation on clean energy with Guangdong province. 

"There is a great opportunity for Australian providers of environmental technologies to 

take an active role in assisting the province move toward a more energy-efficient 

economy," Australia's Minister of Trade Simon Crean said at a China-Australia clean 

energy forum Tuesday. 


Huadian invests millions in wind (August 13, 2008) 

China Huadian Corp, one of the country's five leading power companies, yesterday said it 

would invest 485.64 million yuan ($70.74 million) to develop a wind power project in the 

Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Huadian will develop the project in Tongliao in Inner 

Mongolia, with a capacity of 49.5 mW, the company's listed arm Huadian Power 

International Corp said in a statement yesterday. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

Anhui: pass rate of car-using ethanol gasoline reached 94% (August 13, 2008) 

Quality Supervision Bureau of Anhui Province examined the car-using ethanol gasoline in 

8 cities including Suzhou, Bozhou, Bengbu, Hefei, Anqing, Tongling, Huangshan and 

Chizhou. The pass rate for the ethanol gasoline reached 94%. 



China raises taxes on big cars to curb emissions (August 13, 2008) 

The Chinese government is raising sales tax on big cars, while reducing taxation on small 

ones, in an effort to curb fuel consumption and control emissions that are destroying the 

air quality in most Chinese cities. A decree by the Ministry of Finance and the State 

Administration of Taxation, signed on Wednesday, ruled that tax on passenger vehicles 

with engines bigger than 4 liters will be hiked to 40 per cent, from a previous mark of 20 

percent. Also, those buying cars with engines between 3 liters to 4 liters will have to pay a 

25 percent tax, in stead of 15 per cent. The decree comes into effect on September 1. 

To encourage purchases of small vehicles, the decree said that buyers who purchase cars 

with engine sizes at or smaller than 1 liter will pay only 1 percent tax, instead of the 

previous 3 percent. 


Xiangtan: 18 buses with natural gas will be used in the next month for the first time 


In the next month 18 buses with natural gas will be used to replace the old buses of 24 

154



lines in urban area of Xiangtan city, Hunan province. The new buses have 5 gas cylinders 

with capability of 80 liters which can support 250~300 km driving. 

Chinese link: http://www.xtol.cn/html/71495.shtml 

OTHERS 

Environment: Work begins at Tianjin's eco-city (August 13, 2008) 

Construction of the transport infrastructure within the 4-sq-km Sino-Singaporean Eco-city 

start-up area of Tianjin has begun, a local official said yesterday. Construction of the 

30-sq-km city will start next month, Gou Lijun, director of the Tianjin Binhai New Area 

administrative committee said at a press conference held at the Beijing International 

Media Center. 

The eco-city, which is located 40 km from Tianjin city and 150 km from Beijing, will cover 

10 sq km of salt pan, 10 sq km of desert and 10 sq km of watered, but low quality, land, he 

said. Located along the Jiyun River in Tianjin's Hangu district, the area will comprise 

residences, commercial space and factories, all of which will comply with international 

standards of energy use and environmental protection, he said. 





newsletter. 


155










- Beijing reports improved environmental quality 

- Coke export tariff rate raised to 40% 

- NDRC to focus on balanced growth 

- CNPC will finish the carbon trading with sale price of about 20 million EUROs 

- The old buses will be scrapped earlier 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Beijing reports improved environmental quality (August 23, 2008) 

Two major indicators of pollution, SO2 and COD, fell in the first half of this year in Beijing, 

marking new progress in the city's emission reduction effort, environmental regulators said 

here Saturday. Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the Olympic host city in the first half of 

this year fell by 12.94 percent compared with the same period last year, the Ministry of 

Environmental Protection announced. COD or chemical oxygen demand, a measure of 

water pollution, dropped by 3.82 percent, it added. The Chinese capital had projected to 

cut pollution levels for the two indicators by 10 percent and 4 percent respectively from 

last year. 


Ignoring the environment situation in Chuanxi Altiplano may cause sand storm in Sichuan 

province (August 23, 2008) 

Chengdu government held the activities to introduce the global climate change to the 

public on 23 August. The director of Sichuan Meteorological Bureau Zhao Guangzhong 

gave the speech about the global climate change. “If we don’t care the eco-environment 

situation in the Chuanxi Altiplano, the sand storm maybe happen in Sichuan province 

even though it never happens before,” Zhao said. 

Chinese link: http://scnews.newssc.org/system/2008/08/23/011060984.shtml 

Chongqing: excellent/good air quality days reached 200 in the main urban areas (August 


By August 18 th , the excellent or good air quality days reached 200, accounting for 86.6% 

156



of the whole year of 2008, increasing 12 than the same period in the last year based on 

the measures of controlling the dust, coal burning and vehicles emissions. There are only 

90 days left to achieve the aim of blue sky days, 290 days. 

Chinese link:http://www.vecc-sepa.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=26883 


Jinan: government starts to compile the plan to guarantee the ambient air quality during 

the 11 th National Games (August 18, 2008) 

In order to ensure the ambient air quality during the 11 th National Games in 2009, Jinan 

city, Shandong province, starts to compile the plan to guarantee the air quality. The 

government held a scheme to research the design ideas. According to the scheme, the 

city will implement three kinds of measures to guarantee the good air quality, including 

normal measures, intensified measures during National Games and the emergency 

measures for the extremely adverse weather condition. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Coke export tariff rate raised to 40% (August 18, 2008) 

China is to raise the coke export tariff rate to 40 percent as of August 20, up from 25 

percent, said the State Council's customs tariff commission on Friday. This move aims to 

ease a tight coke supply in domestic markets and to contain export of products with high 

pollution and energy cost. China is the world's biggest coke exporter, which accounts for 

60 percent of the coke trade volume. Despite some western country's move in reducing 

coke production for environmental reasons, China's coke exports have continued to 

increase in recent years. 



NDRC to focus on balanced growth (August 22, 2008) 

China's top economic planner will see the focus of its work shifted to ensuring balanced 

economic growth and the number of its leading officials more than halfed, according to a 

plan approved by the central government Thursday. The National Development and 

Reform Commission will have one minister and four vice-ministers whose remit will be 

ensuring stable growth. The commission, which currently has one minister and 10 

vice-ministers, will also lose some of its responsibilities for energy, industry management 

and price regulation. 


IFAT CHINA to be held in Shanghai (August 22, 2008) 

The Third IFAT CHINA Forum will be held in Shanghai by CARCU (China Association of 

Resources Comprehensive Utilization), Development and Reform Committee of Shanghai 

City and Economy Committee of Shanghai on 23 to 25 September. A forum focusing on 

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energy saving, emissions reduction and resources usage will be held in the same time. 


CNPC will finish the carbon trading with sale price of about 20 million EUROs (August 20, 


Yesterday, CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation) announced that the projects of 

CDM on nitrous oxide emission reduction in its branch company, Liaoyang Petrochemical 

Company, have been formally approved by the relative international organization. 994,803 

tons of carbon unit can be traded for the first phase. The project is the biggest CDM 

project in China by now, and it could reduce 10 million tons equivalent CO2 emissions 

every year. 

Chinese link: http://www.ce.cn/cysc/ny/shiyou/200808/20/t20080820_16550730.shtml 

On-grid energy price hike to take heat off power firms (August 20, 2008) 

China raises on-grid electricity tariffs Wednesday, in a move to reduce domestic power 

producers' losses and help boost supplies. The on-grid price of power supplied by the 

country's coal-fired plants will rise by 0.02 yuan (0.28 US cent) per kWh - an average of 5 

percent - beginning today, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) 

said on its website yesterday. The retail power price will remain unchanged. The 

government will continue its price controls on coal used for power generation, said the 

NDRC, the country's top economic planning body. 


Nation to get key oil bases by year end (August 19, 2008) 

China will complete the construction of its first four strategic oil reserves by the end of this 

year, a senior government official said yesterday. "The progress has been smooth and all 

the four bases will be completed by the year end," Zhang Guobao, administrator of the 

National Energy Administration (NEA), said after a press conference in Beijing. "Their total 

capacity will amount to 16.4 million cu m." 

Zhang made the comments at his first public appearance since the NEA's inauguration on 

August 8. The administration came into being as part of the reshuffle of government 

agencies in March. Zhang now also holds the position of vice-minister of the National 

Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the nation's top economic planner. 


Hainan Yedao Company accelerate to develop the non-grain biofuels with investment of 

0.35 billion Yuan (August 18, 2008) 

The Hainan Yedao Company gave the announcement recently. They are planning to 

cooperate with the large state-owned petrochemical enterprises to implement the projects 

of 0.1 million tons ethanol fuels. This project will spend 0.35 billion Yuan in producing 0.1 

million tons ethanol fuels and 20 thousand ton liquid CO2 (food class) with cassava as raw 

materials. 


158

TRANSPORT 

-Facts 



Qingdao: information management system of preventing and controlling the pollution from 

vehicles emission passed the examination (August 22, 2008) 

The project (1 st phase) spending 2.8 million Yuan to build the information management 

system preventing and controlling the pollution from vehicles emission passed the 

examination. The examination was administrated by the Monitoring Center of Vehicles 

Emission in Qingdao City. The system is expected to improve the management of vehicles 

emission and strengthen the network building of vehicles emission monitoring. 



The old buses will be scrapped earlier (August 19, 2008) 

The government will accelerate scrapping the old and high fuel vehicles. All operating 

vehicles are expected to achieve the standard of fuel consumption. Meanwhile, the 

government will speed up to eliminate the old vehicles, especially in municipalities, capital 

cities and the cities in the plan list. The old cars in above cities will be scrapped 2 or 3 

years earlier than their basis standard. 


OTHERS 

Using the market to cut pollution (August 22, 2008) 

As China carries out a sustainable development strategy that ties the economy with the 

environment, the country is putting more emphasis on market instruments and incentives 

to foster environmental protection and curb emissions. A shift in policymaking is 

highlighted in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) of Environmental Protection, which 

stresses "complete economic incentive policies in environmental protection" to help China 

reach its goal of improving environmental quality. China plans to cut its main air and water 

pollutants by 10 percent from 2006 to 2010. Eco-economic incentive policies refer to those 

that create financial incentives for pollution reduction, but do not dictate decisions such as 

reduction targets or the technology to use. 


Environment remains priority (August 18, 2008) 

The environment must remain a top priority as the country forges ahead in its 

development, Premier Wen Jiabao said during a visit to an industrial base in the Ningxia 

Hui Autonomous Region over the weekend. Wen cited the coal-rich Ning Dong industrial 

area, earmarked to become a major power-generation base, as one example under the 

ongoing green drive. 

"We will not only build a coal, chemical, and power base, but also develop a recycling 

base here," Wen said while visiting the Ning Dong Energy and Chemical Industrial Base. 


159






newsletter. 


160










- Huairou: good air quality days reached 78.5% 

- Zhejiang: auto-monitoring system begin to work 

- China adopts law to promote circular economy 

- Guiyang: natural gas plan for vehicles started 

- Government approves three-year rebuilding plan for quake zone 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Huairou: good air quality days reached 78.5% (August 28, 2008) 

By the end of Olympics, the good air quality days (above Grade II Standard) reached 186, 

taking 78.5% of the past days from the beginning of the year in Huairou District, Beijing 

city. Good air quality days increased 8 days comparing with the same period of the last 

year. And 99 days of good air quality is left to achieve the aim of the 14 th phrase to the 

Huairou District. 


No serious pollution after fatal chemical plant blast in S China (August 27, 2008) 

Tuesday morning's explosion at a chemical plant in south China's Guangxi Zhuang 

Autonomous Region that killed 18 people caused no serious pollution to air or water, 

authorities said here on Wednesday. 

The regional Department of Environmental Protection said samples taken after the 

explosion that ripped through an organic compound workshop inside the plant, owned by 

Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co., showed no signs of contamination. 



Shijiazhuang: Phased control will start based on the air quality control plan (August 29, 


Shijiazhuang city government finish mading the work plan on air quality control and will 

start phased control in the city for the purpose that “the annual concentration of PM10, 

SO2 and NO2 reach the Grade II Standard by 2010”. 

161



Chinese link: http://www.heb.chinanews.com.cn/news/shfz/2008-08-29/26222.shtml 

Zhejiang: auto-monitoring system begin to work (August 29, 2008) 

With 0.65 billion yuan of investment, Zhejiang finish the air quality monitoring system after 

three and a half years. The two parts of the system are air quality auto-monitoring system 

and polluted sources auto-monitoring system. They will begin to be used after testing and 

examining. 


Inner Mongolia rise the fee of SO2 emission (August 27, 2008) 

According to the notice from the Inner Mongolia EPB, government will raise the fee of SO2 

emission from 0.63 yuan per kg to 0.95 yuan per kg in order to control the SO2 emission. 

From 1 st January, 2009, the fee will increase to 1.26 yuan per kg. 


Jincheng: air quality monitoring to launch in the public places (August 27, 2008) 

The government will start to monitor the air quality in the public places in Jincheng city, 

Shanxi province. The results of the monitoring will be published quarterly by the media. 

The first 8 places to be monitored include Jincheng train station, capital bus station, super 

markets and hotels. The EPB will monitor the CO, ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, 

toluene and xylene. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.jconline.cn/Contents/Channel_362/2008/0827/134740/content_134740.htm 

ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy: GD Power H1 net profit down 44.36% (August 28, 2008) 

GD Power Development Co Ltd , a major Chinese power producer, said its first-half net 

profit was 328.52 million yuan ($48.07 million), down 44.36 percent from a year earlier, 

due to rising coal prices. Revenue was 8.74 billion yuan, up 12.6 percent from a year 

earlier. The company produced 31.38 billion kWh of electricity in the first six months, up 

11.9 percent. On-grid power production rose 11.4 percent to 29.27 billion yuan. But 

despite this rising output, high coal prices eroded its earnings. Standard coal prices rose 

33.1 percent to 478 yuan per ton in the first half, the company said. 



China adopts law to promote circular economy (August 30, 2008) 

China's top legislature passed a law to promote circular economy on Friday at the closing 

of the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress 

(NPC). The draft law was ratified after its third reading, and President Hu Jintao signed it 

into law. It will come into force on January 1, 2009. The aim of the law is to boost 

sustainable development through energy saving and reduction of pollutant discharges. 


162



New agreement targets 20yr energy needs (August 29, 2008) 

Hong Kong and mainland authorities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) 

yesterday that guarantees a supply of nuclear-generated electricity and natural gas to the 

SAR for the next 20 years. 

The MOU also practically rules out the need for a natural-gas terminal in Hong Kong, a 

decision that a government source said might save local residents about HK$1 billion a 

year in electricity costs, given the 9.99 percent permitted rate of return for power 

companies under the recent control agreements. 


'Green' law likely to take effect from next year (August 26, 2008) 

With the impending arrival of the Chinese Mooncake Festival in September comes the 

annual environmental and economic concern regarding the packaging of the traditional 

food. But this year the festival treats are also likely to receive criticism for legal reasons. 

For the first time in Chinese legislation, packaging is required to be designed in a simple 

style in order to prevent resource wastage and environmental pollution. 

This is part of the draft circular economy promotion law, which will be deliberated for the 

last time by lawmakers this week and is likely to be passed before the weekend and will 

be officially put into force next year. The draft law provides a legal framework for 

developing the economy, raising energy efficiency, protecting the environment and 

realizing sustainable development. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

Qingdao: 120 taxies start using natural gas in Chengyang District (August 26, 2008) 

In order to control the air pollution, the government changes more than 120 buses to use 

natural gas in Chengyang District, Qingdao city, Shandong province. Before the end of the 

Octorber, another natural gas station will be built for promote the use of the clean energy. 



Guiyang: natural gas plan for vehicles started (August 25, 2008) 

The project of natural gas usage for vehicles started in Guiyang, Guizhou province. 5 

natural gas stations will be built in the urban area and totally 15 stations will be finished 

before 2011. each natural gas station will cost 10 million yuan and could fuel 500 vehicles 

using natural gas. 


Hangzhou: vehicles with heavy pollution out off the road in the urban area from the 

National Day (August 25, 2008) 

Vehicles with heavy pollution will be limited to drive on the urban area from 1 st October. 

163



The driver who disobeys this regulation will be amerced for 100 yuan and 2 points off from 

the license. 


OTHERS 

Government approves three-year rebuilding plan for quake zone (August 28, 2008) 

The Chinese government has approved a plan to restore normal life and production over 

the next three years in the areas devastated by the May 12 earthquake. 

The State Council approved the general plan in principle at a meeting presided over by 

Premier Wen Jiabao and attended by executive members of the Cabinet on Wednesday. 

The general plan is aimed at strengthening disaster contingency planning and promoting 

the coordinated development of population, resources and environment. 





newsletter. 


164










- Beijing official apologizes to public for bad odors from dump 

- Guangdong: Good air and water in the H1, but acid rain continues 

- Two satellites launched to monitor disasters 

- Autos: Eco-cars to get policy support 

- Beijing: fore measures to guarantee good air quality after Olympics 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Beijing official apologizes to public for bad odors from dump (September 5, 2008) 

An official in eastern Beijing apologized to the public on Thursday for a bad-smelling 

garbage dump that's annoying nearby residents and promised to mitigate the odor in 20 

days. "On behalf of the government, I apologize to the residents living close to the 

garbage dump for the smell," Yin Xiufeng, head of the utility committee of the Beijing 

Chaoyang District, told a press briefing. The Gao'antun Refuse Dump, a major facility in 

the eastern part of the capital, opened in 2002. It covers 40 hectares and handles 3,400 to 

3,700 tons of garbage a day. Volatile marsh gas and wet garbage contributed to the 

stench, Yin said. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2008-09/05/content_7002893.htm 

Shanxi: new record of excellent air quality (September 4, 2008) 

In August, the excellent and good air quality days in 11 main cities reach 341 as a sum, 

increasing 2.1% to the same period of the last year. And the days above Grade I Standard 

reach 48.7%, making a new record in the history. In the first eight months, the days of 

good air quality in 11 main cities achieve 82% of the purpose in the whole year. The 

measures used during Olympics will be continued for guaranteeing the good air quality. 

Chinese link: http://www.xinhuanet.com/chinanews/2008-09/04/content_14307494.htm 

Guangdong: Good air and water in the H1, but acid rain continues (September 4, 2008) 

Guangdong EPB published the environmental quality situation of the first half year 

yesterday. According to the official, the urban air quality is fairly good in the whole 

province, reaching Grade II Standard in 21 cities. SO2 concentrations in 11 cities, NO2 

165



concentrations in 13 cities and PM10 concentrations in 10 cities all decreased comparing 

to the same period of the last year. But 66.7% of cities in Guangdong province suffer from 

acid rain. Pearl River Delta is the heaviest polluted area of acid rain, and nearly 50% rain 

was acid in the first half year. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.gd.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-09/04/content_14306726.htm 

Jiaonan: excellent and good air quality rate reached 100% in August (September 3, 2008) 

According to the monitoring data in Jiaonan city, Shandong province, in August, the 

excellent air quality days reach 26, while good air quality days reach 5. The range of API 

is 26~60, in average 41. Everyday in August has excellent or good air quality. 



Guangzhou: Plan of blue sky to launch the end of last year for Asian Games (September 7, 


Guangzhou EPB held the meeting for concluding the work during Olympics and designing 

the air quality measures for Asian Games. The research structure and work plan for Asian 

Games have been finished and relevant measures will be launched before November, 

2009. And it is still not sure if the even-odd plate measure will be implanted during Asia 

Games. 

Chinese link: http://www.ycwb.com/news/2008-09/07/content_1968389.htm 

Two satellites launched to monitor disasters (September 6, 2008) 

China launched two satellites to monitor the environment and natural disasters at 11:25 

a.m. on Saturday. The two satellites, launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in 

Shanxi Province and carried by a Long March 2C rocket, were expected to enhance the 

country's capacity to forecast natural disasters, according to Bai Zhaoguang, a leading 

scientist and designer of the satellites. The satellites are the first of their kind put into 

space by China. They are expected to have a lifespan of more than three years. They 

have state-of-the-art imaging systems and infrared cameras and provide a global scan 

every two days. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy: Industry cuts back on energy (September 5, 2008) 

The majority of industrial companies involved in a government energy-saving campaign 

have achieved their targets, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) 

said. Of the 953 companies that pledged to reduce energy use, 879, or 92.2 percent, 

fulfilled their goals, saving 38.2 million tons of standard coal last year, the NDRC said. It 

said 391 companies, or 41 percent of participants, had gone further and saved more 

energy than targeted. About 73 percent of the campaign participants invested 50 billion 

166



yuan to upgrade facilities to help achieve conservation goals. They invested in more than 

8,000 projects to make their operations energy efficient, including boiler retrofits and 

waste heat utilization facilities. 


China exports less high energy consuming products in H1 (September 4, 2008) 

China experienced a double-digit decline in foreign sales of high energy consuming 

products in the first half as efforts to reduce exports of such goods began to pay off, the 

General Administration of Customs said on Wednesday. 

Between January and June, China sold 53.13 million tons of high energy consuming 

products abroad, mainly rolled steel, iron alloy, steel billet, pig iron, aluminum, copper, 

cement and fertilizer. The figure was down 17.1 percent from the same period last year. 


Shenhua exempt in China stoppage of coal-to-oil projects (September 4, 2008) 

China has halted all coal liquefaction projects nationwide, except two involving the 

Shenhua Group, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on 

Thursday. Of the two exceptions, one was the under-construction coal-to-fuel project of 

Shenhua Group; the other was the Ningdong indirect coal liquefaction project jointly 

planned by the Shenhua Ningxia Coal Group and the South Africa-based Sasol Ltd. 

The latter cannot start operation before receiving official approval. 

"The move aims to control the business risk of the country's coal-to-oil industry, which is 

still in an experimental stage," the NDRC said. 



Beijing: energy survey become a part of economic census (September 4, 2008) 

The second national economic census has been started in Beijing. The economic census 

includes the aspects of economy, construction and energy. The result of the census is 

expected to be published in the next July. 


US firms seek green opportunities in China (September 3, 2008) 

China's environmental protection and renewable energy market offers enormous 

opportunities for US businesses, said David Bohigian, the country's assistant commerce 

secretary. Bohigian is currently leading a clean energy and environment trade mission to 

China, as part of the two governments' efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the 

field. 

The two nations signed a 10-year energy and environment cooperation framework during 

the fourth round of their Strategic Economic Dialogue this June. As part of the agreement, 

they pledged to expand cooperation over the next decade in areas such as clean 

electricity production and transmission, as well as efficient transportation. 


167



Coal reserve plan a bid to tame prices (September 2, 2008) 

The government will revise coal legislation to include a strategic coal reserve by 2015, as 

it tries to tackle soaring prices. Industry analysts said the strategic reserve would help to 

keep the coal price down. The revised legislation will outline the process, supervision and 

penalties involved in the proposed reserve. 


Haimen: small boilers to be eliminated gradually (September 1, 2008) 

Haimen city, Jiangsu province, will gradually eliminate the small boiler in urban and 

subside area. And the coal power plant will provide heating to the areas. The measure will 

control the usage of coal and decrease the emission of SO2 and dust. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

New car tax unlikely to dent sales much: experts (September 6, 2008) 

A new tax on cars with large engine displacements took effect this month, but the negative 

impact on sales will be small, experts said. On September 1, the tax on cars with engine 

capacities of 3 to 4 liters rose 10 percentage points to 25 percent, while the rate for those 

above 4 liters doubled to 40 percent. The tax is intended to favor energy-efficient models. 

Both imported and domestic cars are likely to cost more as a result of the tax hikes, 

according to Ding Hongxiang, general manager of the China Trading Center for 

Automobile Imports. 


Transportation: Railway cargo transport up 6.8% (September 5, 2008) 

China's railway system transported 1.93 tons of cargo nationwide in the first seven 

months of this year, up 6.8 percent from the same period last year, said the National 

Development and Reform Commission on Tuesday. 

According to the commission, the amount of coal transported as a key resource rose by 

10.7 percent. Railways also moved 855 million passengers during the January-July period, 

up 12.6 percent year-on-year. The State railways moved 1.62 tons of cargo and 845 

million passengers in the first seven months, up 6.3 percent and 12.6 percent from the 

previous year respectively. It moved 782 million tons of coal, up 9.7 percent year-on-year. 



Dongguan: emissions of 136 thousand cargo vehicles to be monitored (September 5, 


Dongguan city will examine the emissions of 136 thousand cargo vehicles from 10 

September. In the coming three months, the cargo vehicles in the whole city must to be 

monitored in 13 appointed examining sites. The vehicles not achieving the standard have 

to be maintained until the emissions are eligible. 

168




A plan for vehicles with new energy to be started by Ministry of Science and Technology 

(September 5, 2008) 

Ministry of Science and Technology will start a three-year plan to promote the 

development of vehicles with new energy in more than ten cities, for the experiments in 

about a thousand vehicles, said Wangang, the minister of the MoST. The pilot project will 

increase the number of the mix-power and new energy vehicles to about ten thousand. 


A compact way to solve a big problem (September 4, 2008) 

A possible solution to the growing price of oil came off the production line last week. The 

V3 LingYue compact car has been developed using independent research at the South 

East Motor Corporation depot in Fujian and will start being shipped in early October. Using 

Sanling technology the 1.5L MIVEC engine, with a variable valve timing system, improves 

fuel efficiency and reduces fuel consumption. Under 60 km, fuel consumption is only 4.3L. 

It is expected that 3,000 will be supplied per year, retailing at between 60,000 and 80,000 

yuan. They go on sale on September 19. 


Autos: Eco-cars to get policy support (September 3, 2008) 

Favorable policies that support the development of new energy vehicles are expected to 

come out this year, yesterday's China Business News quoted an insider from the China 

Association of Automobile Manufacturers as saying. 

The regulator has completed soliciting public opinion on the drat policies, which include 

preferential taxes on new-energy vehicles, according to the insider. 

The Olympics last month opened the way for the biggest showcase of alternative fuel 

vehicles in China, but there’s a lot more coming, according to the Minister of Science and 

Technology. 


OTHERS 

ASEAN, Guangdong sign co-op deal (September 5, 2008) 

The ASEAN Secretariat and South China's Guangdong Province, signed here Friday an 

agreement aimed at deepening and widening Guangdong and ASEAN business forum 

and cooperation through mechanism. The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by 

Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Nicholas Tandi Dammen and Vice Governor of 

Guangdong Province Wan Qingliang at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. Under the 

Memorandum, the two sides will explore and facilitate cooperation activities in various 

areas including agriculture, information and communication technology, trade and 

investment, tourism promotion, energy and environment, education and public health. 


Brazil hope to build communication mechanism for science and technology of climate 

169



change with China (September 3, 2008) 

Brazil hope to build communication mechanism for science and technology of climate 

change with China in order to cope with the challenge from climate change, said a 

conscript fathers of Brazil National Committee. He said the climate change influenced 

people all over the world, and the developing countries like Brazil and China should get 

together to face the press from developed countries. 


OLYMPICS & PARALYMPICS RELEVANT 

Beijing to operate 28 special bus routes for Paralympics opening (September 6, 2008) 

Beijing will operate 28 special bus routes for the Paralympic Games' opening ceremony 

on Saturday. 

The temporary buses will depart from the Beijing South Railway Station, the Beijing Zoo 

and Sihui, among other terminals, to the Olympic Green, the city's Public Transport Group 

announced on Friday. 

Passengers who hold tickets for the ceremony or valid cards identifying themselves as 

workers or volunteers for the occasion can ride for free, the group said. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/06/content_7005044.htm 

Beijing: fore measures to guarantee good air quality after Olympics (September 6, 2008) 

According to the information from Beijing EPB, four measures will be implemented to 

guarantee good air quality after Olympics and Paralympics, including accelerating to 

control and eliminate vehicles with heavy pollutions, limiting the producing of enterprises 

which emit heavy pollutants, enhancing the entry standard of environmental protection for 

the construction enterprises and mobiling the public to attend and monitor the air pollution. 

Chinese link: http://www.bj.xinhuanet.com/bjpd_sdzx/2008-09/06/content_14330766.htm 

Clean skies campaign was a success in Beijing (September 2, 2008) 

The massive effort to clear the skies over Beijing for the Summer Olympics paid off, the 

city's environmental authority said Monday, with the capital seeing its cleanest air in a 

decade. The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said that the 

improvement in air pollution was mainly the result of special, and temporary, measures 

that closed factories and banned cars from the roads during the Games. 

The clear weather appears to be continuing into September, with clear blue skies that 

have allowed a rare glimpse of Beijing's western hills, which are usually obscured by 

smog. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/02/content_6990146.htm 

Beijingers debate car restrictions (September 1, 2008) 

More than 400,000 Beijingers have joined an online discussion about whether to keep 

traffic restrictions introduced for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Nearly half of those taking part wanted to see the restrictions - an alternating odd-even 

license plate system - become a permanent fixture. 

Unsurprisingly, motorists account for most opponents of the measure that has been in 

170



force since July 20. 


Other comments about the car restrictions: 

Curb abuse of govt vehicles (September 3, 2008) 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2008-09/03/content_6993120.htm 

API IN THIS WEEK 

Olympics Cities API (Dominant Pollutant) 

1-Sep 2-Sep 5-Sep 6-Sep 7-Sep 

Beijing 

25 

-- 

37 

-- 

58 

PM10 

59 

PM10 

86 

PM10 

Tianjin 

39 

-- 

54 

PM10 

60 

PM10 

91 

PM10 

86 

PM10 

Qinhuangdao 

34 

-- 

52 

PM10 

60 

PM10 

67 

PM10 

71 

PM10 

Shanghai 

78 

PM10 

67 

PM10 

57 

PM10 

34 

-- 

44 

-- 

Qingdao 

33 

-- 

68 

PM10 

50 

-- 

40 

-- 

49 

-- 

Shenyang 

63 

PM10 

88 

PM10 

64 

PM10 

69 

PM10 

76 

PM10 

171










- Environment monitoring satellites send back data 

- China and US signed the cooperation activity plan of bio-fuels 

- The first solar energy compensating e-vehicle of China comes out 

- Green tax considered to help cut emissions 

- Beijing EPB strengthens the monitoring of ambient polluted sources during 

Paralympics 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Urumqi: good air quality happened in all first 10 days in September (September 14, 2008) 

Based on the data from Environmental Monitoring Center of Urumqi city, the air quality 

keeps good, Grade II Standard, from 1 st to 10 th of September, but no excellent air quality 

day appears. The API of the city is from 55 to 73 during the 10 days and the dominant 

pollutant is PM10. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.tianshannet.com/news/content/2008-09/14/content_3039723.htm 

Chengdu: concentration of SO2 reaches Grade II Standard for the first time (September 11, 


According to the monitoring data of Chengdu EPB, the excellent and good air quality days 

reach 219, including 12 days above Grade I and 207 days above Grade II, and taking 

89.8% of all days. The concentration of SO2 shows a decreasing trend, and decreased 

30% comparing with 2005. The reduction amount of SO2 has exceeded 50 thousand 

tones. The daily average concentration of SO2 is 0.054 mg/m 3 in the first eight months, 

and it is the first time that the concentration of SO2 in Chengdu city reaches the Grade II 

Standard. 


Environment monitoring satellites send back data (September 9, 2008) 

China's newly launched environment monitoring satellites have started operation and are 

sending back concrete data, Chinese authorities have announced. 

172



The two satellites successfully sent back data obtained by the charge coupled devices 

(CCD) cameras at 5 p.m. on Monday and the images converted from the data were clear, 

the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said in 

a brief release. 



Shandong: strengthen the management of straw burning (September 14, 2008) 

To avoid the air pollution and threat to the traffic safety caused by burning straw, 

Shandong province strengthens the management and enforcement to ban straw burning. 

The government will stop the burning as long as they find the fire point by the satellite 

remote sensing. Who burns the straw will be educated or punished. The local government 

who misgovern and cause air pollution will be seriously punished. 

Chinese link: http://www.sd.xinhuanet.com/news/2008-09/14/content_14397153.htm 

Shanghai: Measures in place for green Expo (September 12, 2008) 

Following its success as a co-host of the Beijing "Green Olympics", authorities here 

Thursday outlined plans to ensure an equally environmentally friendly World Expo 2010. 

Zhang Quan, director of the Shanghai environmental protection bureau, said at a press 

briefing that an eco-town, or recycling park, is currently under construction to encourage 

the development of a circular economy. Meanwhile, Zhang said the city is also set to bring 

in a "total pollution load control" for nitrogen oxide, ammonia nitrogen and total 

phosphorous, which will add to the usual barometers for water pollution such as chemical 

oxygen demand. Volatile organic compounds, which are an organic chemical air pollutant, 

will also be placed under close watch and control, he said. 

Also at Thursday's press conference, the bureau outlined its fourth three-year 

environmental protection campaign, which is expected to start next year. 


Battle against pollution 'paying off' – ministry (September 11, 2008) 

The country's battle to curb pollution is paying off, the Ministry of Environmental Protection 

said Wednesday. It said in the first half, there was further reduction in the discharge of 

major pollutants. Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which belches from smokestacks and 

causes acid rain, fell by 3.96 percent compared to the same period last year, while the 

chemical oxygen demand (COD), a measure of water pollution, dropped by 2.48 percent. 


Heilongjiang: reduction amount purpose of main pollutants to confirm (September 11, 


Heilongjiang Government launched the plan of reduction amount of main pollutants in 

2008. According to this plan, the amount of COD emission will be limited in 478.7 

thousand tones, reducing 9.3 thousand tones, 1.9%, on the base of 2007, while the 

amount of SO2 emission will be limited in 513.3 thousand tones, reducing 2.1 thousand 

tones, 0.4%, on the base of 2007. 

173




Shijiazhuang: good air quality days to be more and more (September 10, 2008) 

Shijiazhuang city, the capital of Hebei province, makes the plan to improve the ambient air 

quality in 3 years. In the plan, the excellent and good air quality days will try to reach 300 

in 2008, 305 in 2009 and 310 in 2010. The annual average concentrations of PM10, SO2 

and NOx will achieve the Grade II Standard. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy: Sinopec continues cost cuts on oil rise (September 9, 2008) 

Asia's largest refiner Sinopec said it would further cut its capital expenditure as high crude 

oil prices erode earnings. The company will also optimize its investments to focus on the 

main business and key projects, the group said on its website yesterday. "The move is to 

reduce capital and investment risks," said Wang Tianpu, president of Sinopec Corp. "As 

global crude oil prices will remain high, China's petrochemical industry will see fiercer 

competition. Sinopec is now under big pressure in profit return and market supplies." "The 

company will control the construction progress of new projects, delay those that are not 

urgent and cut those that are not necessary," Wang said, without giving details. 



Energy: Electricity tariff hike likely this year (September 12, 2008) 

China is likely to raise tariffs on electricity sold by power grids, with receding inflation 

giving regulators more flexibility to do so, the official China Securities Journal reported. 

Officials from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission said at a news conference 

yesterday that the commission has also submitted a report to the State Council, or cabinet, 

proposing measures for price reforms and improving the price formation mechanism, 

according to the report. 


China and US signed the cooperation activity plan of bio-fuels (September 12, 2008) 

The deputy minister of MoST (Ministry of Science and Technology) attended International 

Broomcorn Producing Biofuel Convention in Huston, US, and signed the cooperation 

protocol of biofuel study, which aimed to improve the cooperation of China and US to 

develop and construct the conversion and machining techniques from broomcorn and 

other raw materials to ethanol. 


Court will target energy waste (September 11, 2008) 

More will be done over the next five years to combat crimes involving officials wasting 

energy and resources, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said yesterday. 

Prosecutors will investigate job-related crimes that damage resources and the 

174



environment, and conduct synchronized investigations with other administrative 

departments on project-related major accidents, it said. 

"Anyone found guilty of corruption or dereliction of duty will be punished," the latest 

measures released by the SPP for the implementation of its 2008-12 Work Plan to 

Establish a System to Strength the Punishment and Prevention of Corruption state. 


Lower inflation leaves room for energy price hikes (September 10, 2008) 

The slowdown in the rate of inflation to 4.9 percent in August could persuade the 

government to further raise energy prices in the coming weeks, according to a research 

note by Morgan Stanley. "Consumer inflation dropping below 5 percent strengthens our 

observation that Chinese policymakers have shifted their focus from preventing 

overheating and fighting inflation to supporting economic growth," the note said. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

The first solar energy compensating e-vehicle of China comes out (September 9, 2008) 

The first electric vehicle with compensation of solar energy comes out in Hefei, Anhui 

province in August 29. The new type vehicle has gained the national patent and been 

used in Sanya traveling area. 


Zhengzhou: the first mix-drive bus to be used (September 9, 2008) 

The first mix-drive bus began to use on Sep. 4 th . The bus is 13.7 meters long and costs 

more than 1 million yuan. It can use both diesel oil and electricity and is highlighted of its 

low energy exhaust and low emission. 



Dongguan: emission examination for freight vehicles to start (September 12, 2008) 

Dongguan EPB takes special examination to emissions of freight vehicles in the whole city 

from 10 September to 10 December. The unqualified vehicles have to be maintained until 

pass the second examination. Based on the survey, the main “black tail” makers are 

freight vehicles and passenger vehicles, which unqualified rate are 65% and 40%, 

respectively, in recent years. 


Jinan: another 50 green bus on the road (September 12, 2008) 

Jinan started to use another 50 green buses under EURO III Standard. it is the second 

group of green buses being used. So far, the transport company of Jinan city has 145 

green buses in use. 


175

OTHERS 



Green tax considered to help cut emissions (September 13, 2008) 

The authorities have started researching an environmental tax for polluters to cut their 

emissions, a top environment official said on Friday. 

Several government agencies have organized an inter-ministerial team and brought 

together experts to come up with a research paper on environmental taxes, Pan Yue, 

deputy minister of environment protection, said. 


Environmental guidelines for firms investing abroad (September 12, 2008) 

China is drafting environmental guidelines for companies investing in or providing 

economic aid to overseas countries. The work is being undertaken by the Chinese 

Academy for Environmental Planning (CAEP), in cooperation with the Global 

Environmental Institute (GEI) and the University of International Business and Economics. 

The first draft is now being discussed, the GEI said. 


China-Europe Forum to ponder cooperation opportunities (September 11, 2008) 

The third meeting of the China-Europe Forum, which opened here Wednesday evening, is 

expected to debate how to explore the opportunities of cooperation between China and 

Europe. 

During the three-day forum, keynote speakers are expected to dwell on a number of hot 

issues like bilateral trade between China and the European Union (EU), climate change 

and environment protection, and the prospects of China's development. 


Two sides hope for China-India border solution (September 10, 2008) 

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi wrapped up his three-day visit to India Tuesday with both 

sides agreeing to push forward border negotiations. 

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with Yang on Monday. He said New Delhi 

hopes to continue its close high-level exchanges will China and promote bilateral 

cooperation on climate change, disaster relief, financial stability and multilateral trade. 


The production value of Chinese environmental protection industry to reach 1100 billion 

yuan by the end of 11 th FYP (September 9, 2008) 

The environmental protection industry has been an important part of national economics, 

said Yu Xiaoqing, the deputy minister of MEP in an international environmental forum in 

Shandong. The production value of Chinese environmental protection industry is 

expected to reach 1100 billion yuan by the end of 11 th FYP, annually increasing 15% 

during the 11 th FYP. 

Chinese link: http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/09-09/1376213.shtml 

176



China and US tackle clean energy and environment problems (September 8, 2008) 

David Bohigian, US Commerce Assistant Secretary, is now leading the third US Clean 

Energy and Environment Trade Mission to China. Comprising 19 leading clean tech 

enterprises, the mission is another example of the allure of China's clean technology 

market. The US government projected the market will increase to $186 billion in 2010 and 

to $555 billion in 2020 as the nation pushes forward the use of renewable energy and 

steps up efforts for environmental protection. Bohigian spoke with China Daily reporters 

Ed Zhang and Wang Xu about how the two nations can lift their cooperation on energy 

and environment protection to the next level. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/energy/2008-09/08/content_7007480.htm 

OLYMPICS & PARALYMPICS RELEVANT 

Beijing EPB strengthens the monitoring of ambient polluted sources during Paralympics 


In order to ensure good air quality during Paralympics, Beijing EPB strengthens to monitor 

the ambient polluted sources comprehensively. The measures includes controlling the 

construction, online-monitoring the main pollutants sources and enterprises, examining 

the vehicles status, monitoring the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission 

situations from vehicle makers and vehicle maintainers, and timely starting the air quality 

inspection based on the improved analysis and forecast. 




8-Sep 9-Sep 10-Sep 11-Sep 12-Sep 13-Sep 14-Sep 

Beijing 

49 

-- 

64 

PM10 

51 

PM10 

46 

-- 

58 

PM10 

57 

PM10 

56 

PM10 

Tianjin 

Qinhuangdao 

Shanghai 

Qingdao 

Shenyang 

40 52 44 55 72 54 42 

-- PM10 -- PM10 PM10 PM10 -- 

33 54 51 50 59 44 47 

-- PM10 PM10 -- PM10 -- -- 

50 41 50 53 84 71 28 

-- -- -- PM10 PM10 PM10 -- 

62 63 46 42 68 82 70 

PM10 PM10 -- -- PM10 PM10 PM10 

67 74 62 55 72 68 67 

PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 

177










- Chlorine leak puts 71 in hospital 

- China's coal liquefaction craze cools off 

- Street lamps to be lighted and shut by remote control in Beijing urban area 

- Beijing: even-odd plate ban ending and serious traffic appearing again 

- New restrictions placed on public sector vehicles 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Shanxi: best record of air quality from January to August (September 19, 2008) 

Based on the data from Shanxi EPB, good air quality days in 11 main cities reach 2458, 

increasing 258 to the same period of the last year, and complete 80.7% of the purpose 

days of 2008. The air quality in 6 cities including Taiyuan, Changzhi, Jincheng, Xinzhou, 

Jinzhong and Linfen reach the Grade II Standard for the first time, and no air quality below 

Grade III Standard happen, which made the best record of air quality of Shanxin. 


Chlorine leak puts 71 in hospital (September 19, 2008) 

Seventy-one people, including an expectant mother, were hospitalized on Wednesday 

after a chlorine leak at a chemical plant in Yunnan province. The leak occurred at about 

3:35 pm at the liquified chlorine workshop of the Xundian Phosphorus and Power 

Company, a subsidiary of the Yunnan Phosphorus Group in Xundian Hui and Yi 

autonomous county. A worker detected the gas and told about 80 people nearby to flee. 

The company's firefighters stopped the leakage within three minutes, Wang Xing, deputy 

manager of the company, said. 


Qingdao: build the announcement and feedback system of ambient air quality (September 


Qingdao city receive good efficiency of the announcement and feedback system of 

ambient air quality built by Environmental Monitoring Center and agencies in different 

districts in July. By monitoring the daily variation of data in Centre Station, officials 

analyzed the abnormal situation and coped with that in time, which is very useful and 

helpful to guarantee good air quality during Olympics and Paralympics, and also to the 

178



improvement of air quality in Qingdao city. 


Chongqing: SO2 emissions in 8 districts and counties reach the aim line in H1 (September 


According to the data release by Office of Emission Reduction of Chongqing city on 

September 15 th , the reduction amount of SO2 emission reach the aim line of the first half 

of the year in only 8 districts and counties, whereas the reduction amount of COD achieve 

the aim line in 23 districts and counties. The Office of Emission Reduction has sent the 

warning letter and adjustment notice to the districts and counties who failed to complete 

the mission. 



The domestic second highest chimney has been blown up in Zhuzhou Power Plant 


Yesterday, the chimney of 180 meters high in Datang Zhuzhou Huanyin Power Plant has 

been blown up successfully. It is the highest chimney in Hunan province, as well as the 

second highest chimney in China. The exploding is also the beginning of the process of 

shutting down two coal power plant units of 125 thousand KW. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.zhuzhouwang.com/portal/xw/zzxw/bbrd/webinfo/2008/09/21/12217896760559 

34.htm 

Proposal to cut country's emissions (September 19, 2008) 

China should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions once developed countries cut their per 

capita level of emissions to its current levels, the country's top expert on climate change 

said yesterday. Lin Erda, one of China's leading negotiators on climate change, gave his 

green proposal during an exclusive interview with China Daily before Premier Wen Jiabao 

leaves for the United Nations High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals, 

which is scheduled for next Thursday. "Rich countries must cut emissions first, and help 

developing countries on technology transfer," said Lin, who insists developed countries 

should cut emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050. 


Inner Mongolia: strengthen the implementing of SO2 emission reduction in coal power 

plants (September 19, 2008) 

Based on the information from the EPB, Inner Mongolia will comprehensively strengthen 

the enforcement of policy to limiting SO2 emission in coal power plants in order to reduce 

the SO2 pollution. The coal power plants without desulfurizing facilities will be compelled 

to stop running by the end of 2009. 


ENERGY 

179

- Facts 



Foreign companies keen to fund China's energy market (September 21, 2008) 

Foreign financial agencies are eager to play a role in China's coal industry, as the world's 

No. 1 coal producer looks to diversified sources to finance the fast-expanding industry. As 

the world's No.1 producer and consumer of coal, China needs more energy, especially 

coal, to fuel its booming economy. "The central bank would continue to encourage coal 

companies to seek multiple channels to raise funds, including securitization, direct 

financing and energy fund," said Ma Delun, vice governor of the People's Bank of China, 

at the China (Taiyuan) International Coal and Energy New Industry Expo 2008. 


China's coal liquefaction craze cools off (September 19, 2008) 

China's coal-to-liquid (CTL) frenzy has cooled after it exposed the country's many 

coal-rich provinces to huge investment risk. As a result, the government has called off 

several controversial projects. "Although CTL was widely considered as a good way to 

expand the coal industry chain, it was still uncertain that the massive investment would be 

worthwhile in commercial operation," Zhou Dadi, the former director of the Energy 

Research Institute under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), 

told Xinhua at the ongoing China International Coal and Energy New Industry Expo 2008 

in Taiyuan, northern China's Shanxi Province. 


Environment exchanges waiting for trading (September 15, 2008) 

On August 5, two environment and energy exchanges opened almost simultaneously in 

Beijing and Shanghai, the first of their kind in China. Obviously no one wants to fall behind 

the starting line. Both of the exchanges want to secure a leading position in a nascent 

market in China: trading environmental equities. China's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) 

calls for cutting energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) up to 20 

percent by 2010 while reducing major pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide by 10 percent. 

And the government is now encouraging market-based measures to achieve these goals. 



Street lamps to be lighted and shut by remote control in Beijing urban area (September 19, 


Based on the information from Beijing Municipal Administration Committee, the street 

lamps with remote control have been fixed and put into use in 8 urban districts including 

Xicheng, Chongwen, Haidian and Chaoyang. Officials can light and shut the street lamps 

according to the weather variation by remote control. The system can prolong the using 

time of lamps and save electricity. 


Special Supplement: Expo examines future of coal (September 18, 2008) 

Coal, energy, the environment and development were the global topics hotly discussed on 

180



Tuesday at the second China (Taiyuan) International Coal & Energy New Industry Expo, 

which runs in Taiyuan until September 19. Forums included one on new industries, 

capitalization, and innovation and another on development of clean energy. Officials, 

experts and scholars from home and abroad delivered lectures on the current status and 

prospects for renewable and clean energies, comprehensive development and utilization 

of coal mine gas resources worldwide, carbon dioxide storage technology and innovations 

in coal gasification. 


Urumqi: clean coal technology to be extended (September 16, 2008) 

The Urumqi government will be further aware of the importance and urgency of air 

pollution control and enhance the in investigate of polluted sources, adjust the energy 

structure and extend the clean coal technology, said an official in the meeting for air 

pollution control in Urumqi. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

Beijing: even-odd plate ban ending and serious traffic appearing again (September 21, 


The even-odd plate ban for vehicles in order to guarantee good air quality during 

Olympics ended on September 21 st , which resulted in obvious traffic increasing. Based on 

the report from News Center of Traffic Management Department, the situation of traffic 

would be very serious in post-Olympics times. Relevant departments will implement 9 

measures to ensure safe and smooth traffic. Traffic police will run Class II Plan to lead 

traffic on September 22 nd , which is the first Monday peak after ending traffic ban. 



Shanghai: Bus line 147# try to use buses with DME (September 19, 2008) 

Shanghai is likely to use 10 buses with new energy, DME, in bus line 147# within this year, 

based on the experiments without guests last year. In the mean time, more e-buses with 

batteries and capacitances will be used and increased by the number of 80. 


E-vehicles probable on the road within this year (September 18, 2008) 

With launching national policy to encourage the vehicles using new energy, the need of 

e-vehicles becomes stronger and stronger. Relevant office has started investigating and 

will establish the industrial producing standard, which is expected to be launched within 

this year at soonest. And it means that people may drive the e-vehicles on the road later in 

this year. 


181



New restrictions placed on public sector vehicles (September 16, 2008) 

With the odd-even plate license ban to be lifted on Saturday, the Beijing municipal 

government is trying to set an example on curbing pollution and energy consumption by 

imposing a traffic restriction on State-financed vehicles, the Beijing News reported on 

Sunday. Vehicles operated by government agencies, social organizations financed by 

government budgets and State-owned enterprises will be included in the ban, according to 

the gazette of Beijing municipal government, which was released on Wednesday. The 

driving ban, divided into five groups, will apply to all government-financed cars from 

Monday to Friday, depending on the last digit of the license plates. 


Panzhihua: strengthen the management of vehicles exhaust (September 15, 2008) 

The government strengthens the management of vehicles exhaust in Panzhihua city, 

Sichuan province. For this, police will take charge of period inspection to vehicles and 

ensure that the inspection rate is not below 80%, pass rate of annual inspection for 

environmental protection is more than 90%. EPB and Police will cooperate on inspection 

on road, inspecting no less than 14.6 thousand vehicles all of the year. Besides, the 

website of environmental protection for vehicles will be found by EPB and is expected to 

monitor and improve the management of vehicles in Panzhihua city. 


OTHERS 

Workshop on Climate Change Held in Beijing (September 18, 2008) 

ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee Integrated Workshop on Coping with Climate Change 

in the Typhoon Committee Area shall be held in Beijing from 22 to 26 September 2008. Mr. 

E Jinping, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, P. R. China shall take part in 

the meeting and delivered a speech. High ranking officials of JIAO Meiyan, Vice 

Administrator, China Meteorological Administration, Dr. Olavo Rasquinho, TC Secretary, 

Dr. Xuan Zengpei, Director of the Information Communications Technology and Disaster 

Risk Reduction Division, ESCAP etc shall participate the meeting and make addresses. In 

the workshop, Keynote lectures shall be made on many topics such as climate change 

and typhoon protection, climate change and water and regional cooperation on climate 

change. 

English link: 

http://english.mep.gov.cn/News_service/media_news/200809/t20080918_128971.htm 


Olympics 

Cities API (Dominant Pollutant) 


Beijing 58 63 62 71 66 59 88 

182



PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 

88 95 70 80 77 56 71 

Tianjin PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 

54 60 53 72 51 52 66 

Qinhuangdao PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 

29 41 54 61 51 67 81 

Shanghai -- -- SO2 SO2 SO2 PM10 PM10 

54 53 34 51 55 43 70 

Qingdao PM10 PM10 -- PM10 PM10 -- PM10 

64 70 64 72 70 86 97 

Shenyang PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 

183










- Central government release the report of emission index of main pollutants in 

all country in H1 

- Beijing imposes car ban to ease traffic jams 

- China technical committee for alcohol and aether fuel standard has been 

founded 

- Shanghai: renting bicycles promote green travel 

- Fund established for environment conservators 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Sinkiang: pollutants emissions increase, reverse to the situation of the country 


The COD and emission amount of SO2 of Sinkiang and Qinghai increased comparing to 

the same period of last year, while other provinces show the decrease. Sinkiang made the 

biggest increase in all country. According to the official of Sinkiang EPB, the main reasons 

of the increase include slow progress of old enterprises, lack of desulfurization facilities in 

power plants and not enough investment to the environmental protection, etc. 


Xiamen: excellent and good air quality days increase (September 28, 2008) 

According to the deputy director of Xiamen EPB, the concentrations of air pollutants are 

highly decreased in this year, much better than the last year. The API data show that the 

excellent and good air quality rate reaches 96% from Jan 1st to Sep 24th, while excellent 

air quality days reach 100, 7 more days than the same period of the last year. The number 

of tiny polluted days is 11. 


Henan: shutting down the small power plants makes more than 5% of decreasing 


Based on the report released by MEP, the COD and emission amount of SO2 of Henan 

province decreased 5.38% and 5.665%, representatively, which makes Henan the only 

province whose pollutants emissions decrease more than 5% in both two indexes. 

184



“Shutting down the small power plants is the key factor to the both decreasing, and it is 

called “Henan Model” expended in all country”, said vice nomarch, Zhang Dawei. 


Central government release the report of emission index of main pollutants in all country in 

H1 (September 24, 2008) 

MEP, National Bureau of Statistics of China and NDRC have released the report of 

emission index of main pollutants in all country in the first half of 2008. According to the 

report, the COD of China in 2008 is 6742 thousand tones, decreasing 2.48% than the 

same period of 2007 (6931 thousand tones); the emission amount of SO2 is 12.133 

million tones, decreasing 3.96% than the same period of 2007 (12.634 million tones). 

Besides, desulfurizing units of 40.6 million KW have been built and used for clean coal 

burning. 

Chinese link: http://www.zhb.gov.cn/xcjy/zwhb/200809/t20080924_129291.htm 

Beijing: good air quality in the first day without the odd-even license plate system 


The city's two-month alternating odd-even license plate system ended yesterday for the 

Olympic Games ending. The temporary policy guarantees that the reduction of pollutants 

emission reaches 60%, 20% more than the experts’ expectation. The air quality of 

September 22, Sunday, is still good, but it is fairly obvious of the increasing trend of 

pollutants amount. 

Chinese link: http://www.ce.cn/cysc/hb/gdxw/200809/22/t20080922_16874466.shtml 

Beijing's air quality fueling debate (September 22, 2008) 

Debate on the future of Beijing's air quality has continued amid the capital's return to 

normalcy after its hosting of the recent Olympics and Paralympics - with construction 

resuming, factories restarting operations and all cars allowed once again on the roads. 

"We feel that the Olympics is the best thing that could have happened to air quality in the 

sense that it has put air quality fair and smack on the agenda," said Cornie Huizenga, 

executive director of the Manila-based Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities, a network of 

governments, private sector and nongovernmental groups. 



Beijing imposes car ban to ease traffic jams (September 28, 2008) 

Beijing has announced a series of post-Olympics car restrictions which will take effect 

next month and hopefully sustain the hard-won smooth traffic and good air quality during 

the Games. 

Under the new traffic restrictions, 30 percent of government vehicles will be sealed off as 

of October 1, said a circular issued by the Beijing municipal government on Saturday. 

The remaining 70 percent of government vehicles, as well as all corporate and private 

cars, will take turns off the roads one out of the five weekdays as of October 11, it said. 


185



Beijing: summary conference for air quality monitoring, forecast and evaluation during 

Olympics (September 28, 2008) 

Beijing EPB had meeting with the teams who did the air quality monitoring, forecast and 

evaluation work during Olympics on 26 Sep. 10 working teams, including China Academic 

Institute, Peking University, Tsinghua University, China Meteorology Sciences Institute 

and China Environmental Sciences Institute, gave the work summary during Olympics, 

which estimated by the experts team. 


Beijing: the 15 th phrase of air pollution control measures release (September 28, 2008) 

The deputy director of Beijing EPB, Du Shaozhong, explained the Announcement of the 

15 th Air Pollution Control Measures to the public in the news press on 28 Sep. the main 

idea of the 15 th phrase measures is to build the long-effective measures for the air quality 

improvement and improve air quality with constant development and adjustment. 


Shijiazhuang: integrated control to the dust (September 26, 2008) 

Shijiazhuan government launched the special plan to control the dust in the city in order to 

improve the air quality and avoid the dust pollution. The city will control the five dust 

sources including construction field, breaking up field, road, naked ground and pileup 

places. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy: Sinopec takes over Tanganyika Oil (September 28, 2008) 

China Petrochemical Corp, or Sinopec Group, on Saturday confirmed it has signed a deal 

to buy Canada's Tanganyika Oil Co Ltd for 2.07 billion Canadian dollars ($2 billion, or 13.7 

billion yuan). According to an agreement signed between the two companies, the Chinese 

refiner has agreed to pay 31.50 Canadian dollars per share. The price represented a 8.8 

percent premium to the closing price of 28.95 Canadian dollars on Friday. 

The deal is subject to approval from China's government, a source at Sinopec Group said. 


Coal piling up at harbors on weak demand (September 28, 2008) 

China is seeing more and more coal piles up at major transport harbors due to a 

weakening demand for the fossil fuel. An official with the Qinhuangdao harbor bureau said 

Friday, on condition of anonymity, that Qinhuangdao harbor in northern China recorded a 

coal pileup of 8.44 million tons as of September 16. That is at least 3 million tons more 

than regular levels. He added, every day for the past two weeks, the surplus of coal has 

increased by 100,000 tons. 


186




China technical committee for alcohol and aether fuel standard has been founded 


China technical committee for alcohol and aether fuel standard is announced formally to 

come into existence on 23 Sep. it is the first national organization of making criteria of 

alcohol and aether fuel. Its foundation shows the approval and support of the country to 

the substitute fuel. 


More funds for coal-rich region (September 24, 2008) 

The central government will increase its financial support for the Ningxia Hui autonomous 

region to help develop it as a resource base and a model for circular economies, a senior 

official said yesterday. "To support the development of ethnic minority regions is a basic 

policy of the Communist Party of China (CPC)," He Guoqiang, a member of the Standing 

Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the central 

government delegation to Ningxia, said. 


TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

Post-Olympic traffic faces challenges in Beijing (September 22, 2008) 

Beijing traffic saw radical increase on Sunday, the first day after the city's two-month 

alternating odd-even license plate system for the Olympic Games ended. The 3.4 million 

automobiles and five million drivers in Beijing could put Beijing in serious traffic conditions 

in the "post-Olympic times", even more serious than before, said Zhang Jingchun, 

spokesman of the Traffic Management Bureau. The city would see more challenge after 

the end of the "odd-even" system which took effective on July 20 and aimed at cut air 

pollution and jammed traffic during the Games, Zhang said. The reopen of the accesses 

to Beijing for vehicles from other provinces would also make the highways, national ways, 

Fifth and Sixth Ring Road to face traffic jams, he said. Thirty-eight new measures will be 

taken by the municipal administrations, including an emergency plan for the first rush 

hours on Monday. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2008-09/22/content_7047214.htm 


Kunming starts to manage vehicles by the environmental protection sorting label form Oct 

1 (September 27, 2008) 

Based on the information from Kunming EPB, Kunming government will start to implement 

two regulations to manage vehicles by the environmental protection sorting label from Oct 

1. This is the first time of Kunming city to manage vehicles by sorting label. 


Shanghai: renting bicycles promote green travel (September 23, 2008) 

187



Shanghai Subway Company launched renting bicycles service, called “Forever Service”, 

on 21 September. The action is aiming to promote the model of “subway+bicycle” as a 

green travel model, and started at a polite station on Subway Line 2. 


Changchun: 200 saving energy buses on road on the “No Cars Day” (September 24, 


Changchun city limited the running of government’s cars for the “No Cars Day”. 

Meanwhile, 200 saving energy buses start to be used. The buses use natural gas and 

their emissions reach the EURO III Standard. 


OTHERS 

A green declaration announced in Shanghai (September 28, 2008) 

Putuo District in Shanghai today announces its Zhenru Declaration for Green Environment, 

echoing its effort to build the city's last business subcenter. Shanghai has completed three 

of its four subcenters which are located at Xujiahui in Xuhui District, Wujiaochang in 

Yangpu District and Huamu in Pudong New Area respectively. 

The declaration says that urban development should have new criteria for outlines and 

construction and need new urban management. As an important part of the city's urban 

development strategy, Zhenru business subcenter will be built to meet requirements set 

by the declaration, said Cai Zhiqiang, director of Putuo district government. 


MEP and Sinkiang signed 7-year cooperation protocol (September 28, 2008) 

MEP and Sinkiang government formally signed 7-year cooperation protocol. Based on this 

protocol, MEP will enhance the input to environmental protection policy, science and 

technology, personnel and money in Sinkiang, in order to accelerate the capacity building 

and improve comprehensive level of environmental protection work in Sinkiang. 


China and EU reach consensus on IPR, trade topics (September 26, 2008) 

Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and European Union (EU) trade 

commissioner Peter Mandelson kicked off the 23rd China-EU Mixed Committee on Trade 

and Economic Cooperation in Beijing and reached consensus on a wide array of topics. 

Both sides agreed to quicken the negotiation process of the Intellectual Property Rights 

(IPR) Customs Enforcement Action Plan, according to the Ministry of Commerce 

(MOFCOM). They would input 73.8 million Euros ($108.5 million) this year to launch the 

Development Cooperation Plan to support bilateral environmental protection, energy, 

climate change and human resources development and other projects, MOFCOM said on 

its official website. 


Fund established for environment conservators (September 24, 2008) 

China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA), the country's largest organization of its 

188



kind with more than 240,000 members, has set up its first-ever fund to reward groups and 

individuals engaged in protecting wildlife and the eco-systems. With one million Yuan 

($146,779) sponsored by Subaru of China Ltd, a Japanese manufacturer of sports utility 

vehicles, CWCA will give 14 groups and 35 people a reward ranging from 5,000 yuan to 

100,000 yuan for their efforts in protecting China'ss fragile eco-system and endangered 

wild species including the giant panda and crested ibis, Song Huigang, a spokesman for 

CWCA, said at a press conference on Tuesday in Beijing. 





57 12 26 30 17 50 71 

Beijing PM10 -- -- -- -- -- PM10 

55 26 34 22 26 50 44 

Tianjin PM10 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

51 21 50 51 32 50 59 

Qinhuangdao PM10 -- -- PM10 -- -- PM10 

81 65 34 35 44 39 37 

Shanghai PM10 PM10 -- -- -- -- -- 

54 57 65 68 62 56 61 

Qingdao PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 

95 65 62 66 57 76 68 

Shenyang PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 

189










- Hazy skies return to Beijing but not for good 

- Hong Kong to edit the new air quality index 

- Beijing police turn back to bicycles 

- Beijing enforces new road ban 

- UN and China will cooperate on holding a senior class conference for climate 

change problems 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Jinan: the smog of bio-burning appears for the first time (October 5, 2008) 

The smog of bio-burning appears in Jinan city for the first time from afternoon of October 3. 

The smog influenced the visibility of city, but the traffic and flight are in gear since the 

concentration of the smog particles is not very high. According to the information from the 

emergency department of environmental protection, the concentration of the smog trends 

to be higher. However, the smog that causes bad air quality of Jinan is likely from the 

surrounding areas of Jinan city. 

Chinese link: http://www.jiaodong.net/news/system/2008/10/05/010362042.shtml 

Hazy skies return to Beijing but not for good (October 4, 2008) 

High levels of pollution returned to the skies above the capital this week just two weeks 

after the close of the Beijing Paralympics. The Beijing Times said the city's air was 

polluted for three consecutive days after pollution indexes hit 106, 104 and 126 for 

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The reappearance of the smog was 

blamed on the lifting of provisional environmental protection measures taken to ensure 

good air quality during the Olympics and Paralympics. The resumption of work on 

construction sites and the return of emission-heavy vehicles to roads are also to blame for 

the smog's return. So far this year, Beijing has enjoyed 208 blue sky days, 22 more than 

for the same period last year, according to the Beijing municipal environmental protection 

bureau website. 


190




Hong Kong to edit the new air quality index (October 4, 2008) 

According to the director of Hong Kong EPB, Qiu Tenghua, the government agrees that 

the current air quality index is behind the times. The relevant departments now are 

negotiating about it, and will give the revising comments by the end of this year or the 

beginning of the last year. The emission of SO2 and NOx will be reduced by around 80% 

by using natural gas instead of coal in order to produce electricity. 

Chinese link: http://news.china.com/zh_cn/news100/11038989/20081004/15118453.html 

ENERGY 

- Facts 

Tibetans cooking with methane gas (October 4, 2008) 

More than 100,000 Tibetan households are now cooking with gas thanks to an 

environmentally friendly hole in their backyards. Pits in which refuse is placed to ferment 

and produce methane are increasingly being used to meet the energy needs of families 

across the autonomous region. Families of five can meet up to 80 percent of their cooking 

and heating needs courtesy of a pit measuring 0.5 m by 0.5 m and by 0.5 m. With a 

potential to save a family about 1,000 yuan ($146) a year, it is estimated more than 

100,000 Tibetan households are now making the most of methane gas. 


Oil refiners may return to profit in October (October 3, 2008) 

China's oil refiners may return to profit this month after benefiting from the recent falling 

global crude prices, according to an industry association. The country's oil refining 

industry would probably shake off heavy losses caused by previous crude price increases 

and state-imposed caps on refined oil prices if international prices continued to drop, the 

China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association said in a report. 



The first project of synthesizing 1,4-butadiol from natural gas has been started (October 3, 


The first chemical project of synthesizing 1,4-butadiol from natural gas has been started in 

Sinkiang October 2, which is the first project in this field in China. The project will produce 

60 thousand tones 1,4-butadiol annually and owns the facility unit with biggest producing 

ability. 1,4-butadiol, BDO, is an important compound in the organic chemical industry. 

Chinese link: http://energy.people.com.cn/GB/8127281.html 

TRANSPORT 

-Facts 

60% Beijingers hopes limit vehicles on the road (September 29, 2008) 

According to the special investigation report for green Olympics drafted by Beijing EPB, 

Beijingers give a high mark, 88.5, to the total environmental quality during Olympics. And 

191



about 60% citizens hope keeping the measures to guarantee the environmental quality 

such as oven-odd plate license system after the Olympics and Paralympics. 

Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/29/content_10131011.htm 


Beijing police turn back to bicycles (October 2, 2008) 

Bicycles have begun to return to Beijing police on their patrol in the capital city after a 

10-year absence. About one third of the police in Beijing started to patrol on 1,600 bicycles 

or electric bicycles this October, returning to the tradition in the 1990s. The measure was 

taken in a bid to reduce energy consumption and air pollution, said a report from The 

Beijing News. The policemen on bicycles also shoulder the responsibility for instant 

support to places where traffic was inconvenient. During the past decade, bicycles of 

police were replaced by motor vehicles. 


Beijing: the vehicles with yellow label will be banned in the 5 th Ring from Jan 1 st 2009 

(October 2, 2008) 

Beijing EPB announced that the vehicles with yellow label will be banned in the 5 th Ring 

from January 1, 2009, and the ban area will be extended to the 6 th Ring from October 1, 

2009. The vehicles with yellow label, not Beijing plate license, will also follow the same 

regulation. 

Chinese link: http://env.people.com.cn/GB/8126468.html 

Beijing will return to oven-odd plate license system when meets extremely adverse 

weather (September 30, 2008) 

“When meets extremely adverse weather, Beijing will return to oven-odd license system 

from October 11 on”, this is included in the 15 th phrase of air pollution control measures of 

Beijing. According to the Du Shaozhong, the deputy director of Beijing EPB, government 

will forecast the air pollution and start the plate limiting system if Beijing will meet 

extremely adverse in 48 hours. 

Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/30/content_10135076.htm 

Beijing enforces new road ban (September 29, 2008) 

All of Beijing's private cars will be banned from the roads for one day a week for a 

six-month trial period starting on October 11, the municipal government said yesterday. 

Cars with license plates ending in 1 or 6 will be banned on Mondays. Those with plates 

ending in 2 or 7 on Tuesdays, 3 or 8, Wednesdays, and so on. The ban will not apply on 

weekends. The ban will be applicable within the Fifth Ring Road from 6 am to 9 pm for 

private cars, and round the clock for government and company vehicles, the municipal 

government said. From Wednesday, 30 percent of government vehicles will also be taken 

off the roads. The ban does not apply to police vehicles, ambulances, fire engines, buses, 

and taxis. 


192



Beijing probably provides only 100 thousand plate licenses every year (September 29, 


Based on the information from officials of relevant department, Beijing will launch new 

policy to control the amount of vehicles in order to address the environmental problem and 

release the high traffic press. One of the likely measures is that only about 100 thousand 

new plate licenses will be provided every year. 

Chinese link: http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/21cn/200809290047.asp 

OTHERS 

Jingmen: lower GDP energy consumption in H1 (October 5, 2008) 

Jingmen city promoted the circular economy and reached 1.84 tones standard coal of 

GDP energy consumption in 10 thousand yuan in H1 of 2008, reducing 4.5% to the same 

period of the last year; while reached 1501.4 KWh of GDP electricity consumption in 10 

thousand yuan, reducing 4.3% to the same period of the last year. The good air quality 

day rate is 90.7% in the central area of the city, improving 2.6% to the same period of the 

last year. 

Chinese link: http://news.hexun.com/2008-10-05/109466191.html 

The project for CNC gas-cylinders made by composite materials pass the examination in 

Harbin (October 4, 2008) 

Department of Science and Technology in Heilongjiang province has finished the 

examination and acceptance to the project of Institute of Fiber Reinforced Plastic in 

Harbin for CNC gas-cylinders made by composite materials. The result of the project will 

help the extension of vehicles with natural gas and reduce the exploding danger. 

Chinese link: http://www.hlj.gov.cn/zwgk/ljdt/tjdt/200810/t20081004_135860.htm 

UN and China will cooperate on holding a senior class conference for climate change 

problems (October 4, 2008) 

Under-Secretary General of UN Mr. Sha Zukang said that UN and China will cooperate on 

holding a senior class conference for climate change problems from November 7 to 8 in 

Beijing, focusing on discussing about the international cooperation on technique 

development and transfer. 


Alcoa moves to build a sustainable future in China (September 29, 2008) 

Wider application of aluminum will further enhance energy efficiency and contribute to 

sustainable city development and construction, an executive of global integrated 

aluminum maker Alcoa said. "The concept of sustainable development as the most 

important part of urban planning has reached a global consensus," Helmut Wieser, 

executive vice-president of Alcoa said to China Daily exclusively at the Annual Meeting of 

the New Champions in Tianjin. "In addition to the regular content needed in urban 

planning, we must also take into consideration the issue of resources and the environment 

concerning urban development in order to achieve the sustainable development." 


193



Eco-city to showcase strategic partnership with Singapore (September 29, 2008) 

When the first spade hit the ground at the 30 sq km Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, 

Tianjin became the toast of the strategic partnership between China and Singapore, 

setting in motion their joint goal of ensuring a sustainable future for the city. 

Along with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Singaporean Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong 

attended the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday on the sidelines of the 2008 Summer 

Davos held in Tianjin. 




Beijing 

Tianjin 

Qinhuangdao 

Shanghai 

Qingdao 

Shenyang 

29-Sep 30-Sep 1-Oct 2-Oct 3-Oct 4-Oct 5-Oct 

83 106 104 126 108 63 49 

PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 -- 

57 79 76 90 84 40 21 

PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 -- -- 

56 56 51 62 58 56 40 

PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 -- 

43 33 56 76 61 54 39 

-- -- PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 -- 

84 85 100 61 57 68 50 

PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 -- 

70 76 74 78 65 46 62 

PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 PM10 -- PM10 

194










- Environmental watchdog blacklists polluted cities 

- Better air measure gauge on way in Guangdong 

- Beijing hikes prices for gas, diesel oil 

- New traffic restriction takes effect in Beijing 

- Targeting climate change in Himalayas 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Environmental watchdog blacklists polluted cities (October 10, 2008) 

An annual urban environment assessment report has blacklisted such major Chinese 

cities as northwestern Xinjiang's Urumqi and central Hubei's industrial Huanggang for 

their poor environmental record. The report, released by the Ministry of Environmental 

Protection on Wednesday, said northern Inner Mongolia's Bayannur and Ulanqab, 

northwestern Gansu's Baiyin, Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi and Hubei's Huanggang 

had "relatively poor" air quality. It also listed cities having low-level water quality. They 

were Hengshui and Cangzhou in northern Hebei, Linfen in northern Shanxi, Fuyang in 

eastern Anhui, Tongchuan in northwestern Shaanxi and Wuwei in Gansu. 


Beijing: 29 days of excellent or good air quality in September (October 10, 2008) 

In the whole September, Beijingers enjoyed 9 days of excellent air quality and 20 days of 

good air quality, but 1 day of tiny polluted air (Grade III Standard), which is the best level of 

the same period of last 10 years. As of September 30, the number of excellent or good air 

quality days is 208, 75.9% of the whole year, increasing 22 days than the same period of 

the last years. During the Paralympics, the concentrations of the main pollutants SO2, 

PM10 and NO2 decreased 47.8%, 57.2% and 53.4%, respectively, while average 

decrease is about 50%. 


Guangzhou: good air quality rate reaches 100% in September (October 8, 2008) 

According to the data from the environmental monitoring center of Guangzhou city, the 

195



number of excellent air quality days is 7, while 23 days for good air quality, which means 

the rate of air quality above Grade II Standard in September is 100%. Guangzhou has had 

100% good or excellent air quality for five months continuously. 

Chinese link: http://www.gzepb.gov.cn/zwgk/hjjccdt/200810/t20081007_54178.htm 

Excessive levels of toxins found in apartments (October 8, 2008) 

Researchers have discovered about 70 percent of apartments in Guangdong's provincial 

capital contained formaldehyde levels exceeding national standards, the Guangzhou 

Daily reported Tuesday. On average, levels were 64.3 percent higher than the standard, it 

said. Experts have urged local residents to avoid undertaking extensive home 

improvements, the newspaper reported. 


Chongqing: good air quality in urban area during National Holiday (October 8, 2008) 

From September 29 to October 5, National Holiday, main urban area of Chongqing 

municipality enjoyed all good air quality. The range of API is 35~73, while average API is 

57, and the dominant pollutant is PM10 in all days except September 30 (SO2). The good 

air quality days increased by 14.3%. 


Guangzhou: air pollution from coal-burning type to vehicle exhausts type (October 7, 


Chinese Academy of Engineering Zhong Nanshan gave a speech to more than 800 

officials of Zengcheng city, Guangdong province yesterday. He pointed out that air 

pollution in Guangzhou city have changed from coal-burning type to vehicle exhausts type. 

It is very urgent to improve the air quality of Guangzhou city for Asian Games. 



Even-odd rule to be used in case of heavy pollution in Beijing (October 10, 2008) 

Beijing's environmental protection bureau's deputy director Du Shaozhong said the city 

will adopt stricter vehicular restrictions during periods of heavy air pollution. "To protect 

public health over the long term, we must use both methods that increase the number of 

good air quality days and more stringent measures for when conditions are extremely 

unfavorable," Du said. Unfavorable air quality is exacerbated by low air pressure, heavy 

fog and thick haze. In addition, work will be suspended at construction sites and plants 

that produce high levels of pollution. When these conditions threaten air quality, causing 

the air pollution index (API) to reach at least 300, the government will notify the public of a 

ban two days in advance. 


Wuhai: new “blue sky “project to start (October 10, 2008) 

Government of Wuhai city, Inner Mongolia, launched the “blue sky” work plan recently, 

which showed the new “blue sky” project had been started to protect the public health and 

196



improve air quality. 


Better air measure gauge on way in Guangdong (October 9, 2008) 

The Guangdong provincial environmental protection agency is working on a system to 

better evaluate its air quality. The new system will include indices on visibility, particle 

mass concentration of PM10 (particles with a diameter of less than 10 microns), and black 

carbon particles, Nanfang Metropolis Daily reported yesterday. 

"The new system will be better able to evaluate haze, which has long plagued the 

province, especially the Pearl River Delta region; PM10 and black carbon particles are the 

main cause of haze," Liu Guoxian, an official with the provincial environmental agency, 

said.. He could not give a definite date when the new system will be put into effect. 


Desulfurization project of Huaneng Power Plant in Nanjing passed the examination 


The desulfurization project for two power plant units of 320 thousand KW of Huaneng 

Power Plant in Nanjing passed the examination. The project will reduce about 10 

thousand tones SO2 emission of the power plant annually. 


Policy to rule polluters in Guangzhou sees results (October 7, 2008) 

Guangdong's provincial capital has adopted an iron-fisted policy in dealing with heavily 

polluting factories. The city has shut down more than 100 polluting factories since May, 

when the municipal environmental protection bureau and supervision bureau jointly urged 

146 such firms in eight districts or counties to reduce emissions by the end of October. 

The scale of the blacklist is unprecedented in China. Zheng Zewen, a division director of 

the municipal environmental watchdog, believed the policy to be effective. "Most of the 

enterprises have reduced emissions as expected," he said Monday. "The deadline is 

drawing near; we will carry out the policy by the book. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Beijing hikes prices for gas, diesel oil (October 7, 2008) 

Beijingers are paying more for gas and diesel oil Tuesday. As of midnight, prices were up 

eight percent. Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform issued a 

release about the price hikes late Monday. It said, benchmark prices for gasoline and 

diesel oil would be hiked 200 yuan ($29.22) and 290 yuan per ton, respectively. 

After the adjustment, gasoline 93, the most commonly used type of gas, now sells for 6.37 

yuan per liter, up 0.17 yuan from Monday. Gasoline 97 now retails at 6.78 yuan per liter, 

compared to 6.60 yuan before the adjustment. 

In the meantime, retail prices for zero and minus 10-type diesel oils rose by 0.27 yuan and 

0.28 yuan to hit 6.5 yuan per liter and 6.89 yuan per liter, respectively. Gasoline 90, and 

197



diesel oils minus 20 and minus 35 also went up in cost. 


Energy: China discovers oil, gas well in Bohai Bay (October 6, 2008) 

China National Offshore Oil Company Limited (CNOOC Ltd) announced Monday it had 

found a new oil and gas well in east China's Bohai Bay. The well, named Bozhong (BZ) 

35-2-2, is located to the east of the Yellow River mouth. The well was drilled to a total 

depth of 3,235 meters. During the drill stem test, the well flowed at an average rate of 560 

barrels of oil per day. 



Energy: Steel mills to cut production on slump demands (October 7, 2008) 

Several leading Chinese steel mills are set to cut production to cope with the pressure of 

weak demand hanging over their iron-smelting furnaces. Shougang Group and three other 

big domestic iron and steel manufacturers will slash 20 percent of their production this 

month amid slack domestic demand and dropping steel prices, according to Monday's 

China Securities Journal. These major steel makers included Hebei Iron and Steel Group, 

Shandong Iron and Steel Group and Anyang Iron and Steel Group. 


TRANSPORT 


New traffic restriction takes effect in Beijing (October 11, 2008) 

A new traffic restriction went into effect in the Chinese capital Saturday, which is expected 

to help sustain the hard-won smooth traffic and good air quality during the Olympic Games. 

Under the new traffic restriction, 70 percent of government vehicles, as well as all 

corporate and private cars, will take turns off the roads one out of the five weekdays as of 

Oct. 11, according to the Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications. 

Cars whose number plates end with 1 or 6 will be taken off roads on Monday, while those 

ending with 2 or 7 will be banned on Tuesday, 3 or 8 on Wednesday, 4 or 9 on Thursday 

and 5 or 0 on Friday. The ban does not apply on weekends. The ban will be applicable 

within the Fifth Ring Road inclusive, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for private cars and round the 

clock for government and corporate vehicles. Violators will be fined 100 yuan 

($14.7dollars). 


Beijing moves to curb car growth (October 10, 2008) 

Two million more cars are expected to take to Beijing's roads by 2012, bringing the 

number to 5.4 million. This daunting figure has prompted authorities to find better 

solutions to ease traffic congestion and pollution. Beijing is seeing an increase of about 20 

percent, or 300,000 new cars a year, Guo Jifu, director of the Beijing municipal 

transportation development research center, told a conference on Wednesday. Li Xin, 

another official with the center, said to Beijing plans to ban a total of 357,000 "yellow plate" 

198



vehicles from entering the Fifth Ring Road starting from Jan 1 next year to improve the 

city's air quality. By October next year, all yellow license plate vehicles, mostly tippers and 

heavy-duty trucks, will be banned in Beijing, he said. 

Li said tax exemption policies will be introduced next year to encourage the development 

of electric vehicles, those using mixed energy and those with lower emissions. 


Jiangsu: official vehicles to be restricted once every week (October 10, 2008) 

According to the information from Jiangsu Government, the official vehicles would to be 

restricted once every week based on the end number of the plate. Cars whose number 

plates end with 1 or 6 will be taken off roads on Monday, while those ending with 2 or 7 will 

be banned on Tuesday, 3 or 8 on Wednesday, 4 or 9 on Thursday and 5 or 0 on Friday. 


OTHERS 

Environment: Public weighs in on environmental success (October 10, 2008) 

Residents of Shanxi province's Datong and of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region's 

Hezhou are least satisfied with local environmental protection efforts, a report from the 

country's environmental watchdog said yesterday. More than 90 percent of residents in 

Shandong province's cities of Linyi, Dongyin, Rizhao and Yantai, and Heilongjiang 

province's Daqing and Heihe cities believed local governments are doing a good job of 

improving the environment. It was the first time for the public satisfaction survey to be 

included in the Ministry of Environment Protection's (MEP)'s annual report assessing 

Chinese cities' environmental management. 


Targeting climate change in Himalayas (October 10, 2008) 

The Ministry of Science and Technology and the United Nations Environment Programme 

(UNEP) jointly launched a three-year program yesterday to address the increasingly 

worrying effects of climate change in the Himalayas. 

"The rapid melting of snow and glaciers in the past 10 years has threatened economic 

development and ecological balance in the Himalayas faster than any period of time in the 

past half century," Zhang Shigang, the coordinator of the UNEP China Office, told China 

Daily yesterday in Beijing. 


China plans first national park (October 9, 2008) 

China is planning its first national park in the dense forest of northeast Heilongjiang 

Province, in an effort to balance environmental protection and moderate tourism 

development. 

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and National Tourism Administration announced 

here on Wednesday they had approved a site in the southern area of the Xiaohinggan 

Mountains (Lesser Hinggan Mountains) at the source of the Tangwang River, a tributary of 

the Songhua River. 

199




Tianjin Emissions Exchange has been founded recently (October 9, 2008) 

Tianjin Emissions Exchange which is invested and founded by China National Petroleum, 

Tianjin Property Rights Exchange Center and Chicago Climate Exchange is officially 

launched recently. This institution will focus on development of the main pollutants 

exchange like SO2 and COD, and energy efficiency exchange at the beginning. 

Chinese link: http://www.gdepb.gov.cn/hbxw/200810/t20081009_56183.html 

China leads developing countries on health list (October 9, 2008) 

China ranked 13th on a list ranking international health conditions released by a Chinese 

Academy of Sciences (CAS) study group yesterday. 

The tally uses a Nation Health Index (NHI) combining four branch indexes measuring 

populations' metabolisms, immunities, nervous systems and behavior, and determined 

China to be "qualified healthy". 


ADB to support green buildings (October 8, 2008) 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday launched an 800 million yuan ($117.16 

million) program to support lending to energy-efficient building projects in China. 

Partnering with Standard Chartered Bank (China) and Johnson Controls, a world-leading 

energy management company, ADB will extend partial credit guarantees for loans for 

retrofitting existing buildings to save energy, as well as for the construction of new 

energy-efficient ones. 


Eco-friendly China (October 6, 2008) 

Despite the recent economic jitters shaking the world, a worldwide survey has found that 

the environment and global warming are higher concerns among the Chinese than the 

economy. The green awareness among the Chinese is somewhat stronger than British 

and US residents. 

The results were released at the Fifth China Branding Roundtable in Beijing organized last 

month by the London-based Economist magazine. 


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- Urumqi: dominant pollutant is not SO2 any more 

- Beijing dangles bonus to cease high-pollution production 

- China's largest open-pit coal mine ready for production 

- Transportation: Traffic eases on car ban's first day 

- Changsha will invest 11 billion yuan for a three-year plan of entire 

environmental protection 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Liaoning: 846 thousand tones dust in the atmosphere were reduced in the third quarter 


In the third quarter of this year, the amount of dust in the atmosphere of Liaoning province 

was about 3.074 million tones, 3.828 million tones less than the second quarter and 0.846 

million tones less than the same period of the last year. 


Weinan: air quality reach the best level (October 17, 2008) 

According to the data from environmental monitoring station of Weinan city, Shaanxi 

province, the good air quality days reached 252, increasing 27 than the same period of 

the last year. It is expected to reach 300 good air quality days, which is the best level in 

the history. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.cenews.com.cn/xwzx/zhxw/hjxw/200810/t20081016_590534.html 

Urumqi: dominant pollutant is not SO2 any more in the first day of heating supply (October 


Yesterday is the first day of heating supply in Urumqi, Sinkiang. The air quality is Grade II, 

when API is 94. The difference with the same period of the last year is the dominant 

pollutant is PM10, not SO2 any more. 

Chinese link: http://www.wlmqwb.com/2852/2859/200810/t20081016_207409.shtml 

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Shanxi: the good air quality days reached 2787 in 11 main cities (October 13, 2008) 

Shanxi EPB released the ambient air quality situation in 11 main cities in the first 9 months 

of this year. the good air quality days reached 2787 totally in main 11 cities, increasing 

10.38% than the same period of last year. Therefore Shanxi province needs only 258 

good air quality days to achieve the purpose of the whole year. It is expected to finish the 

mission of the whole year by the end of November. 



Beijing dangles bonus to cease high-pollution production (October 19, 2008) 

BEIJING - Beijing enterprises could get a government bonus ranging from 500,000 yuan 

(73,195 U.S. dollars) to 2.3 million yuan for ceasing high-pollution production, the city's 

finance bureau announced on Sunday. 

The move is to stimulate the replacement of high-pollution industries with 

environmentally-friendly economies, according to the Finance Bureau of Beijing. 

"Companies such as small cement and paper producers will be on the top of our list," the 

department said. 

Bureau officials said fiscal incentives would be granted in accordance with the amount of 

energy, water and emission the companies saved or cut. 


Ningde: government has launched 32 programs of emission reduction (October 17, 2008) 

Based on the information from Ningde EPB, the specific plan for environmental protection 

of 11 th YFP has reached the medium term. By now, the government of Ningde launched 4 

projects of COD reduction in wastewater factories, 11 projects of COD reduction in 

industry, 18 projects of SO2 emission reduction, and shut 42 COD polluted enterprises or 

producing lines, 16 SO2 polluted enterprises or producing lines. 

Chinese link: http://www.fj.xinhuanet.com/dszx/2008-10/17/content_14667324.htm 

Shanghai restricts urban traffic after Beijing (October 17, 2008) 

Shanghai is to adopt a watered-down version of the capital's traffic restrictions in a bid to 

clean the air, clear the roads and save energy. 

Starting next month, vehicles belonging to the government or State-owned enterprises will 

be banned from the roads on one out of five weekdays in a system based on license plate 

numbers. 

Unlike in Beijing, Shanghai's curbs will not apply to private cars even though "Shanghai's 

private vehicles are encouraged to follow the restrictions", Xinhua News Agency quoted 

an official as saying. 


Shougang to auction off furnaces (October 14, 2008) 

Shougang Group, a Chinese iron and steel maker, announced Monday it would auction off 

most of its blast furnaces in western Beijing. 

The No 5 furnace, the first large facility ever constructed for iron making by Shougang, will 

202



be the first to be sold, said a source of the group. 


Henan: nearly 0.7 billion yuan to be invested for high standard online monitoring system 


Based on the conference of Henan government, the government will invest 0.67 billion 

yuan on online monitoring system for following three year. the monitoring system has 9 

parts including environmental auto-monitoring platform, environmental auto-monitoring for 

ground water responsibility aim section and so on. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China's largest open-pit coal mine ready for production (October 19, 2008) 

HOHHOT -- China's largest open-pit coal mine in Haerwusu in northern Inner Mongolia 

Autonomous Region is set to start production, Shenhua Zhungeer Energy Co., Ltd. told 

Xinhua on Sunday. 

Its estimated coal output was forecast at 7 million tonnes in the fourth quarter this year, 

but the company didn't specify the exact date when the mine would be put into production. 

With a designed annual capacity of 20 million tonnes of crude coal, it is scheduled to run 

79 years. 



China to better use energy resources, says premier (October 18, 2008) 

Strong measures, including economic, legal and administrative measures when necessary, 

should be taken to restrict China's high energy consuming and heavily polluting 

enterprises, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said. 

Wen made the remarks in an interview with Bruce Alberts, editor-in-chief of the Science 

Magazine of the United States on September 30. 


China-France coal gas project registered successfully in UN (October 17, 2008) 

The coal gas utilization project of China Yima Coal Company and French Electricity and 

Trading Company registered successfully in the 41 st meeting of the CDM Executive Board 

for Kyoto Protocol in United Nations. It is the first project related coal gas utilization, and it 

will contribute nearly 100 million yuan income from 2008 to 2012. 


TRANSPORT 

-facts 

Transportation: Traffic eases on car ban's first day (October 14, 2008) 

Traffic ran relatively smoothly in Beijing yesterday, the first day in which the vehicular ban 

203



took a fifth of the capital's 3.5 million cars off its roads, the local transportation authority 

said. 

Fewer streets were congested within the Fifth Ring Road, as the ban applied to private 

automobiles with license plate numbers ending in 1 or 6. 

However, there was little apparent impact on notoriously clogged main streets downtown, 

such as the Second and Third Ring roads. 



Nanchang to restart the examination of vehicles exhausts (October 15, 2008) 

Based on the information from Nanchang EPB, the examination of vehicles exhausts will 

be restarted after 4 years stop. The examination will be implemented on the whole city. 


Shanghai EPB launched the test for the gasoline recycling polite stations (October 15, 


Shanghai environmental sciences institute invited testing experts from Beijing to 

cooperate with officials in the environmental monitoring center of Shanghai on the first 

testing of the gasoline recycling polite stations. The testing provide significant data for the 

control of gasoline emission pollution in Shanghai. 


OTHERS 

Changsha will invest 11 billion yuan for a three-year plan of entire environmental 

protection (October 18, 2008) 

Changsha government started to implement a three-year plan of entire environmental 

protection. The plan will cost 11 billion yuan. And the aim of the plan is to highly improve 

air, water quality and waste treatment situation by 2010. 

Chinese link: http://www3.xinhuanet.com/chinanews/2008-10/18/content_14674288.htm 

Climate change 'threatens' food safety (October 16, 2008) 

China is likely to face inadequate food supply by 2030 if the current climate change trend 

continues, warns a new Greenpeace report released yesterday. 

If the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) continues to be high, the impact of climate 

change - including rise in temperature, loss of arable land, shortage of water and extreme 

weather - could reduce China's overall food production by 23 percent by 2050, the report 

said. 


Vehicle restrictions, natural gas tapped as green solutions (October 16, 2008) 

Cleaning the air, generally improving the environment and turning the Pearl River Delta 

region into a green and quality living area are all on Chief Executive Donald Tsang's to-do 

list. 

The government is now reviewing the air-quality objectives, Tsang said during his policy 

204



address yesterday. Given that electricity generation is a major source of pollution in Hong 

Kong, he was concerned with ways to reduce coal-fired power generation and promote 

the use of cleaner fuel, perhaps by increasing the amount of natural gas used for power 

generation to 50 percent. 

As buildings account for 89 percent of the total power consumption in Hong Kong, the 

government will push for the mandatory compliance of Building Energy Codes to improve 

energy efficiency in new and existing buildings as soon as possible. 


China to hold a green Asia-Europe summit: FM (October 15, 2008) 

BEIJING -- A senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday China would devote itself to 

holding a green summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), scheduled for October 24 to 

25, and has taken measures in this regard. 

"We have chosen green and environment-friendly materials to make articles for use of the 

meeting and to arrange the conference hall," Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi told a 

press conference here. 


Shandong and South Australia signed the Memorandum for environmental protection 

cooperation (October 13, 2008) 

Shandong and South Australia signed the Memorandum for environmental protection 

cooperation in Jinan city on October 9. the director of Shandong EPB Liu Fuchun and the 

president of trade and economy development of South Australia, Brian Cunningha, were 

the representatives of the China and Australia, respectively. 


East Asia Summit: Leaders met and discussed the capacity building for adapting climate 

change (October 13, 2008) 

Senior officials from countries in East Asia, ASEAN,UNDP, UNEP and other organizations 

met together in the summit on October 10. Officials, scientists and representatives of 

international organizations discussed the capacity building for adapting climate change. 


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- MEP to broadcast urban air quality everyday 

- Beijing implements the 15 th phrase of Air Pollution Control Measures 

- China to launch survey of energy conservation measures 

- China International Cyclic Economy Expo debuts at Qingdao 

- 69% of Chinese willing to shift lifestyle for climate 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Yibin: air quality keeps improving in the first 9 months (October 23, 2008) 

According to the data from the environmental monitoring center of Yibin city, Sichuan 

province, the air quality keeps improving in the first 9 months of this year. The average API 

is 65, and the good air quality days reach 269, accounting for 98.2% of total monitored 

days (274). 

Chinese link: http://www.ybxww.com/content/2008-10/23/2008102381420.htm 


MEP to broadcast urban air quality everyday (October 24, 2008) 

Yesterday (October 22), the website of the data center of MEP was open to the public, and 

started to broadcast urban air quality daily and showed the best 10 city with good air 

quality. 

The data center focuses on data, tables and figures, which will help to demonstrate air 

quality rank of all cities in our country vividly. 


Beijing implements the 15 th phrase of Air Pollution Control Measures (October 23, 2008) 

Recently, Beijing government has formulated and started to implement the 15 th phrase of 

Air Pollution Control Measures to build the air quality improvement system in the long term. 

According to the 15 th phrase measures, the vehicles with yellow label will be banned inner 

Fifth Ring of Beijing. 


206



Dongguan: 3 monitoring stations to be used (October 21, 2008) 

Based on the information from Dongguan EPB, the city government will start to monitor air 

quality by 3 new monitoring stations. The new stations are laid on Xiping in south city, 

Shijing in east city and Wanjiang Jianyong. These stations will be used to monitor SO2, 

NO2, NO, O3 and PM10 in the air of Dongguan city. 

Chinese link: http://www.gd.xinhuanet.com/dishi/2008-10/21/content_14699649.htm 

ENERGY 

- Facts 

Xingtai becomes the first solar energy construction city (October 26, 2008) 

Yesterday, Xingtai city of Hebei province awarded the tablet of “Solar Energy Construction 

City” issued by China Association of Resources Comprehensive Utilization of renewable 

energy professional committees, China Rural Energy Industry Association Professional 

Committee of the use of solar thermal, China Renewable Energy Society of Professional 

Committee of the construction of solar energy. The usage of solar energy saved more 

than 10 thousand tones of standard coal, reduced more than 6800 tones SO2 and dust 

and saved electricity 33 million KWh. 


The first report on Carbon Information Disclosing Project (CDP) of China published 


The report on Carbon Information Disclosing Project (CDP) of China was published in the 

afternoon on October 24 in Beijing city. It is the first research report based on the 

information and data of GHG from Chinese listed companies. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.shidi.org/sf_D9AFFB420CAE4C6A8D074B247130E389_151_wwfchina.html 


China, Russia pledge to push forward energy cooperation (October 26, 2008) 

MOSCOW - Senior Chinese and Russian officials pledged to push forward the two 

countries' energy cooperation during a high-level energy negotiators' meeting here on 

Sunday. 

"During this conference... we exchanged views and reached consensus on strengthening 

bilateral cooperation in oil and gas, nuclear energy and electricity," said Chinese Vice 

Premier Wang Qishan, commenting on the talks with his Russian counterpart Igor Sechin. 


China-Japan CDM seminar is held in Dunhuang (October 26, 2008) 

China-Japan CDM seminar is held by Energy Institute of NDRC in Dunhuang in the 

afternoon of October 24. The participants included the experts from NDRC, Tsinghua 

University, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Gansu, and the functionaries for company project. 

Chinese link: http://www.gs.xinhuanet.com/news/2008-10/26/content_14739358.htm 

Guizhou: GDP unit energy consumption will reduce by 20% by 2010 (October 23, 2008) 

207



Guizhou province government launched plan to cope with climate change of Guizhou on 

October 22. Based on the plan, Guizhou will improve growth method and will reduce GDP 

unit energy consumption by 20% by 2010 comparing with 2005 in order to slow CO2 

emissions. 


Enviro Energy seeks new coalbed methane reserves (October 22, 2008) 

As international communities fear that global oil reserves will dry up in 30 years, energy 

companies are racing to tackle the energy dearth. And Enviro Energy International 

Holdings is looking to increase its oil and natural gas production. The company's chairman 

and chief executive officer, Kenny Chan, said that coalbed methane (CBM) provides 

sustainable energy, and his company is mining it. 


PetroChina to increase investment in oil, gas (October 21, 2008) 

BEIJING - PetroChina Company Limited will increase its investment in its oil and gas 

business from 60 to 70 percent in 2009, said company chairman Jiang Jiemin on Tuesday. 

PetroChina's losses during the global financial crisis are "limited and under control", Jiang 

told reporters after a shareholders meeting. He said it's because the company has 

focused the majority of its business on oil and gas production and exploration in the past 

few years. 


China to launch survey of energy conservation measures (October 20, 2008) 

China's government is to conduct a nationwide survey of efforts by local governments to 

reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The government has set a 

target of reducing energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 

percent and major pollutant emissions by 10 percent from the 2005 levels by 2010, in a 

bid to protect environment and insure a sustainable development. "However, the country 

still faces great difficulties in fulfilling the commitment, and the situation remains arduous," 

said National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) deputy director Xie 

Zhenhua on Monday. 


TRANSPORT 

-facts 

Jiaonan got good effects from the monitoring network of vehicles exhaust pollution 


According to the result of examination by Jiaonan government, the city got good effects 

from the monitoring network of vehicles exhaust pollution. To improve the monitoring 

system, Jiaonan EPB will build the monitoring data and information transferring network to 

supervise the monitoring activities. Meanwhile, the data will be shared by EPB, Public 

Security Bureau and traffic department. 


208




Guiyang starts socialized vehicles exhaust monitoring in the pilot areas (October 24, 


Guiyang city started socialized vehicles exhaust monitoring in the pilot areas. By the end 

of 2010, the socialized vehicles exhaust monitoring will be comprehensively implemented 

in 9 main cities of the province. 


OTHERS 

Chinese firms newest members of global environment body (October 26, 2008) 

Three Chinese companies have joined The Climate Group (TCG), an environmental 

watchdog and advocator of a low-carbon economy, the London-based non-governmental 

organization (NGO) announced on Friday. 

China Mobile, Broad Air Conditioning Holdings and Suntech Power were the first Chinese 

mainland partners to join the movement to cooperate on environmental issues. 


China calls for Asia-Europe co-op for sustainable development (October 25, 2008) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday called for more cooperation between Asian and 

European nations to promote sustainable development. Wen made the remarks when 

addressing the behind-the-door meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to discuss 

issues concerning the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), climate 

change, energy security and social harmony. 


Spain to loan China $460 million (October 24, 2008) 

Spain signed an agreement with China on Thursday to lend up to 360 million euros 

($460.5 million) to China between 2008 and 2010. Of the total, 20 million euros will be 

used to help the reconstruction in Sichuan after the 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit the 

region on May 12, according to an inter-government fiscal cooperation agreement signed 

by the Minister of Finance Xie Xuren and the Spanish Minister of Industry, Tourism and 

Commerce Miguel Sebastian Gascon on Thursday. The 20 million euro unconditional loan 

to Sichuan would mainly be used for environment projects, urban infrastructure 

construction, energy-saving and emission reduction, the Ministry of Finance said on its 

website. 


Reform, open-up have led China to sustainable development (October 24, 2008) 

"Since reform and opening-up, China has achieved eye-catching development and 

gradually risen up to be a global power. What's more important is that reform and 

opening-up have helped China find a path of sustainable development," the Colombian 

ambassador to China, Guillermo Ricardo Velez, told Xinhua in an interview Wednesday. 

209




China International Cyclic Economy Expo debuts at Qingdao (October 24, 2008) 

The First China International Cyclic Economy Expo 2008 (CICExpo) kicked off at Qingdao 

International Convention Center. The expo will be held from October 23 to 25. 

In nature, the cyclic economy is a kind of ecological economy, which demands that 

ecological law guide economic activities instead of mechanical law. 

Under the theme of 'Developing Cyclic Economy for a Resource-saving and 

Environment-friendly Society', "CICExpo will accelerate the process of transforming 

innovative achievements and promote cooperation between Chinese and overseas 

enterprises. The expo will exert a positive influence on world's cyclic economy," Xia Geng, 

mayor of Qingdao said. 


Climate change talks 'must continue' (October 24, 2008) 

China and Denmark discussed cooperation on climate change issues during a meeting in 

Beijing yesterday. 

Addressing the meeting, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the current 

global economic crisis should not be a cause for delaying action on climate change. 

"No doubt, the financial crisis will be used as an excuse to water down the climate change 

agenda," Rasmussen said. 


69% of Chinese willing to shift lifestyle for climate (October 21, 2008) 

BEIJING -- Up to 69 percent of Chinese consumers surveyed are willing to change their 

lifestyles so as to help with global efforts to slow down the climate change, according to a 

latest survey. 

Findings of the survey, which was conducted on 1,000 consumers in 16 major Chinese 

cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, were released earlier this week by Beijing 

consumer association and Beijing climate center. 


210










- Beijing: only 24 “blue sky” days left for achieving the annual goal 

- CNOOC Q3 oil, gas output rise 15.2% 

- The number of private vehicles breaks through 127.68 million in September, 

2008 

- China urges developed nations to spend more on tackling climate change 

- Time for congestion charging in Beijing? 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

API in Nansha is more than that of Guangzhou center area (November 2, 2008) 

According to the report on air quality monitoring network in PRD in H1, published by 

Guangzhou EPB and HongKong Development of Environmental Protection, the API in 

Nansha is more than that of the urban area in Guangzhou city, and the average API value 

has exceeded Grade II Standard. Many experts on environmental protection show their 

worry about it and they suggest that Nansha government should control the number of the 

big projects which probably cause pollution. 

Chinese link: http://news.21cn.com/guangdong/guangzhou/2008/11/02/5414685.shtml 

Taiyuan finished the annual task of good air quality days ahead of the schedule 

(November 2, 2008) 

Based on the information from environmental monitoring center of Taiyuan city, the good 

air quality days, above Grade II Standard, reach 275, which means Taiyuan finishes the 

annual task two months earlier of the schedule. An official of Taiyuan EPB said that three 

key events, Olympics, Paralympics and Coal Expo, promoted the enforcement of air 

quality control measures. Taiyuan EPB will continue strengthening the monitoring and 

management for coal quality and boilers control. 

Chinese link: http://news.qq.com/a/20081102/000131.htm 

Beijing: only 24 “blue sky” days left for achieving the annual goal (November 1, 2008) 

Based on the information from Beijing EPB, good air quality days of the first 10 months in 

Beijing reached 232 by now, taking 76.1% of the whole year, and increasing over 20 days 

211



than the same period of the last year. There are only 24 days left to achieving the annual 

goal, 256 days. 



“Keep Blue Sky of the Capital” will become one of the important topics in Beijing Forum 

(November 2, 2008) 

The fifth Beijing Forum will be held from Nov 7 to Nov 9 in Beijing. More than 300 experts 

and scholars from all over the world are expected to attend the famous and important 

forum. The urban pollution and how to keep blue sky of Beijing will become one of the 

significant points and will be discussed based on the problem of regional cooperation for 

natural environment. 

Chinese link: http://www.bj.xinhuanet.com/bjpd_sdzx/2008-11/02/content_14804886.htm 

Shanghai: the project of research on air quality improving measurements pass the 

examination by relative experts (October 29, 2008) 

Recently, the project of research on air quality improving measurements in Shanghai has 

passed the examination. The project, called APL2, was supported by World Bank. It 

collected the materials of the air quality, did the analysis and provided the measures for 

improving air quality; finally, the project analyzed the efficiency of the measures. 


Shanxi forbids the direct emitting of coke oven gas (October 27, 2008) 

Shanxi EPB has announced 4 measures to enhance efficiency of coke oven gas in the 

whole province. The measures provide the hard regulation to forbid direct emitting of coke 

oven gas, which is expected to save 27 billion yuan annually. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy: Baosteel likely to book loss in Q4 (October 30, 2008) 

Baoshan Iron & Steel Co Ltd, the country's second largest steel producer, may book a net 

loss in the fourth quarter, Chen Ying, the company's vice general manager and chief 

finance officer, said. The worsening global financial situation and falling market demand 

represent tough challenges in the fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2009, Chen said. 

Baosteel booked a net profit of 2.846 billion yuan ($417 million) in the third quarter, up 

19.15 percent year-on-year, with operating revenue climbing 12.4 percent to 56.36 billion 

yuan. 


Energy: CNOOC Q3 oil, gas output rise 15.2% (October 29, 2008) 

China National Offshore Oil Company Limited (CNOOC Ltd) announced Tuesday that it's 

net oil and gas output in the third quarter of 2008 rose by 15.2 percent over the same 

212



period last year. The state-owned offshore oil producer said that its unaudited total 

revenue was 30.9 billion yuan ($4.5 billon) for the third quarter, representing a 

year-on-year increase of 69.1 percent. 

The company's unaudited oil and gas revenue for the third quarter reached 30.5 billion 

yuan, up 67.9 percent from a year ago. For the first three quarters, the company's 

unaudited total oil and gas revenue hit 84.95 billion yuan with a year-on-year increase of 

65.3 percent. 


Energy: Coal demand, output slow on economic downturn (October 28, 2008) 

China's coal output slowed down in September after power consumption weakened for 

five months in a row on economic downturn, the Beijing News reported on Tuesday citing 

sources with China Coal Transportation and Sales Society(CCTS). 

The output of raw coal dropped to 229 million tons in September from August's 232 million 

tons, figures from the State Administration of Work Safety show. 



Intel Capital invests in 3 China firms, clean tech (October 31, 2008) 

Intel Capital, the investment arm of Intel Corp, announced on Tuesday three investments 

in Chinese companies, including its first moves into the nation's clean technology sector. 

Intel Capital invested $20 million in Trony Solar Holdings Co, a thin-film solar energy 

provider, and also took undisclosed stakes in electricity storage specialist NP Holdings Ltd, 

and Viewhigh, a healthcare software firm. 


China-Russia pipeline pact boosts energy links (October 30, 2008) 

A Sino-Russian pact on a pipeline from Siberia to supply oil to China's northeast was 

among the agreements witnessed by Premier Wen Jiabao and his Russian counterpart 

Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. 

Russian media reports said Moscow's agreement to move ahead on the long-delayed 

project was won with pledges of financial support from Beijing. 


Fuel standard for new energy fueling cars likely to be launched in the end of this year 


With the development and relatively expensive usage of the methanol fuel, it is likely that 

government will launch the national standard for the methanol fuel, which will help to 

accelerate the pace of methanol fuel in 2009. 


TRANSPORT 

-facts 

The number of private vehicles breaks through 127.68 million in September 2008 

213




Based on the information from the Ministry of Public Security, the number of vehicles in 

China reaches 168.03 million by the end of September, 2008, increasing 8.25 million, 

5.17%, than the end of 2007. The number of private vehicles reached 127.68 million, 

taking 75.99%, increasing 6.11 million than the end of 2007. 

Chinese link: http://www.auto-china.cn/news_view.asp?id=50711 


Beijing will rotate the vehicles restriction for the first time in Nov 10 (October 31, 2008) 

Beijing government announced that vehicles restriction will be in rotation of the end 

number of the license plate. The relative department also said that the efficiency of the 

restriction had reached the expecting aim. 


Guangzhou will limit the vehicles with high emission in 2009 (October 29, 2008) 

According to the information from Guangzhou EPB, Guangzhou government will limit the 

vehicles with high emissions in the next year from the pilots in the center area of the city, 

and extending to larger area in 2010. 


OTHERS 

The number of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in China reached 3500 (October 


According to the report from ACEF, the number of Chinese Non-Government 

Organizations (NGOs) reached 3500 by October 2008. The power of NGOs will be 

stronger and stronger. 

Chinese link: http://env.people.com.cn/GB/index.html 

Step-by-step progress of low carbon economy (October 31, 2008) 

Developing the Low Carbon Economy (LCE), a strategic option to cope with global 

warming, should follow a step-by-step pattern in accordance with a country's situation, 

China's Vice Environment Minister Zhou Jian said on Thursday. 

Zhou made the remarks at a conference on environment protection. 


Reckless consumption 'threatens Earth' (October 30, 2008) 

The Earth's natural resources are being depleted so quickly that "two planets" would be 

required to sustain current lifestyles within a generation, the conservation group WWF 

said yesterday. 

The Switzerland-based WWF, or the World Wildlife Fund, said in its latest Living Planet 

Report that more than three quarters of the world's population lives in countries whose 

consumption levels are outstripping environmental renewal. 

Its Living Planet Report concluded that reckless consumption of "natural capital" was 

endangering the world's future prosperity, with clear economic impacts including high 

214



costs for food, water and energy. 


French minister praises China's efforts in tackling climate change (October 30, 2008) 

SAINT-MALO - France's Minister of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet on 

Wednesday praised China's efforts in tackling global climate change. 

Speaking at a press conference during the World Summit of Regions on Climate Change 

here, Jouyet said he has noticed the efforts of some emerging economies such as China 

in coping with world climate change. 


Guangdong faces warming threat (October 30, 2008) 

GUANGZHOU: The average temperature in Guangdong could rise by 5.7 C from 2011 to 

2100 unless it turns to greener methods to sustain its economic growth, experts have 

warned. 

The temperature will rise by 1 C between 2011 and 2040, by 1.9 C between 2041 and 

2070, and by 2.8 C between 2071 and 2100, Lin Xianmin, deputy director of the provincial 

meteorological administration, said at a forum on Tuesday. 

The warming will be faster than in the past five decades, when the average temperature 

climbed 1.05 C, he said. The average temperature in Guangdong last year was 22.5 C. 


Developed nations should lead in GHG emission cuts (October 29, 2008) 

Developed countries should take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are 

blamed for global warming and climate change, said a Chinese government white paper 

published on Wednesday. Rich countries should spend at least 0.7 percent of their gross 

domestic product (GDP) helping developing nations address climate change, a senior 

Chinese economic planner said when explaining the policy paper. "But till now, their 

spending is far below that level," Xie Zhenhua, vice director of the National Development 

and Reform Commission (NDRC), said. 

English link: 

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/news/2008-10/29/content_16683863.htm 

China urges developed nations to spend more on tackling climate change (October 29, 


Developed countries should take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are 

blamed for global warming and climate change, said a Chinese government white paper 

published on Wednesday. Rich countries should spend at least 0.7 percent of their gross 

domestic product (GDP) helping developing nations address climate change, a senior 

Chinese economic planner said when explaining the policy paper. "But till now, their 

spending is far below that level," Xie Zhenhua, vice director of the National Development 

and Reform Commission (NDRC), said. 


215



Legislator calls for better enforcement of pollution law (October 28, 2008) 

A senior Chinese legislator has called for reforms to improve enforcement of the law 

requiring environmental impact assessments of major industrial projects before they are 

approved. 

Assessment bodies must be independent of the government in order to establish clear 

national standards for environmental assessments, said Chen Zhili, vice chairperson of 

the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC). 


New strategy propels Guangdong's development (October 27, 2008) 

Known as a pioneer in China's reform and opening, Guangdong province will invest more 

than 50 billion yuan ($7.32 billion) in the next five years to implement a new labor and 

industry strategy, known as "Double Transfer", to maintain sustainable development and 

remain a force in the mainland economy. 

However, it is not easy to achieve the target since the province is facing serious pollution 

problems, an energy crisis and many other challenges. 


Climate Exchange to boost emission trading (October 27, 2008) 

A month after two environment and energy exchanges opened virtually simultaneously in 

Beijing and Shanghai in August, an environmental trading platform was established in 

Tianjin municipality, one of most vigorously developing cities in China. 

The newly unveiled Tianjin Climate Exchange (TCX) is a joint venture of US-based 

Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), China National Petroleum Corporation Assets 

Management Co Ltd (CNPCAM) along with Tianjin Property Rights Exchange (TPRE). 


Special Comments 

Time for congestion charging in Beijing? 

By Murad Qureshi (China Daily)(October 23, 2008) 

Having been in Beijing for the whole of the very successful 29th Olympiad in August, and 

then attended the Urban Transportation Management Forum organized by the Shenzhen 

municipal government to talk to their planning bureau about the experience of congestion 

charging in London, l was struck by the possibility of introducing congestion charging to 

Beijing itself. 

Such measures increasingly need to be considered in response to the necessity both of 

reducing congestion and also of improving air quality in Beijing, particularly after the 

successful short-term measures undertaken during the Olympics have come to an end. 


216







Issue No. 44-45, 2008 



- Beijing: vehicle restriction brings best air quality in last 8 years 

- Energy: Domestic gas prices up 19% in Shanghai 

- Coal efficiency set to get boost 

- Railway, road projects to get additional $8.79b 

- Vice premier: Environment protection industry helps domestic demand 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Beijing: vehicle restriction brings best air quality in last 8 years (November 14, 2008) 

Based on the data from Environmental Monitoring Center of Beijing EPB, the air quality in 

the month when vehicle restriction was implemented reached the best level in last 8 years. 

From Oct 11 to Nov 11, excellent air quality days reached 5, while good air quality reached 

21 and tiny polluted days reached 5. 


Guangzhou: excellent and good air quality days take 100% of October (November 10, 


According to the data from Environmental Monitoring Center of Guangzhou EPB, 

excellent air quality days reached 5 in Guangzhou city in October, while good air quality 

reached 26, which means the excellent and good air quality rate achieved 100% in 

October. Guangzhou city has enjoyed 100% excellent and good air quality for 6 months. 


Taiyuan achieve the blue sky aim 60 days earlier than projected (November 5, 2008) 

Taiyuan city achieved the blue sky aim of 275 days above Grade II Standard by November 

1 st , 60 days earlier than projected. The coal burning is the main factor of air pollution in 

Taiyuan city, Shanxi province. According to the information from Taiyuan EPB, the number 

of days above Grade II Standard in 2008 is 40 more than the same period of the last year 

in urban area of Taiyuan city. 


217



Nanchang: excellent and good air quality days account for 96.8% of October (November 4, 


In October, the excellent air quality days reached 4, while good air quality days were 26 

and only one day met tiny polluted in Nanchang city, Jiangxi province. Excellent and good 

air quality rate achieved 96.8% of the whole month. The dominant pollutant was PM10. 

Chinese link: http://www.ncnews.com.cn/ncxw/jrnc/t20081104_363314.htm 

Heavy fog shrouds eastern China (November 4, 2008) 

Heavy fog blanketed eastern China early on Tuesday, closing down several interprovincial 

expressways and causing standstills on urban roads. 

In Shanghai's Chongming, the world's largest alluvial island in the mouth of the Yangtze 

River, visibility was reduced to 60 meters Tuesday morning, said Man Liping, an official 

with the Shanghai meteorological station. 

English link: 



Model way to cut emissions (November 7, 2008) 

China can better cut down on its carbon emissions and achieve a balance by establishing 

a trading model at the provincial level, according to a report released on Wednesday. 

The report was compiled by the China Environmental Culture Promotion Association 

(CECPA) and the China Institute of Development Strategy Studies. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy-saving electric industry not much affected (November 13, 2008) 

Rui Dongyang, general manager of China's Guangzhou Zhiguang Electric Co Ltd, said on 

Thursday that the current financial turmoil did not cast serious impacts on the domestic 

energy-saving electric industry. 

"The real economies are definitely affected by the financial crisis and our sales to the 

cement, iron and steel industries saw some slower growth pace in the previous several 

months," Rui said. However, the country's support for establishing an energy-saving and 

environmentally-friendly society provides us with huge room for long-term development, 

he added. 


Energy: Domestic gas prices up 19% in Shanghai (November 11, 2008) 

Despite plummeting oil prices on world markets, Shanghai has become the first city in the 

nation to raise its gas prices, by 19 percent effective yesterday. 

The prices of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, both for home use, were raised 

from 2.1 yuan ($0.31) to 2.5 yuan per cubic meter, and from 1.05 yuan to 1.25 yuan per 

cubic meter respectively. 

218




Energy: China's 2008 coal export quotas larger than forecast (November 4, 2008) 

China has issued a larger-than-expected second batch of coal export quotas for this year 

of 15.9 million tons, trade sources said on Tuesday, as stocks pile up. 

China issues export quotas in two batches each year. The second is normally granted in 

the middle of the year, but this has been delayed since the summer, as China grappled 

with severe power shortages caused by coal shortages ahead of the Olympics. 



NGO's energy forum underway in Beijing (November 10, 2008) 

Today marks the start of the Joint US-China Cooperation on Clean Energy (JUCCCE) 

China Energy Forum in Beijing, which gathers 300 delegates from around the world in 

sectors ranging from government to industry to NGOs. 


China, EU to enhance energy cooperation (November 7, 2008) 

China and the European Union (EU) inaugurated a high-level conference on energy 

resources in Brussels on Thursday, aimed at strengthening bilateral energy cooperation. 

"Energy cooperation between the EU and China has seen significant progress in the past 

two decades since the first conference held in Brussels in 1994," said Cao Jianlin, Vice 

Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, in an opening address. 

Cao said the EU and China have achieved preliminary results in cooperation for a 

complementary relationship, global energy security and environmental protection. 


China aims at higher nuclear power capacity (November 5, 2008) 

CHENGDU -- China may raise its total installed nuclear power generating capacity to 70 

million kilowatts by 2020, 75 percent higher than government target set in 2006, says a 

senior energy official. 


Coal efficiency set to get boost (November 3, 2008) 

The authorities aim to boost the efficient use of coal supplies by raising the average 

recovery rate of the resource in the country from about 30 percent currently to at least 50 

percent by 2010, a senior government official has said. 

English link: 


TRANSPORT 

-facts 

City rail systems cover 775 km in China (November 5, 2008) 

The total length of city rail systems in China reached 775 km by the end of 2007, the 

219



National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a report released on Tuesday. 

Cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, Shenzhen and Chongqing 

established metro systems over the past three decades. 

Rapid rail development improved local transport conditions, saved land, cut emissions 

and promoted local economic growth, said the NBS. 



Railway, road projects to get additional $8.79b (November 12, 2008) 

An additional 50 billion yuan ($7.33 billion) will be spent on railway projects and 10 billion 

yuan ($1.46 billion) on transport infrastructure in the fourth quarter of this year. 

The additional amount will take this year's railway expenditure to 350 billion yuan ($51.3 

billion), a Ministry of Railways press release said yesterday. 


Guangdong plans $347b investment to hold back downtrend (November 12, 2008) 

GUANGZHOU -- Guangdong province, one of the nation's key economic powerhouses, 

will spend 2.37 trillion yuan ($347 billion) on 222 items contained in 10 projects in the 

coming five years, the provincial development and reform commission said on Monday. 

About 1.26 trillion yuan will go toward building expressways, extending railway tracks, 

refurbishing ports and airports, and building power generation plants, it said. 

A total of 731.2 billion yuan will be used to boost the advanced manufacturing and modern 

service industries. They include iron and steel processing plants, refineries, and ship 

building and repairing. 

About 375 billion yuan will be set aside for the development of public facilities in the cities 

and rural areas. 


Beijing announces $34b traffic plan (November 11, 2008) 

Beijing's traffic infrastructure budget in the next five years will be more than the one for the 

previous five years, a senior transport official with the municipal government has said. 

Liu Xiaoming, director of the Beijing municipal committee of communications, said the city 

will spend 240 billion yuan ($34 billion) by 2012 to upgrade its traffic infrastructure, Beijing 

News reported on Saturday. 


OTHERS 

Vice premier: Environment protection industry helps domestic demand (November 13, 


BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that increased 

environment protection efforts would help significantly to boost domestic demand and 

open new economic growth points. 

China would continue to make environmental protection a priority to benefit the people 

and ensure a stable economy, he told the annual meeting of the China Council for 

220



International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). 


368 officials convicted of environmental mismanagement (November 13, 2008) 

BEIJING -- Chinese prosecutors have investigated about 2,400 officials and took 669 to 

court in a nationwide crackdown on official breaches of duty in natural resources and 

environment management. 

Of them, 368 officials were convicted, said the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) in 

a press release here Wednesday. 


China plans 10 major steps to spark growth (November 10, 2008) 

China will take 10 major steps to stimulate domestic consumption and growth as it turns to 

an "active" fiscal policy and "moderately easy" monetary policy, an executive meeting of 

the State Council said on Sunday. (one of the steps is for environment) 

-- Environment: Improving environmental protection by enhancing the construction of 

sewage and rubbish treatment facilities and preventing water pollution in key areas. 

Accelerating green belt and natural forest planting programs. Increasing support for 

energy conservation and pollution-control projects. 


Special fund proposed for green effort (November 7, 2008) 

A senior Chinese official called on the international community to set up a special fund 

under the United Nations framework to ensure that developed countries help their 

developing counterparts cope with climate change. 


Shanghai promises new green policies (November 4, 2008) 

Shanghai is rolling out a three-year action plan for environment protection as the city is 

determined to present a cleaner city to participants of 2010 World Expo, Mayor Han 

Zheng said on Sunday. 

The World Expo Park in Shanghai, costing nearly 100 million yuan, made its public debut 

on September 5, 2008. The park, also called the city's green lung, covers an area of 29 

hectares and is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. Visitors from all over the 

world will make a sightseeing tour here during the World Expo period in 2010. 

In the plan, to be announced soon, the government will inject about US$10 billion into 

environmental protection over three years from next year, Han said when meeting his 

international consultants, mainly CEOs of large companies. 

English link: 

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/health_green_living/2008-11/04/content_16707790. 

htm 

Climate change to force pandas north in Sichuan (November 2, 2008) 

Climate change could force pandas to shift their homes, a World Wide Fund for Nature 

221



(WWF) study revealed - and the results on Sichuan's tourism industry could be 

far-reaching. 

In the study reported to an international symposium on climate change and pandas' 

habitat in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province on Friday, the WWF, formerly known as 

the World Wildlife Fund, forecast higher temperatures and more rain in the northwest part 

of the wild giant pandas' habitat, which would encourage them to move from their current 

home in the southeast to the northwest. 


REMARK 

Issue No. 44 and No. 45 are compiled together because of the pause in BAQ2008 week 

(Nov 10 - Nov 14). 

222










- China reduces pollution in first half of 2008 

- HK to impose emission caps for power plants 

- Fuel tax 'to be levied soon as timing is right' 

- Beijing not to restrict private car purchase 

- White paper: China's policies and actions on climate change 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Shanghai: more days of excellent air quality than the last year (November 22, 2008) 

Based on the information from Shanghai EPB, days of excellent and good air quality 

(Grade I and Grade II Standard) reached 280 from January to October of 2008, including 

93 days of excellent air quality, which exceed those of the last year (92 days of excellent 

air quality). The air in Shanghai city shows a cleaner and better trend. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shanghai/node2314/node2315/node4411/userobject21ai307 

985.html 

Environment: China reduces pollution in first half of 2008 (November 18, 2008) 

Tougher environmental controls reduced the amount of pollution in China in the first half of 

this year, Minister of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian said on Tuesday. 

Emissions of chemical oxygen demand (COD), a measure of water pollution, totaled 6.74 

million tons in the January-June period, 2.48 percent less than that of the same period of 

last year. In terms of air pollution, sulfur dioxide emissions, mainly from coal use, were 

12.13 million tons, dropping 3.96 percent from last year's amount, Zhou said. 

"The dual reduction was achieved through continued pollution control measures, as well 

as the closure of some outdated plants that consumed too much energy," Zhou said. 


Baiyin: better air quality (November 17, 2008) 

223



The excellent and good air quality days reached 265 in the last ten months in Baiyin city, 

Gansu province, taking 87% of total monitored days. Comparing with the same period of 

2007, 35 more days achieved Grade I and Grade II Standard. 



Weifang start inspection on air pollution in winter (November 22, 2008) 

In Weifang city, Shandong province, government started the inspection on air pollution in 

winter on Nov 21, focusing on emissions from heating supporters and power plants. 

Besides, government will strengthen the control and prevention on waste gas of the 

enterprises. 

Chinese link: http://www.sd.xinhuanet.com/wq/2008-11/22/content_14989437.htm 

Shandong: 6 measures to ensure air quality (November 19, 2008) 

Shandong EPB planed to launch 6 measures to ensure air quality in winter, such as 

building the system of joint meeting on regional air quality. According to the measures, 

Shandong EPB will also restrict or suspend the new projects which will emit air 

pollutants in the area/city/county where the rate of excellent and good air quality cannot 

achieve 50% in 3 months continuously. 


Seminar on online monitoring to pollution sources held in Xiamen (November 19, 2008) 

A senior seminar on online monitoring to pollution sources was held by “Journal of 

Management and Technology of Environmental Monitoring” in Xiamen city, Fujian 

province. Over 140 experts and professionals provided constructive suggestions in the 

seminar. 


HK to impose emission caps for power plants (November 7, 2008) 

HONG KONG -- The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 

Friday published in the Gazette a technical memorandum, which stipulates the quantities 

of emission allowances of air pollutants by power plants. 

According to the memorandum, the annual emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides 

and respirable suspended particulates for the power generation sector in 2010 and 

beyond will be capped at 25,120 tons, 42,600 tons and 1,260 tons, respectively. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Xinjiang reports coalfield with reserve up to 23b tons (November 22, 2008) 

A huge coalfield with 23 billion tons in reserve has been discovered in northwest China's 

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the regional land resources department announced 

224



on Friday. The coalfield, about 800 meters underground, covers an area of more than 300 

sq km in Shanshan County in the Turpan Basin. 


China increasingly reliant on oil imports – IEA (November 19, 2008) 

China's oil imports will account for almost 75 percent of its total oil consumption by 2030, 

according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). 

The Paris-based adviser to 28 oil-consuming nations also predicted that primary world 

energy demand would grow by 1.6 percent annually between 2006 and 2030 with a total 

increase of 45 percent. China and India are expected to account for over half of 

incremental energy demand by 2030. 

English link: 


Coking coal demand falls in Shanxi (November 17, 2008) 

Shanxi, China's top coal producing province, plans to cut coking coal production by about 

10 percent, due to sharp falls in demand and prices, the provincial government said on its 

website. Shanxi will start to make adjustments to coal production capacity and control the 

amount of coal that is shipped out of the province. But the province vowed to ensure 

production of thermal coal, which will be in high demand as winter approaches. 

Demand for coking coal, a key feed in the steel industry, has fallen sharply in the past two 

months as output weakens. 

English link: 



Fuel tax 'to be levied soon as timing is right' (November 19, 2008) 

The government is likely to levy a fuel tax soon while rolling back road tolls and 

maintenance taxes, a senior researcher close to energy policy makers said Tuesday. 

"The government has repeatedly said that it is looking for an appropriate time to start 

levying fuel tax, and now, with the global oil prices going down so much over the past few 

months, I think this is a great time to impose the tax," Han Wenke, director-general of the 

Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, told 

China Daily. 


Related readings: 

Need for fuel tax 


Chinese gov't mulls to impose fuel tax 


A call for fuel tax 


Analysts: Time ripe for introducing fuel oil tax 


225

Tax on big cars raised to save fuel 




Government launch the financial allowance standard for energy-use of straw (November 


Ministry of Finance released the file to make clear the financial allowance standard to 

energy-use of straw. According to the file, central government will give comprehensive 

allowance to the enterprises who achieve the standard. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.chinaev.org/ZC/manager/xinwen/wenz.jsp?id=2008112109135032&lb=新闻政 

策&lanmu_name=xinwen 

6,000 more coal mines set to close in two years (November 20, 2008) 

Six thousand coal mines will be closed over the next two years in a bid to improve 

workplace safety, Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang said Tuesday. 

By the end of 2010, China will have less than 10,000 mines, down from about 16,000 

today, he said. 

English link: 

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/policies_announcements/2008-11/20/content_1679 

6631.htm 

New oil pricing measures to be in place in '20 days' (November 19, 2008) 

China is ready to reform its oil pricing mechanism in 20 days, which covers mainly the 

current price regulation on refined petroleum products, reliable sources said. 

Individuals close to Beijing's top decision-making circles told China Daily on condition of 

anonymity that the new pricing measures are already laid out to replace the old ones 

nationwide. 


Energy: China, US to collaborate on solar energy technology (November 18, 2008) 

China and the United States have agreed to work together on research into advanced 

solar energy technologies. 

The Institute of Electrical Engineering (IEE) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences 

(CAS) and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is affiliated with 

the Department of Energy, signed a memorandum of understanding over the weekend. 


TRANSPORT 


Beijing not to restrict private car purchase (November 19, 2008) 

Beijing will not restrict the purchase of private cars, as was purposed by residents, to help 

ease traffic jams and stem pollution, a senior official said on Wednesday. 

226



City authorities will not limit the number of license plates issued to reduce car purchases, 

said Wang Haiping, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development 

and Reform at a press conference. 



Private car drivers drive less after fuel price hikes 


Expert suggests Beijing restrict private car use 


Private car ownership jumps 16% in 6 months 


More urbanites find alternatives to private car ownership 


China's rail network receives boost (November 21, 2008) 

Investment in railway construction has reached a record high this year after the 

government announced a dramatic increase in spending on transport infrastructure to 

spur domestic demand. 

Major railway construction projects are underway all around the country. 

The Ministry of Railways says investment in railway construction in the fourth quarter of 

2008 will reach 150 billion yuan -- equal to the total amount for the first three quarters of 

the year. 


Free bike rentals on offer in Beijing (November 21, 2008) 

A bicycle company is offering free rentals to Beijing's Maizidian community in the 

Chaoyang district to promote green transport in the capital. People will be able to use 200 

cycles, and two stands in the Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts, Maizidian community 

director Tang Jianming said last week. 


Qingdao plan to discard 758 buses as useless in 2009 (November 20, 2008) 

Qingdao accelerates the pace of discarding old buses with heavy emissions and buying 

new and cleaner buses. In 2009, the Qingdao Bus Enterprise plan to discard 758 buses 

as useless. By the end of October 2008, there are 4203 buses in Qingdao, including 

buses with traditional fuel and new energy. 


Electric cars offer opportunity to cut oil imports (November 20, 2008) 

China should encourage the development of electric cars to offset its dependence on 

imported oil and reduce greenhouse emissions, automakers said. "We are discussing with 

the Chinese government about our electric car plan as environmental issues are 

becoming a critical issue in China," Yasuaki Hashimoto, president of Nissan Motor (China) 

227



Ltd said at the Guangzhou auto show. The company exhibited its Mixim concept electric 

car at the show which opened yesterday. 


Construction starts on new suburban rail line in Beijing (November 17, 2008) 

Construction of a rail line linking Beijing's city center with its southern suburbs began on 

Sunday. The 21.8-km line runs from the southern section of the city's Fourth Ring Road to 

the center of suburban Daxing District, known as an agricultural base for the capital. 

The main work on the line was scheduled for completion in November 2009, and the line 

would be officially opened a year later, said Liu Jun, a project manager with the Beijing 

Rail Construction Management Company. 


OTHERS 

White paper: China's policies and actions on climate change (October 29, 2008) 

The State Council Information Office published on Wednesday a white paper entitled 

China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change. The document, composed 

of eight chapters, describes that China actively participates in worldwide efforts to address 

climate change, earnestly observes the United Nations Framework Convention on 

Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, and plays a constructive role in international 

cooperation in this regard. The full text of the white paper attached. 



[Remark: we reported the WHITE PAPER on climate change in issue No. 43 and repeat it in this issue for 

its high importance. Full text of English version of the White Paper is attached.] 

40% of China's territory suffers from soil erosion (November 21, 2008) 

A three-year investigation reveals almost 40 percent of China's territory, or 3,569,200 

square kilometers of land, suffers from soil erosion. It's not only happening in rural areas, 

but also in cities and near factories and mines, said China's water erosion and 

bio-environment security scientific research team on Thursday. 

English link: 


Environmental protection not up to par in SAR: joint study (November 21, 2008) 

Hong Kong people have seen an overall improvement in the city's sustainable 

development, but are mostly dissatisfied with its efforts in environmental protection, a 

study has found. 

The environment, after all, is generally considered one of the most important aspects - 

right up there with education. 


Yunnan finalized the plan on coping with climate change (November 19, 2008) 

228



According to the Yunnan government, the Plan on Coping with Climate Change in Yunnan 

has been finalized. The total aim of the plan is to obviously mitigate emission of GHG, to 

strengthen the ability of adjusting climate change, and to improve the public awareness of 

climate change. GHG will be controlled gradually by controlling the energy consuming. 


China expected an active role at climate conference (November 18, 2008) 

BONN -- The UN climate chief said Monday that during the upcoming Climate Change 

Conference he expects "an active Chinese engagement" in discussions concerning 

technology transfer. 

"Many people don't realize China has already had an ambitious climate change policy in 

place. There is an ambition in China to improve energy efficiency, to close down small and 

medium-sized highly polluting installations," Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the 

Bonn-based secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 

told Xinhua in an interview. 


Taxing proposal (November 17, 2008) 

China is exploring the possibility of levying a carbon tax at a provincial level in order to 

help mitigate climate change, a recent report shows. 

The China Environmental Culture Promotion Association (CECPA) and the China Institute 

of Development Strategy Studies compiled the report. 

Niu Wenyuan, a researcher on sustainable development from the Chinese Academy of 

Sciences, led the report's team. 


229










- Beijing accomplish the year aim of “blue sky” one month earlier than 

projected 

- NDRC: Fuel tax scheme to be made public soon 

- Shanghai will take strict control measures of vehicles in the 4 th phase of 

Three Years Action on Environmental Protection 

- 'Green' crime team formed in Kunming 

- Environment: 350b yuan to pour into environmental industry 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Beijing accomplish the year aim of “blue sky” one month earlier than projected (November 


Beijing has got the 256 th “blue sky” day on November 30, which means the number of 

days achieving Grade II Standard has reached 70% of the whole year and Beijing 

accomplished the year aim of “blue sky” a month earlier than projected. The air quality 

keeps improving in continuously ten years in Beijing. 


Hohhot: good air quality days reached 276 (November 27, 2008) 

In Hohhot city, Inner Mongolia, good air quality days reached 276 by October 15, including 

113 days of excellent air quality and 163 days of good air quality, increasing 59 days of 

Grade I Standard than the same period of the last year. 

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-mep.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=28574 


Shanghai started project on Green Expo to ensure no more than ten days of high polluted 

air quality (November 30, 2008) 

Shanghai EPB held news press to start project on Green Expo. The project is expected to 

ensure no more than 10 days of high polluted air quality and no worse than the level in the 

same period of last few years. Meanwhile, Shanghai will hold the preview of emergency 

and guarantee measures for polluted environment case in the next year. 

230

Chinese link: http://bhstock.hexun.com/2008-11-30/111813455.html 



Lanzhou get 3 new air quality auto-monitoring sites (November 27, 2008) 

Database on air quality monitoring system and GHG has been accomplished by Sino-Italy 

Cooperation on Environmental Protection on November 17. The database will provide 3 

new auto-monitoring sites, and contribute monitoring data of regular pollutants such as 

SO2, NO2, and PM10, as well as new pollutants like O3, CO and BTX. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy: Qinhuangdao coal prices slide by 18% in a week (November 28, 2008) 

Coal prices at Qinhuangdao port, China's largest coal port, witnessed the sharpest fall in 

the year in the past week, with steam coal over 5,500 kilocalories dropping to 570 yuan 

per ton on Thursday, or 18 percent lower than that of seven days ago according to 

statistics provided by Qinghuangdao Port Group. 

The dramatic coal price slide in China is largely due to the global economic downturn and 

dwindling domestic demand. 


Energy: Calls for coal production cuts as prices fall (November 25) 

Qinhuangdao coal prices have fallen 25 percent in two weeks as coal miners call for a 

coalition to cut production. 

Coal prices in Qinhuangdao port, China's largest coal port, dropped by 25 percent over 

the past two weeks. Analysts are warning coal producers to cut production in case the 

decline in demand drives the coal price down still further, according to a report in today's 

China Securities Journal. 



The first wind measurement tower set up (November 28, 2008) 

Recently, a wind measurement tower has been set up in Tianjin city, which is the first 

completed tower in the project for the wind resource in China. It will provide observation 

data and make a lot of sense for wind energy inspection and evaluation. The project will 

contribute about 400 wind measurement towers in the whole country. 


NDRC: Fuel tax scheme to be made public soon (November 27, 2008) 

The fuel tax reform formula has now been reviewed by NDRC and various other related 

government departments. Once the draft reform formula is ready, it will be released to 

seek public opinion on amendments, said Zhang Ping, minister of the National 

Development and Reform Commission at a press conference this morning. 

231



"The goal for this reform is to highlight four concepts, which are fair taxation, a regulated 

charging system, energy conservation and less financial burden for the people," Zhang 

said. 



Views on proposed fuel tax sought 


Fuel tax unlikely to hike inflation 


Fuel tax 'needs no further legislative approval' 


Public views to be sought for oil reforms (November 26, 2008) 

The State Council said today it will seek public inputs on refined oil price reforms and the 

long-awaited fuel oil tax scheme. 

The move is seen as a vital step to boost domestic demand as the government goes 

ahead with its steps to bolster economic sentiment. 


Related reading: 

Lower oil price before fuel tax 


BP teams up with CAS for clean energy venture (November 26, 2008) 

Global energy giant BP and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) today agreed to 

establish the Clean Energy Commercialization Center (CECC) joint venture in Shanghai, 

jointly investing 500 million yuan to commercialize Chinese clean energy technologies 


Nuclear and wind power get energy subsidy (November 26, 2008) 

The central government has decided to allocate 800 million yuan ($11.76 million) by the 

end of this year to subsidize China's top nuclear and wind power providers, China Radio 

International reported. 

The improvement is part of the government's 100 billion yuan additional fiscal package, 

which should be spent by the end of this quarter, to prevent an excessive economic 

slowdown. 


PetroChina signs LNG deal with Shell (November 25, 2008) 

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Europe's biggest oil company, had agreed to sell an annual 2 

million tones of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China in a 20-year agreement, Shell (China) 

Limited said yesterday. 

English link: 


232

TRANSPORT 




First Green Chinese Locomotive Rolls (November 26, 2008) 

The newest green locomotive, He Xie No.5 (HXN5), was brought into service on 

November 25. This designation is manufactured by both China South Qiyeyan 

Locomotive & Rolling Co. and General Motor USA. It features impressive efficiency and 

low emissions, qualifying for the U.S. Tier 2 standard. The locomotive with biggest power 

by now will become the main used locomotive in railway freight. 


Shanghai will take strict control measures of vehicles in the 4 th phase of Three Years 

Action on Environmental Protection (November 26, 2008) 

In order to improve the air quality in 2010 Expo, Shanghai will take strict control measures 

of vehicles in the 4 th phase of Three Years Action on Environmental Protection. In the 4 th 

phase, Shanghai EPB will boost 21 projects with 5.5 billion yuan investment for air quality 

improvement, including implementing Grade IV Emission Standard in 2009 in advance, 

renewing buses and taxis, extending pilots of double-electricity buses and improving the 

facilities in gas stations. 


OTHERS 

Expo 2010 pavilion reaches milestone (November 29, 2008) 

SHANGHAI: The China pavilion for the Shanghai Expo placed its final concrete grouting 

on Friday, marking a milestone in the building of the country's showcase structure for the 

2010 event, organizers said. 

Known as the "The Crown of the East", the 63-m-tall pavilion costs about 1.5 billion yuan 

($220 million) and is slated for completion by October. 


China earmarks $73m for rural environment protection (November 29, 2008) 

China has decided to allocate 500 million yuan ($73.21 million) from the central fiscal for 

rural environment treatment, the Ministry of Environment Protection said Friday. 

The fund would help save 600 villages out of severe environment problems and award 

100 others which play exemplary roles in ecology. The program would directly benefit 4 

million people, the ministry said. 


Threat of pollution growing in Pearl River Delta (November 28, 2008) 

GUANGZHOU: Guangdong's relatively clean inland areas will face a growing threat from 

pollution if environmental problems are not properly handled during the industrial transfer, 

a government report said on Wednesday. 


233



Chinese show devotion to halt climate change (November 28, 2008) 

A survey by HSBC showed that Chinese respondents were the most prepared in the world 

to make a personal sacrifice to tackle climate change. 

About 56 percent of Chinese respondents to the survey said they were prepared to make 

a personal commitment to change their lifestyle to fight climate change, according to 

HSBC. 

English link: 


'Green' crime team formed in Kunming (November 28, 2008) 

KUNMING: Local public security and environmental protection bureaus have combined 

their efforts to facilitate environmental law enforcement with the foundation of a special 

police force in Kunming, capital of Yunan province. 

The 60-strong police force, formed under the municipal public security bureau on Tuesday, 

is responsible for dealing with criminal acts in environmental pollution within the city, as 

well as assisting the environment bureau with administrative law enforcement, an officer 

surnamed Li at Kunming public security bureau told China Daily yesterday. 


Environment: 350b yuan to pour into environmental industry (November 27, 2008) 

Among the country's 4-trillion-yuan financial stimulus plan, 350 billion yuan will be spent 

on improving the ecological environment and treating pollution, Zhang Ping, minister of 

the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference in Beijing 

today. The four-trillion-yuan investment will not be spent in the energy and 

resource-intensive industries or high-pollution industries, Zhang said. 


Related reading: 

NDRC reveals details of stimulus package 


China committed to climate promises (November 27, 2008) 

The country will not commit itself to a binding target in the reduction of greenhouse gases 

at the upcoming UN climate change summit in Poland but will continue its "unshakable 

commitments" to sustainable development, experts close to the negotiations said 

Wednesday. 

China has already made tremendous achievements in combating climate change, and will 

continuously act as a responsible country in negotiations, Lu Xuedu, a senior official from 

the Ministry of Science and Technology, said. 

English link: 


662.htm 

Environmental pollution no longer acceptable (November 27, 2008) 

BEIJING -- China's environmental protection chief has warned local governments that 

234



pollution in the name of economic growth is no longer tolerable. 

"At the primary stage of socialism, slowing or halting economic development for 

environmental protection is not acceptable. But pollution is not acceptable too," 

Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian was quoted by Thursday's People's 

Daily as saying. 


Warm winter 'major threat' to crops (November 26, 2008) 

Prolonged periods of drought resulting from China's 23rd consecutive "warm winter" will 

pose a serious threat to the country's crop yields, the China Meteorological Administration 

(CMA) said in a report published yesterday. 


Desertification causes yearly loss of 54 billion yuan in China (November 26, 2008) 

Tang Yuan, general director of the Research Department for Industry, Transportation and 

Trade, of the State Council Development Research Center, disclosed on November 25 

that the direct economic loss from desertification reaches 54 billion yuan every year. This 

has already affected the lives and productivity of nearly 400 million people. 

English link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6541192.html 

235










- Air quality in offices 'below par' 

- Shanghai plan to ban smoking 

- China may kick in fuel tax, oil pricing reforms in Jan 

- Guangzhou will get vehicles without environmental label out of the road in 

2009 

- Company gets first 'green insurance' 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Guangzhou: vehicle exhausts to kill people (December 4, 2008) 

According to the result of “public assessment and investigation of environment situation in 

2008 Guangzhou”, people thought vehicle exhausts pollution would go on developing, 

which made it very difficult to control…the vehicle exhausts are the main source of 

pollutions harm to public health. 57.1% of experts forecasted that the pollution of vehicle 

exhausts would be worse in the three years. 


Air quality in offices 'below par' (December 3, 2008) 

Almost 80 percent of office buildings in Qingdao, Shandong province, fail to meet national 

standards for indoor air quality, and people's health is suffering as a result, a local trade 

association has said. 

According to a survey by the Qingdao Indoor Furnishing Industry Association, the results 

of which were released on Sunday, just 22 percent of the city's offices have acceptable air 

quality, the Peninsula Metropolitan News reported yesterday. 


More of blue sky (December 3, 2008) 

A total of 256 days with blue sky till the end of last month, that is a pleasant surprise 

indeed. 

That was the quota Beijing fulfilled a month ahead of schedule for the first time in the 11 

years since 1998 when the municipal government began to control air pollution. 

236



They were also the highest number of days with blue sky and clean air in the past 11 years 

since the city's environmental department started keeping the count as a benchmark of 

what the city has done to improve its air quality. 


Xi’an accomplish “blue sky” target ahead of plan (December 2, 2008) 

By 15th November, excellent and good air quality days achieved 285, increasing 10 days 

than the same period of the last year. The days of excellent air quality, above Grade I 

Standard, reached 15, 2 more than the last year. This means Xi’an accomplished the “blue 

sky” target one and a half month earlier than planned, which is the first successful step for 

the goal of 300 days of “blue sky”. 



Shanghai plan to ban smoking (December 3, 2008) 

According to the information from Smoking Control Office in Shanghai city, government is 

drafting the law or regulation for banning the smoking, especially smoking in the public 

place and streets. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China must cut energy consumption per unit of GDP by 7% annually (December 3, 2008) 

China's think tank has said the country should cut its energy consumption per unit of GDP 

by 7 percent in 2009 and 2010 to achieve its goal of reducing energy intensity by around 

20 percent from 2006 to 2010. 

The think tank has based its forecast largely due to the slow pace of energy conservation 

since 2006. 


Energy: CNPC finds new oil, gas reserves (December 2, 2008) 

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) yesterday said it had made six major oil and gas 

discoveries this year, as the company has put increasing focus on exploration. The 

amount of this year's newly proved oil reserves will rank the third highest in the company's 

history, and the newly discovered natural gas reserves are expected to exceed 400 billion 

cu m for the fourth time, CNPC said in a statement on its website. 


Local govts urged to back up stimulus with clean norms (December 2, 2008) 

Some Chinese local governments are in danger of speeding up environmental 

degradation in the name of maintaining stable economic growth while they have been 

urged to quickly launch investment projects to keep the economy humming. A top-notch 

advisory council has given the warning to the central government, which was urgently 

237



asked to prevent the possibility. The expert panel of China Council for International 

Cooperation on Environment and Development has submitted a suggestion package to 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and listed local governments' poor environmental 

awareness as a "major risk". 


Coal's the goal (December 1, 2008) 

When people realized that China's coal cradle, Shanxi province, has a coal reserve that 

only can maintain the country's next 200-year exploitation, they started looking for its 

successor. 

The remote Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which has estimated coal reserves of 

1.82 trillion to 2.19 trillion tons, has become the most competitive candidate. 

With soaring energy prices, Xinjiang has intensified its coal exploration. 

Recently, Xinjiang revealed another mother lode when the local Department of Land and 

Resources announced that a coalfield with 23 billion tons in reserve was discovered. 



China unveils scheme for fuel tax reform (December 5, 2008) 

China unveiled its long-awaited plan on fuel tax reform on Friday, hiking the fixed amount 

of money levied on oil consumption, while phasing out some fees levied on drivers. 

The tax on each liter of gasoline will rise from 0.2 yuan to 1 yuan, while that for diesel will 

jump from 0.1 yuan to 0.8 yuan starting from January 1, 2009, according to a statement 

jointly issued by four ministries. They are the National Development and Reform 

Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transportation and State 

Administration of Taxation. 


China may kick in fuel tax, oil pricing reforms in Jan (December 4, 2008) 

BEIJING -- China's long-awaited fuel tax reform may start as early as January, along with 

the country's government-controlled oil pricing reforms, a senior official said Thursday. 

"I personally think January 1 is a good time to introduce the fuel tax," Zhang Xiaoqiang, 

vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said during 

participating in the fifth China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) held in Beijing. 


Jiangxi to build nuclear plant (December 4, 2008) 

Construction of a 60-billion-yuan nuclear power plant in Jiangxi province is expected to 

begin soon, a move in line with China's policy to boost the domestic demand. 

Located in Pengze in the Jiujiang city, the project is expected to come on stream in 2013, 

reported local media, citing unnamed sources. 

The plant is designed to have a capacity of 8,000 megawatts. Once in operation, it will 

generate 60 billion kilowatts of electricity annually. 


238

TRANSPORT 

-facts 



'Clean' diesel cars may worsen air pollution (December 4, 2008) 

With recent advances in diesel engine technology, Nissan Motor Co in September 

released Japan's first diesel-powered passenger car that meets the latest domestic 

emission control standards, to be implemented in 2009. 

Positioning it as a "clean diesel car", the industry, environment and transport ministries 

and industrial organizations in July decided on a plan to promote sales of such 

environmentally friendly diesel-engine vehicles. 



28b yuan more for transport infrastructure construction (December 3, 2008) 

China's central government will add 100 billion yuan ($14.51 billion) to key projects in the 

fourth quarter of this year, of which 28 billion yuan are allocated for railways, roads and 

airport infrastructure, said www.CRI.cn Wednesday. 

An official speaking on condition of anonymity from the National Development and Reform 

Commission, China's top planner, said 15 billion yuan will be spent on railways, 5 billion 

yuan on highways, 5 billion yuan on rural roads, and 3 billion yuan on the country's central 

and western airports. 


Guangxi to spend US$58b on transport (December 2, 2008) 

BEIJING -- China's southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, gateway to southeast 

Asia, will invest more than 400 billion yuan (US$58 billion) on transportation infrastructure 

over the next five years. 

Addressing a press conference held by the State Council Information Office here on 

Tuesday, Ma Biao, chairman of the autonomous region, said Guangxi would give top 

priority to developing transportation by improving an existing passage linking southwest 

China to the South China Sea. 


Beijing government has to save 20% of fuel cost for official vehicles annually (December 3, 


Beijing will make use of saving energy illuminative productions by the end of 2009, and 

official vehicles have to save 20% of fuel cost annually. The price and standard for official 

vehicles has also been changed. Small and economic environment-friendly cars will be 

the better options. 


Guangzhou will get vehicles without environmental label out of the road in 2009 

(December 1, 2008) 

239



Guangzhou EPB announced that vehicles without environmental label will be forbidden to 

get in the road of urban area. The local vehicles need to get labels indicating they achieve 

Grade I, II and III Standard or get the yellow label. The ecdemic vehicles also need to get 

labels indicating they achieve Grade I, II and III Standard. Cars without labels will be 

gotten out of the city. 


OTHERS 

China's environmental protection crucial to the world (December 7, 2008) 

BERLIN -- China's endeavor to enhance environmental protection, energy-saving and gas 

emission-cut and build a resource-conserving society is of great significance to the world, 

said Klaus Toepfer, former chief of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in a 

recent interview with Xinhua. 

"Such a move is in the interest of the entire world, and meets the need of the global 

sustainable development," he added 


US to help China build green edifices (December 5, 2008) 

The Washington-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will help China 

develop more energy-efficient buildings under a new program sponsored by the US State 

Department. 

With almost half the world's new construction expected to take place in China over the 

next decade, the program, announced on Thursday, calls for PNNL researchers to 

oversee a pilot project in two Chinese cities to help officials develop stricter building codes 

that promote energy efficiency. 


China, US should cooperate on energy, environment, food safety (December 4, 2008) 

China and the United States should further cooperate on energy, environment, as well as 

the safety of products, food and drugs, said Vice Premier Wang Qishan in Beijing on 

Thursday. 

Wang made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the fifth strategic 

economic dialogue (SED) in the morning. 


NDRC: investment of 2.5 billion yuan for saving energy and environmental protection has 

been carried out. (December 3, 2008) 

According to the website of NDRC, as a part of new investment--100 billion yuan from 

central government, investment of 2.5 billion yuan for saving energy and environmental 

protection has been carried out, and it is expected to mobilize 37 billion yuan of 

investment from enterprises and society. 


WB offers $120m loan to support China's eco-farming (December 3, 2008) 

240



The World Bank's (WB) China Office announced on Wednesday the WB's board of 

executive directors had approved a loan of $120 million for an eco-farming project in 

China. 

The office said farmers in central China's Anhui and Hubei provinces, Chongqing 

Municipality, Hunan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwestern 

China would benefit from improved rural environment and living conditions through the 

project. 


Company gets first 'green insurance' (December 2, 2008) 

A company in Hunan Province was compensated 11,000 yuan for an environmental 

liability policy it bought from Ping An Insurance. This is China's first case of its kind, the 

Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) announced yesterday. 

More than 120 villagers, whose vegetable fields were poisoned by leaked chlorid gas from 

Hunan Haohua Chemical Co Ltd, will share the compensation. 

English link: 


SPECIAL COMMENTS 

Learn from the West's mistakes 

By JING SU and LAURA KIMES (December 1, 2008) 

Private car ownership in China is low, but it has the potential to skyrocket. If China 

continues to follow the model of economic growth that is based on the automobile 

industry's growth, which was promoted by former US President Ronald Reagan in the 

1980s, it will develop many of the same problems that the US is facing today. For example, 

the US, the "country on wheels", is heavily dependent on foreign sources of oil, and as oil 

prices continue to rise, the US economy suffers. I wonder, given these issues, which 

direction China's auto industry and transportation sector should go… 


241










- Snowfall helps clear Beijing air pollution 

- Huaneng to run the biggest solar power project in 2010 

- China to run 30,000 'clean' vehicles by 2012 

- Beijing to inspect the emissions of private vehicles in 2009 

- Survey shows carbon culprits 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Snowfall helps clear Beijing air pollution (December 11, 2008) 

Beijing's first snowfall this winter has helped reduce the pollution level. The air pollution 

index (API) dropped from a high of 247 on Tuesday to 162 Wednesday, meteorological 

authorities said. 

A cold front is forecast for the capital in the coming week and will further reduce the API to 

about 100, barring a big change in emissions, Li Xin, chief engineer of the Beijing 

municipal environment protection bureau, said. 

"Beijing is surrounded by three mountain ranges and the coming rain, winds and snow 

could have a positive impact on the capital's air quality," Li said. 


Freak weather splits sky in two (December 11, 2008) 

Freak weather conditions in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province split the sky over the city 

into two halves yesterday, a belt of thick cloud covering the west of the city while the east 

remained clear. 

Cnwest.com reported that on December 10 the west of Xi'an was cloudy while in the east 

of the city the sun was shining. The same meteorological phenomenon has been seen in 

the past in Shenzhen and Hubei. 

English link: 


Hohhot accomplishes the blue sky aim (December 10, 2008) 

Based on meeting on air quality analysis of Hohhot EPB, the days of air quality above 

242



Grade I and II Standard reached 322 by November 30, a month ahead of projected time. 


Heavy fog strands thousands at Xinjiang airport (December 10, 2008) 

Heavy fog stranded more than 1,100 people at the airport after 13 flights were delayed in 

Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Tuesday, an 

airport official said. 

The fog reduced visibility to less than 400 meters in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's 

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Tuesday. 

English link: 


Fushun achieves best air quality this year (December 9, 2008) 

According to the information from Fushun EPB, the city accomplished annual aim a month 

earlier. By November 30, excellent and good air quality days reached 310, which is the 

best record from 2002 when Fushun started to monitor and record the air quality. 



National conference on Environmental Impact evaluation held in Beijing (December 12, 


MEP held the national conference on environmental impact evaluation held in Beijing from 

12th -13th Dec. Minister Zhou Shengxian emphasized that every level of environmental 

department should implement and fulfill “7 commitments” for better environmental impact 

evaluation work. 

Chinese link: http://www.zhb.gov.cn/news/zy/200812/t20081212_132366.htm 

Changchun confirm objective of emission reduction in 5 years (December 9, 2008) 

Changchun Government announced the work plan on energy conserving in 2008-2012. 

according to the plan, the energy consumption per 10 thousand GDP should decrease by 

0.613 tones standard coal from 0.71 tones (2007), while SO2 emission should be reduced 

by 66997 tones from 77016 tones (2007); and the number of excellent and good air 

quality days should reach 340 and more; COD should be reduced by 65748 tones from 

77337 tones (2007). 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

Energy consumption per unit of GDP down 3.46% in first three quarters (December 13, 


BEIJING -- China's energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) 

dropped 3.46 percent in the first three quarters this year, the country's top economic 

planner announced here on Friday. The figure for 2006 and 2007 was 1.79 percent and 

243



3.66 percent respectively. 


China to face temporary energy glut (December 12, 2008) 

China will face temporary energy glut because of dwindling demand in the global financial 

crisis, Wang Siqiang, an official with the National Energy Administration told a forum 

today. 

China's power generation in October fell 4.6 percent from a year earlier, the first 

year-on-year decline since 2005. Wang said energy output is set to fall further in 

November. In some provinces and autonomous regions, such as Ningxia and Guizhou, 

power generation has decreased by over 30 percent, said Wang 


Energy: Steel exports drop to record low (December 11, 2008) 

China's steel exports stood at 2.95 million tons in November, down 36.15 percent or 1.67 

million tons from October, according to the General Administration of Customs. It marks a 

record low since May 2006. 

From January to November this year, steel exports totaled 56.06 million tons, down 3.2 

percent from a year earlier, customs statistics show. 



Huaneng to run the biggest solar power project in 2010 (December 11, 2008) 

Huaneng Power's parent, China Huaneng Group, said it expects to operate the nation's 

biggest solar power project in 2010, investing 9.1 billion yuan. The project construction 

began early this month. The pilot project in Yunnan province will have two plants designed 

to produce 166 megawatts (MW) of electricity a year. "It marks a new stage of renewable 

energy development by China Huaneng Group in Yunnan province, helping the speedy 

development of the economy in the province," Huaneng Group said in a statement on its 

website. 


Gov't to remove caps on coal prices (December 10, 2008) 

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said yesterday it would 

remove the pricing caps on coal from next year and adopt a market-oriented pricing 

mechanism. 

China had established pricing caps on coal to prevent prices from rising higher than the 

price on June 19. "The removal of pricing caps would come into effect from next year," the 

NDRC said in a statement on coal production and demand for 2009. 

The NDRC, however, said it will adopt a market-oriented coal pricing mechanism as it 

reflects the real demand and supply, the resource scarcity and environmental costs 

associated with the commodity. 

English link: 


244

6061.htm 



Official: Fuel prices will drop under new fuel-pricing system (December 9, 2008) 

China's existing pump prices will go down a bit as the country begins reform of fuel 

taxation and refined oil product pricing system, which is expected to take place on January 

1 of 2009, an official said in Beijing on Tuesday. 

Xu Kunlin, vice head of the pricing department at the National Development and Reform 

Commission (NDRC), told reporters that there was room to lower the country's current fuel 

prices. 

Current pump prices in China, if converted, were equivalent to a world crude oil price of 

$83.5 a barrel, he said. 


China to build first inland nuclear plant in Hubei (December 8, 2008) 

The central Chinese province of Hubei is preparing for the construction of the country's 

first inland nuclear plant, a local planning official said on Sunday. 

Local authorities have relocated residents from the land designated for the plant in 

Xianning City, and completed road construction for the project, the official from the city's 

planning commission said. 

English link: 


TRANSPORT 


China to run 30,000 'clean' vehicles by 2012 (December 12, 2008) 

BEIJING -- There will be 30,000 clean-energy vehicles in China by 2012, an official with 

the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Friday. 

The ministry was promoting a project to put 5,000 hybrid buses, 20,000 hybrid taxis and 

5,000 electric vehicles on the streets in 10 cities by 2012, said Zhan Zhihong, deputy 

director-general of the ministry's Department of High and New Technology Development 

and Industrialization. 

Zhang said the project would save 780 million liters of gasoline and diesel oil and avoid 

the generation of 2.3 million tons of carbon dioxide. 


China, US team up for green vehicles (December 12, 2008) 

China and the United States yesterday agreed to collaborate on developing electric and 

hybrid vehicles in a significant boost to the "green programs" expected to reshape the 

automobile industry. 

The collaboration comes at a time when US President-elect Barack Obama is heralding 

green cars as a crucial part of his energy strategy, while the Chinese government is also 

promoting these vehicles to cut the country's dependence on imported oil and reduce 

greenhouse emissions. 


245



Qingdao: new official vehicles must be energy-conserving and environmental protection 

types (December 10, 2008) 

According to the relevant requirements from central government and provincial 

government, Qingdao city launched the policy on saving energy. It requires all new official 

vehicles much be energy-conserving and environmental protection types which are 

compliance with national regulation. From January 1st, 2009, city government must 

choose the vehicles above Grade III Standard type when need to buy, where as from 

January 1st, 2010, city government must choose vehicles above the Grade IV Standard 

type. 


Transportation: Motorists may end up paying less for fuel (December 10, 2008) 

Car owners could pay less for gas after the government adjusts the retail fuel tax from Jan 

1. The retail gas price may drop rather than increase after the fuel price reform is 

implemented, said Xu Kunlin, deputy head of the pricing department of the National 

Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). 

"We made it clear while devising the reform scheme that people would not have to pay 

more at the pump even if a higher retail fuel consumption tax was introduced," Xu said. 


Lanzhou: EPB cooperates with traffic police to control vehicle exhausts (December 9, 


From November 19, environmental department cooperated with traffic police on joint 

action to improve air quality. In this joint action, government set 14 inspection sites for 

vehicle exhausts examination in order to reduce their impact to air quality in Lanzhou city. 


Beijing to inspect the emissions of private vehicles in 2009 (December 8, 2008) 

According to the information from Director of Beijing EPB, Li Kunsheng, in 2009, the 

governmental will start selective examination on emissions of private vehicles that drive 

less than 0.1 million km long. 


OTHERS 

China to focus investment on five major sectors in 2009 (December 14, 2008) 

China will put the bulk of its investment on the development of agriculture, low-cost 

housing project, infrastructure, energy conservation and social welfare next year, People's 

Daily reports on Sunday. 

Explaining the use of the central government investment, Zhang Ping, minister in charge 

of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the country will pump more 

investment into construction of key water control projects, repair of reservoirs in danger 

and building of more water-saving facilities at major irrigation areas. 


246



Himin's $100m investment proves solar is hot stuff (December 13, 2008) 

Himin Solar Energy Group, China's top maker of solar water heaters, secured a nearly 

$100 million investment Firday from Goldman Sachs and CDH Investment. 

The deal comes at a time when venture capital activities are slackening in the country as 

IPOs dry up, proving that investors remain zealous about China's promising solar industry. 


Survey shows carbon culprits (December 12, 2008) 

Pudong New Area is the district with the highest net carbon emissions in the city, while 

Chongming County has the lowest and also absorbs the most carbon, said a report 

released by Tongji University yesterday. 

Downtown areas have comparatively low carbon-emission rates compared to areas on 

the outskirts of Shanghai, where most of the city's industry is located. 

The city's net carbon emission has risen by an average of 12.97 percent each year for the 

past three years. 

English link: 


Call to oversee planning of hydropower development (December 12, 2008) 

Development of hydropower on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River seriously lacks 

order, planning and supervision, a government consultant said today. 

Shao Bingren, vice director of the Commission of Population, Resources and Environment 

at the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said: 

"according to statistics from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, there are over 3,000 

hydropower stations without government approval across China." 


Comply with framework to fight climate change – minister (December 12, 2008) 

POZNAN, Poland -- A Chinese minister said here on Thursday that the UN Framework 

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol should be taken as the 

basic legal framework for the world to cope with climate change. 

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-12/12/content_7298622.htm 

Rich nations need to 'lend their help' (December 12, 2008) 

Developing countries, vulnerable to extreme weather and climatic catastrophes, need 

proper technology and funding to deal with the adverse affects of global warming, China's 

top meteorologist said Thursday. 

Developing countries are ill-equipped and susceptible to the consequences of climate 

change, Zheng Guoguang, chief of the China Meteorological Administration, said. 


Stimulus spending 'could aid' environmental protection (December 11, 2008) 

Efforts to boost domestic consumption during the economic downturn will also provide 

247



development opportunities for the environmental protection industry, a senior official said 

Wednesday. 

English link: 


846.htm 

248









★*MERRY CHRISTMAS!* ★ 


- Satellite data confirm effect of pollution controls 

- HK, Guangdong set air quality target 

- China starts construction on gas pipeline 

- China cuts gasoline, diesel prices 

- Shanghai unveils plans to protect environment 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

Kunming: 100% excellent and good air quality days in the first 11 months (December 18, 


Based on the information of Kunming EPB, citizens in Kunming enjoyed more good air 

quality days than the last year. By November 23, excellent and good air quality days 

reached 84 and 244, respectively, 100% of monitoring days, and increasing 28 days than 

2007. in the city examination, Kunming city ranked first in the major cities (excluding 

municipalities) on ambient air quality. 


Lanzhou accomplishes environmental objective of 2008 (December 18, 2008) 

By yesterday, the excellent and good air quality days reached 262 in Lanzhou city. In this 

year, 136 boilers were upgraded which reduce 62788 tones burning-coal and 758.67 

tones emissions of smoke. 


Satellite data confirm effect of pollution controls (December 17, 2008) 

SAN FRANCISCO -- New satellite data revealed that air pollution controls during the 

Beijing Olympic Games did have a positive impact, leading to sharp decline in certain 

pollutants, US scientists said Tuesday. 

During the two months when air pollution restrictions were in place, levels of nitrogen 

dioxide in Beijing's air plunged nearly 50 percent, Jacquelyn Witte, an atmospheric 

249



scientist from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), told the fall 

meeting of the American Geophysical Union held in San Francisco. 


North China to brace more cold fronts (December 16, 2008) 

BEIJING -- Two cold fronts will sweep the northern part of China from Tuesday, bringing 

strong winds and a temperature drop of 6 to 8 degrees Celsius or more, the National 

Meteorological Center (NMC) said on Tuesday. 

NMC Experts said snowfall would ease drought in north China and improve the air quality. 



HK, Guangdong set air quality target (December 19, 2008) 

Hong Kong and Guangdong governments yesterday expressed confidence in achieving 

joint emissions reduction targets by 2010. The two governments will also set new targets 

after 2010. 

Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau said this after the ninth meeting of the Hong 

Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development & Environmental 

Protection yesterday. 

In 2002, the joint working group arrived at a consensus to cut the emission of four major 

air pollutants, volatile organic compounds, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particles, 

by 20 to 55 percent in eight years. 


Suzhou starts auto-monitoring on dominant sources (December 19, 2008) 

Suzhou has started to make use of management and auto-monitoring system on 

dominant pollution sources recently, which combined the network of city, 5 counties and 4 

districts. The system will monitor 656 polluted enterprises. 


Beijing adopts new pollution control measures (December 18, 2008) 

Beijing has created a series of new pollution control measures including an odd-and-even 

license plate rule in extreme weather conditions, the Beijing Evening News reports. 

High-emission, or 'yellow-labelled' vehicles, will be banned from all Beijing roads inside 

the fifth Ring from January 1 next year. 

This does not include vehicles involved in city maintenance and production, but their 

emissions must also be lowered by October 1, 2009. 

Construction sites should meet the standards of dust prevention and control before March 

1, 2009. Earth and stones excavated during road maintenance and forestation projects 

within the 5th ring road should be gathered in bags. 

English link: 


ENERGY 

250

- Facts 



China's energy output growth plummets in Nov (December 16, 2008) 

China's energy output growth dropped sharply in November, affected by the worsening 

global financial crisis and the slowing economy. The national energy output amounted to 

214.58 million tons in November, up 7.7 percent year-on-year, the National Bureau of 

Statistics (NBS) said on Tuesday. 


Energy: CNPC finds big gas reserve in Xinjiang (December 16, 2008) 

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country's largest oil and gas producer, has 

found a natural gas field with a proven reserve of 100 billion cu m in northern Xinjiang 

Uygur autonomous region. 

The Klameli field is the first reserve of this size ever discovered around the Junggar Basin, 

said Chen Xinfa, general manager of Xinjiang Oilfield Co, a subsidiary of CNPC. 

Discovery of the field, about 250 km away from Karamay city, will alleviate the gas 

shortage in northern Xinjiang, said Chen. 



China starts construction on gas pipeline (December 19, 2008) 

China has started construction on a gas pipeline from the western Ningxia Hui 

autonomous region to the southern Guangdong province, China National Petroleum 

Corporation (CNPC) told Xinhua Friday. 

The eastern part of the second west-east gas pipeline, was approved by the country's 

State Council, or Cabinet, on November 12. Construction started on December 11 and 12 

at four sites in the provinces of Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Guangdong. 


Construction starts on nuclear power plant in S China (December 17, 2008) 

Construction began Tuesday on a nuclear power plant expected to generate 45 billion 

kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. 

The Yangjiang nuclear power plant in Dongping Town, Yangjiang City, is being built by 

China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group with an investment of 70 billion yuan (US$10.1 

billion). 

The plant will have six 1,000-megawatt units with the first unit to begin operations in 2013. 

All the units will be built by 2017. 

The plant will save 16 million tons of coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the most 

prominent greenhouse gas, by 36 million tons, according to Zhang Guobao, vice minister 

of the National Development and Reform Commission. 


TRANSPORT 

-facts 

251



Dilemma over cars (December 16, 2008) 

With the sharp increase in car ownership in recent years resulting in traffic congestion in 

downtown areas, Beijing can no longer give a shot in the arm to automakers. 

The municipal government should come up with a comprehensive plan to regulate the 

situation. Otherwise, a boom in sales, sooner or later, will make traffic too heavy for the 

city to bear. 

It was reported that the number of cars owned by Beijingers has already exceeded 3.5 

million and is increasing by 1,000 cars a day. 



China to spend $731B on railways by 2020 (December 21, 2008) 

BEIJING - China will spend 5 trillion yuan ($730.6 billion) until 2020 to add 41,000 km 

(25,480 miles) to its already big rail network, state media said, as the government tries to 

boost domestic demand and ease strains on a jammed system. 

The latest edition of Outlook Weekly, published by Xinhua news agency, cited Deputy 

Railway Minister Lu Dongfu as saying the new railways would help promote economic 

growth, ease transport bottlenecks and provide at least six million jobs. 


China cuts gasoline, diesel prices (December 19, 2008) 

The retail price of gasoline has been cut by 0.91 yuan (13 US cents) per liter, and diesel 

by 1.08 yuan, as of midnight, the country's top economic planner announced yesterday. 

But the National Development and Reform Commission did not say how the reductions 

would affect the range of prices for various grades of fuel or in different parts of the 

country. 

For example, the top grade of gasoline in Beijing cost 6.78 yuan per liter yesterday. 

The reduction in retail prices follows a government announcement yesterday that it would 

cut factory gate prices for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from today, and at the same time 

levy a long-awaited fuel consumption tax from Jan 1 amid a sharp slump in global oil 

prices. 


Official: cars with new energy supported by government (December 19, 2008) 

Promoted by reform on fuel tax, clean vehicles are likely to be popular in the next year. 

Ministry of Finance will carry out relevant measures to give allowances to who buy cars 

with new energy and support the development of clean cars by tax policies, said Wang 

Anbao, official of Ministry of Finance. 

Chinese link: 

http://www.chinaev.org/ZC/manager/xinwen/wenz.jsp?id=200812191051046&lanmu_nam 

e=xinwen 

Fueling reform in the pipeline (December 15, 2008) 

China is on the threshold of the long-awaited fuel tax implementation. 

252



As unveiled by the reform draft released last week, the government plans to abolish six 

categories of fees now charged for road tolls, waterway maintenance fees and waterway 

management fees, and raise the consumption tax on gasoline from 0.2 yuan to 1 yuan per 

liter, and diesel from 0.1 yuan to 0.8 yuan per liter. The plan is scheduled to take effect at 

the beginning of next year. 

To soothe the public's worry that the increased fuel tax may boost oil prices, the 

government ensured the public that the pump prices will not rise after the implementation 

of the plan. 


Over 80% taxis changed to fuel natural gas in Zhucheng (December 17, 2008) 

According to the information of Zhucheng city, Shandong province, over 80% taxis have 

been changed to fuel natural gas from gasoline by now. 


OTHERS 

Clean green garbage machine (December 18, 2008) 

A High-tech, closed-tube system based on Finnish technology is to be used to gather 

rubbish from the World Expo sites and will be cleaner and more efficient than traditional 

methods, city officials said yesterday. 

Expo officials said the automatic waste collection system will be installed inside all 

buildings and along the streets inside the World Expo zone. 

English link: 


Companies urged to save energy (December 18, 2008) 

Shanghai is to limit the power usage of companies which use a lot of energy but have low 

output to ensure power supplies in the city, the Shanghai Economic Committee said 

yesterday. 

The city is expected to have a peak power demand of between 19 to 19.5 million kilowatts 

from December to March. 

Some companies will be ordered to adjust their working hours to enable production at 

weekends and ease the burden on the power supply during weekdays, officials said. 

English link: 


The first College of Global Change and Earth system of China founded in Beijing 

(December 17, 2008) 

The College of Global Change and Earth system of Beijing Normal University is founded 

today in Beijing, which is an independent academy and also the first institute on global 

change and earth system in China. 


Shanghai unveils plans to protect environment (December 15, 2008) 

253



SHANGHAI: In an effort to become an environment-friendly city by the time the 2010 

World Expo gets underway, Shanghai has announced plans to invest 80 billion yuan 

($11.6 billion) in environmental protection projects in the next three years. 

As part of the new plan - the fourth round of the city's Three-Year Environment Protection 

Action Plan since 2000 - more than 200 such projects will be carried out, the Shanghai 

environment protection committee said on Friday. 


254









★*HAPPY NEW YEAR!* ★ 


- Nanjing to accomplish annual goal of 315 excellent and good air quality days 

- China considers phasing out incandescent lamps 

- New regulation on drivers to curb pollution 

- MEP: government to research environment tax 

- Improving air quality in Asia's mega cities 

AIR QUALITY 

- Facts 

China to spend last days in 2008 amid snow and rain (December 28, 2008) 

A cold front is expected to bring strong wind and snow to northern China and rain to the 

south in the next two days, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) announced in 

Beijing on Saturday. 

The northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia 

provinces, Inner Mongolia, as well as southwestern Tibet and the Sichuan Province are 

expected to get between 5-10 millimeters of snow Saturday night and Sunday, according 

to the NMC forecast. 

Temperatures are also supposed to drop 4-10 degrees Celsius. 

English link: 


Nanjing to accomplish annual goal of 315 excellent and good air quality days (December 


Nanjing city is hopeful to accomplish annual goal of 315 excellent and good air quality 

days in 2008, while 312 days in 2007. Based on the monitoring data, the excellent and 

good air quality days reached 314 on December 23, including 48 days above Grade I 

Standard of air quality, increasing 10 days than the last year. 



255



Laiyang builds the first air quality auto-monitor station (December 23, 2008) 

Recently, Laiyang city, Shandong province, has finished building and started using the first 

air quality auto-monitor station. It is expected to support information and data for 

environmental management and policy making. 


Tax hike won't curb smoking (December 22, 2008) 

Tobacco use cannot be controlled by raising the consumption price alone, says an article 

in Dazhong Daily. The following is an excerpt: 

At a recent tobacco control conference in Beijing, it was suggested that the tax levied on a 

pack of cigarettes should be raised from the current 0.06 yuan to 1 yuan and that the 

overall tax should account for more than 60 percent of the retailing price of every pack of 

cigarettes. 

We do support control on tobacco consumption, but it seems naive to hope to control it by 

raising the price of cigarettes. It is a worry that this price rise measure may backfire: It may 

not help control tobacco use but on the contrary add too much burden on smokers. 


ENERGY 

- Facts 

China to produce 189Mn tonnes of crude oil this year (December 28, 2008) 

China is forecast to produce 189 million tonnes of crude oil in 2008, a growth of 1.61 

percent over the 186 million tonnes last year, according to a recent report released by the 

nation's leading oil producer, PetroChina. 

The production would rank the nation fifth among all the oil producing countries around 

the world. 

The report said China had verified oil deposits of 20.7 billion tonnes over the past 30 

years. 


Energy: Crude oil imports expected to grow 1.2% in 2008 (December 25, 2008) 

China's crude oil imports are expected to register a stagnant year-on-year growth of 1.2 

percent in 2008, surprising some market observers who thought the government would 

take advantage of low world oil prices to increase reserves. 

China National Petroleum Corporation, China's largest oil company, published the 

estimate on its website yesterday, saying China will import 189 million tons of crude oil in 

2008, up 1.2 percent from 2007. 


Coal price may rise 10% in 2009 (December 24, 2008) 

The coal contract price for power generation in 2009 is expected to rise about 10 percent, 

said a source attending the annual coal prices negotiation conference in Fuzhou, Fujian 

province. 

The official with China Coal Transport and Distribution Association, who declined to be 

256



named, said price talks were at a stalemate, as coal miners seek higher prices while 

power plants hope to lower them. 

"The increase in the 2009 coal contract price will not be very sharp. It will be at most equal 

to last year's level, which is 15 to 20 percent on average," the source said. 



China considers phasing out incandescent lamps (December 25, 2008) 

China will gradually phase out incandescent lamps and promote green lighting in a move 

to realize its energy-saving goals, the National Development and Reform Commission 

(NDRC) said on its website on Dec 25. 

Cooperating with the UN Development Program and the Global Environment Facility, the 

NDRC, China's top economic planner, has begun to compiling plans to phase out 

incandescent lamps in the country. 


China to import gas from Myanmar (December 25, 2008) 

Natural gas produced from the Shwe Field off Myanmar's Rakhine coast will be exported 

to China's southwestern region under a new export gas sales and purchase agreement 

signed between companies from China, Myanmar and South Korea. 

The three parties are the China National United Oil Corporation (CNUOC), Myanmar Oil 

and Gas Enterprise, and a consortium led by the Daewoo International Group Corporation, 

sources with the CNUOC said Thursday. 

English link: 


Measures proposed for strengthening Sino-Indonesia energy cooperation (December 25, 


Visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang proposed a package of measures aimed at 

boosting energy cooperation with Indonesia in an address to the 3rd China-Indonesia 

energy forum in Jarkata on Monday. 

English link: 


Clean-generator subsidy rise (December 23, 2008) 

Shanghai government announced yesterday that it would improve incentives for local 

factories and businesses that install an energy-saving power generation system inside 

their buildings. 

The system, named Distributed Generation, is based on a small gas-fueled power 

generation unit. Operators build these units on site, rather than take power from the 

national grid, which is powered by coal-fired power stations, usually located far away from 

power users. 

English link: 


257

4595.htm 



TRANSPORT 


New regulation on drivers to curb pollution (December 26, 2008) 

ZHUHAI -- Drivers who don't switch off their vehicle engines while waiting in 

environmentally sensitive areas, such as residential neighborhoods or schools, will face a 

fine of up to 200 yuan ($29) starting May 1, local authorities said Thursday. 

The revised regulations of environmental protection in Zhuhai said that drivers will be 

prohibited from leaving their vehicle ignitions on while waiting in residential areas, near 

schools, government department buildings, hospitals, public parking lots and scenic spots. 

In case of violation of the new regulation, drivers may be fined anywhere between 20 yuan 

and 200 yuan. 


Hunan to invest in 18 expressways (December 24, 2008) 

Hunan province in central China has decided to invest up to 120 billion yuan ($17.52 

billion) in 18 expressways in 2009, said an official with the provincial transport authorities. 

The 18 expressways include 12 which have already been under construction since 2008 

and 6 more that will commence building in 2009. 


Guangdong: official cars to get off the road one day per week (December 23, 2008) 

Guangdong government required all official cars to get off the road one day per week on 

December 19, in order to reduce vehicle emission and improve traffic situation and air 

quality in Guangzhou. 


OTHERS 

Bustling Guangzhou's greenery still growing (December 26, 2008) 

The provincial capital of Guangdong has made significant progress in urban forestation as 

it developed its vibrant and now-renowned economy. 

"Guangzhou, as a business hub in the south, has taken the lead in urban forestation and 

ecological enhancement on the mainland thanks to years of efforts made by the provincial 

government," said Zhu Xiaodan, Party secretary of Guangzhou. 

Zhu said Guangzhou paid special attention to planting urban forests while develop its 

industry and infrastructure in the past three decades. 

English link: 

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/health_green_living/2008-12/26/content_17013475. 

htm 

MEP: government to research environment tax (December 25, 2008) 

MEP will research on setting up environment tax in the next year, and launching pilot of 

258



ecological compensation will be the one of dominant programs on energy conservation 

and emission reduction in 2009 said Deputy Minister of MEP Zhang Lijun in the national 

conference on environmental pollution reduction. 


Carbon emission futures talk boosts HK bourse operator (December 24, 2008) 

The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEx) got a boost after the Chicago Climate 

Exchange (CCX) yesterday announced that it has begun talks with its counterparts, 

including HKEx and Tianjin Climate Exchange (TCX) over the launch of carbon emission 

futures. 

The announcement came as a big boost for the HKEx as it was planning a foray into the 

emission futures sector. CCX said that both parties will study the plan details over the 

coming months. 

HKEx chief executive Paul Chow earlier said that the environment-related futures 

products might be available in the middle of next year. 


New geostationary weather satellite launched (December 23, 2008) 

China launched its third geo-stationary meteorological satellite, the Fengyun-2-06, 

Tuesday morning. 

The satellite was launched on a Long March-3A carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite 

Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province at 8:54 a.m. (Beijing Time). 

English link: 


36 mln jobs to be created in forestation industry (December 23, 2008) 

Some 36 million jobs will be created in the areas of forestation, forest tourism, wildlife 

breeding, and flower and medicinal herb plantations, Jia Zhibang, head of the State 

Forestry Administration, said yesterday. 

English link: 


3344.htm 

More proposals urged to tackle pollution (December 23, 2008) 

A senior Chinese official has urged the country's political advisors to make more practical 

proposals to the government to resolve environmental pollution and other social problems. 

Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political 

Consultation Conference (CPPCC), made the remark in a letter to the CPPCC's first 

seminar on China's population, resources and environment development concluded in 

Beijing on Tuesday. 


Yangtze River Delta to cooperate on environmental protection (December 22, 2008) 

Jiangsu province, Zhejiang province and Shanghai city signed the protocol to cooperate 

259



on environmental protection in Yangtze River Delta (YRD) from 2009 to 2010. From 2009, 

YRD will cooperate in fields of water, power plants, vehicle exhausts etc. 


Cement plant should play role as purifier (December 22, 2008) 

A good cement plant shouldn't be a polluter; it should play a role as a purifier. 

Since 1985 China's cement production has been the highest in the world for 21 

consecutive years and accounts for 48 percent of the global annual output. 

However, the cement industry also consumes 15 percent of all the coal burned in China, 

while the country is the major carbon dioxide producer in the world. 

According to the 11th Five-Year Plan for the Chinese cement industry from 2006 to 2010, 

the energy consumption of each ton of cement is predicted to be reduced by 25 percent 

compared with the previous five years. 


SPECIAL COMMENTS 

Improving air quality in Asia's mega cities (December 25, 2008) 

By Murad Qureshi 

Last month Better Air Quality (BAQ) in Asia biennial conference was held in Bangkok. It 

highlighted one of the most pressing issues for the mega cities of Asia - the need to 

improve air quality while urbanization increases apace and along with it energy 

consumption and vehicle growth. 

Air quality in Asia is certainly improving but is still far above World Health Organization 

limits. Particular matter (dust) is the main pollutant of concern while ozone is increasingly 

becoming a problem. 

Let us be clear from the outset about the health, environmental and economic impacts of 

air pollution. On the health front, it has been shown in studies across the globe to have 

significant effects on the lungs, the heart and the nervous system. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Dear subscribers, 

This is the last issue in 2008. Please feel free to give us your comments, advice, or any 

kind of feedback. They will help us improve the newsletter in the next year. Thank you 

very much for your kind support and concern. 

Happy New Year! 

Best, 

Shan 

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