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Weekly News Digest
Climate Change in China
July 13 - 19, 2008
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2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES
Enteromorpha prolifra in Qingdao Cleared; the Olympic Sailing Teams Should Have No Trouble
Xinhuanet, 7/18/08
Zang Aimin, the member of the Standing Committee of the Qingdao Municipal CPC Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee, said on July 18 that enteromorpha prolifra, the algae mass, in Qingdao has been cleared, which is confirmed in the aircraft surveillance results. Athletes from all over the world should have no trouble training there.
Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/sports/2008-07/18/content_8570299.htm
ALGAE PROBLEMS
The Curse and Blessing of the Algae
Sichuan News Network, 7/15/08
Every summer, stories about damaging algae masses in lakes, rivers and the coastal regions are reported in the newspaper. "The Green Tide" is caused by a kind of algae called Enteromorphaclathrata, which affects tourism and is regarded in many countries as an oceanic disaster along with the Red Tide. On the other hand, the green tide is welcomed in Japan, where people eat it as a kind of seaweed.
Source: http://www.newssc.org/gb/Newssc/ ... ect10ai1419716.html
ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS
The Arctic Expedition
Jiande News Network, 7/17/08
At 10:00 A.M. on July 11, China's third Arctic expedition set off from Shanghai's Central Pier. Ten Zhejiang scientists, including Zhang Hasheng, the chief scientist and the head of the Second Institute of Oceanography, boarded Xuelong research vessel and started the journey with fifty-one scientists from China, America, Japan, the EU, and other countries.
Source: http://www.jdnews.com.cn/col120/col678/article.htm1?id=846503
BIOFUELS
Biofuels Should Not Be Encouraged Due to High Costs
www.in-en.com, 7/18/08
Global food crisis caused by biofuel development has been the main concern for several international organizations. Shortly after the World Bank pointed out that biofuels were the main cause of the rising food price, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported this week that biofuels cost too much and had little effect on greenhouse gas reduction, and that we take different measures deal with climate change. Experts said biofuels should not be encouraged as an alternative energy source.
Source: http://www.in-en.com/newenergy/h ... 13081392213571.html
ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT
Green GDP: A Formidable Yet Appealing Task
Jingrongjie, 7/15/08
In 2008, considered by many as the most difficult year, people hope to listen to the voices from the academia. On a number of occasions, Fan Gang, one of the most persistent scholars, has expressed his view on the core issue of "Green GDP." Fan even believes that Green GDP is one solution to many problems we face. Today, thirty years into the reform and opening up, we must regard Green GDP as a guide to continuing and sustainable development.
Green Gross Domestic Product (Green GDP): an index of economic growth with the environmental consequences of that growth factored in
Source: http://finance.jrj.com.cn/news/2008-07-15/000003833449.html
ENERGY SAVINGS
Consider the One-yuan Energy-saving Bulbs in Beijing
NetEase, 7/16/08
The one-yuan energy-saving bulbs are undoubtedly the focus of energy-saving and emission reduction in Beijing this summer. The residents are delighted that the government is subsidizing 90 percent while they are only paying for the rest. Until now, these bulbs have been used in 300 communities and the total amount of purchase has exceeded 3.2 million yuan. In terms of the economy, the subsidies can be regained in half a year. As for the environment, the bulbs will save 1,500 carriages of coal. For the society, they will guide the energy-saving consumption patterns.
Source: http://news.163.com/08/0716/05/4GUT4BBE000120GU.html
Spread the Use of Energy-saving Bulbs to Decrease Consumption and Reduce Emission
Hefei Evening News, 7/17/08
The meeting on spreading the use of efficient lighting products was held in Hefei Energy-saving Technical Service Centre. The leaders from each district, the County Economic Commission, and other major enterprises participated, and they discussed how to spread the use of energy-saving bulbs. Wu Qiyou, the Deputy-Director of Provincial Energy Conservation Centre, said that it was an important part of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan to spread the use of efficient energy-saving products, and that it was necessary for planting "green lighting" and dealing with climate change.
Source: http://www.hf365.com/html/01/05/20080717/149466.htm
GOVERNMENT
Lu Hao: Improve Capacity to Address Climate Change
Gansu Xinhuanet, 7/15/08
Gansu Provincial Party Committee held a study report meeting on July 14 and invited Zheng Guoguang, the Director of China Meteorological Administration, to deliver a report entitled "Climate Change and the Defense of Meteorological Disasters." Lu Hao, the Provincial Party Secretary and the Director of the Standing Committee of Provincial People's Congress, emphasized that we must vigorously implement the scientific outlook on development; integrate the plans for economic development and ecological construction; continue to improve the capacity to address climate change; and strengthen the capacity for sustainable development.
Source: http://www.gs.xinhuanet.com/news/2008-07/15/content_13813550.htm
Hunan Reinforces Disaster Prevention and Reduction and Climate Change
China Meteorological Association, 7/16/08
According to Zhu Yande, the Party Secretary and Director of Hunan Provincial Bureau of Meteorology, the Bureau has taken measures in five aspects, addressing their meteorological findings. First, they have arranged the cadres and workers to study the spirit of the important speech by the General Secretary Hu Jintao. Second, they have taken various measures to extend propagandas to the leaders and the public. Third, they have accelerated the implementation of climate change policies. Fourth, they have improved the capacity for monitoring and forecasting meteorological disasters. Fifth, they have launched a campaign for addressing climate change.
Source: http://www.cma.gov.cn/qxxw/gdqx/200807/t20080716_12553.html
China Meteorological Administration Set Six Key Tasks to Deal with Climate Change
www.GOV.cn, 7/18/08
To further implement the spirit of the General Secretary Hu Jintao, which was made clear in his speech at the General Assembly of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as in the collective study by the Sixth CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, China Meteorological Administration recently decided to strengthen the ability to deal with climate change and improve the capacity for tackling climate change by completing six key tasks.
Source: http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2008-07/18/content_1049065.htm
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
State Forestry Bureau Arranges a Campaign: "Eliminate Carbon Footprint" (East Forest)
Pinpaitong, 7/17/08
In the East Forest Company meeting, the host read an article from the July 11th issue of China Green Times about a campaign arranged by the State Forestry Bureau. The State Forestry Bureau held a meeting called "articipating in Carbon Compensation and Eliminating Carbon Footprints," and set the zero-emission goal.
Source: http://nb.qianlong.com/html/news/20087/82354.htm
TECHNOLOGY
China Develops a Rocket that Triggers Lightning
HC360.com, 7/16/08
According to Zhang Yijun, the Director of Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, we can artificially trigger and control lightning using a rocket that can lead the lightning to the ground. Recently, Xi'an developed a new rocket that can artificially trigger lightning.
Source: http://info.secu.hc360.com/2008/07/161457136989.shtml
YOUTH AWARENESS & ACTION
The 2008 College Students Environmental Protection Cartoon Competition Concluded Successfully
Bazhongwang, 7/16/08
The Third College Students Environmental Protection Cartoon Competition ended on June 5, the World Environmental Day. Following two successful years, this year's competition offered the theme of "Climate Change and Disaster--Guard Against Global Warming." The Competition regarded environmental protection as its own responsibility and aimed to bring out the creativity and talent of college students. Total of eighty-six outstanding works, including the Gold, Silver, and Bronze for the top three, were awarded according to fair criteria.
Source: http://bzzjw.bzgd.com/wyjx/200807/13743.html
Shanghai International Youth Science and Technology Exhibition
People's Daily, 7/17/08
The Second Shanghai International Youth Science and Technology Exhibition, hosted by the city's Science and Technology Commission and the Education Commission, was held from the 15th to the 18th under the theme, "Science and Technology Will Create Happy Life". Three hundred teenagers and teachers from fifteen countries took part in the exhibition including ten students and teachers from Dujiangyan. The exhibition focused on topics such as technological innovation, the Green Olympics, and sustainable development. The exhibition included 130 inventions by both foreign and Chinese teenagers and the results of popular science education in Shanghai.
Source: http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/7522258.html
Thirty-three Young Climate Ambassadors Arrive in Shanghai: Energy Reduction and Emission Cuts Start on Campus
Shanghai Municipality News, 7/18/08
Everyone knows the benefits of energy reduction, but the energy-saving lamps are too expensive. Xu Yang, a high school student from Shanghai, provides his solution: "First, we install energy-saving lamps in several classrooms. Half a year later, we can deduct the lamp cost from the electricity cost that we have saved. Then we distribute the money to the other classrooms." Xu Yang is one of the thirty-three young "climate ambassadors" of the project made by Ministry of Science and Technology and the British Council.
Source: http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shang ... ject21ai286407.html |
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