China news: Recycling scheme to be extended in Shanghai (10 April 2014)

Recycling scheme to be extended in Shanghai

A government scheme that encourages individuals and companies in Shanghai to recycle their garbage is to be extended, officials said yesterday.

Communities in Shanghai's Huangpu District are equipped with recycling bins.

Following last year's trials involving 2.05 million households and nearly 7,000 businesses, the Shanghai Greenery and Public Sanitation Bureau told a press conference it will this year roll out the scheme to a further 400,000 homes while also completing the construction of 2,000 waste recycling centers.

As well as announcing the extension, the bureau issued a warning that anyone involved in the scheme could from next month face a fine for failing to properly sort their garbage.

"But we hope to change people's habits via education rather than by punishing them," bureau official Tang Jiafu said.

Gu Changhao, deputy director of the city government's legislative affairs office, agreed, saying officials will avoid issuing fines in the early days of the scheme, but that they will have the option to do so later.

Under the official guidelines, individuals who fail to properly sort their waste can be fined up to 200 yuan (US$32.25), while companies face penalties of between 100 yuan and 1,000 yuan. Fines are also possible for property management firms that do not provide the appropriate bins for collecting waste, and transport companies that fail to keep sorted items separate after collection.

The scheme divides domestic garbage into four categories -- recyclable materials, harmful items, and wet and dry waste.

According to a survey conducted in November by the Shanghai Statistics Bureau, one of the biggest obstacles to the garbage sorting scheme is the lack of clarity on the subject.

The study polled 2,000 householders (1,500 of whom were involved in the trial), 200 cleaners and 100 people employed by neighborhood committees.

While 26 percent of people said they "always" sorted their garbage, and 57 percent said they did so "most of the time," there was still a lot of misunderstanding as to what constituted wet and dry waste.

While more than 60 percent of people said the government should accelerate the garbage scheme, 32 percent said the plan shouldn't be rolled out until there is clearer information.

Tang said that despite the new rules, the government has no plans to charge people for garbage collection.

source from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-04/11/content_32061954.htm

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China News: Excessive benzene found in NW China tap water (10 April 2014)

    Excessive benzene found in NW China tap water 

Tap water in downtown Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, has been found to contain excessive levels of benzene, provincial authorities said on Friday.

Residents in Lanzhou rush to supermarkets to buy bottled water after local tap water was found to contain high levels of benzene Friday.

Tests carried out in the early hours of Friday showed that tap water contained 200 micrograms of benzene per liter, far exceeding the national limit of 10 micrograms per liter, according to the city's environmental protection office.

According to supplier Veolia Water, tests on Thursday found that tap water contained 118 micrograms of benzene per liter.

Veolia Water is the sole water supplier for more than 2 million people in urban Lanzhou.

The local government is investigating the source of the contamination.

Benzene is a colorless liquid which is often used to make plastics. Excessive benzene can increase the risk of cancer.

source from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-04/11/content_32066797.htm

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China News: Six polluting industries to move out of Beijing (10 April 2014)

Six polluting industries to move out of Beijing

Six heavily polluting industries, all involving manufacturing, will move out of Beijing, said a senior official of the Beijing municipal government during a dialogue with citizens on April 8.

Six heavily polluting industries, all involving manufacturing, will move out of Beijing.

Zhang Boxu, director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Economics and Information Technology, said the six polluting industries involve casting, foundries, electro-forging, brick sintering and waterproofing materials.

Zhang made the remark during a dialogue with citizens as a guest on Beijing Public Service Radio on Tuesday. "But research and development (R&D), design and marketing sections of the industries will not move," he said.

Zhang explained that all links in the production process should be carefully considered, and there are bound to be some differences, for example, R&D, design and marketing sections will be kept in the same place because they have high added value and are comparatively environmentally friendly.

"The manufacturing industry has a high demand for resources and a significant impact on environment, while Beijing is deficient in natural resources," said Zhang. "To adjust the industrial structure in order to meet the requirements of city development, is to take advantages of strengths while avoiding weaknesses."

Zhang said that corresponding policies, laws and regulations will gradually be issued for the adjustment of the industrial structure.

In fact, as air pollution poses an increasingly serious threat to Beijing, the municipal government has issued a series of guidelines over the past two years on how to adjust the industrial structure to meet the demands of the city's development, involving industries of petrochemicals, iron and steel, building materials, machinery, light industry, and nonferrous metals, Zhang said.

Speaking of whether the polluting enterprises will be relocated to areas surrounding Beijing, Zhang said that the enterprises will not be accepted anywhere unless they have reached the required national emission standards by taking effective measures.

Zhang also revealed that the municipal government supports the establishment of an industrial demonstration belt in the surrounding areas of Beijing and Hebei Province in compliance with national environmental standards.

Mr. Li, a worker at Beijing Wanruilang Precise Casting Co. Ltd., said that quite a lot of casting and forging enterprises have closed down or moved out of Beijing over the past few years, and a similar thing has been happening in many parts of the country. "Many enterprises from the six polluting industries have branches outside Beijing," he said.

A worker from the Beijing Foundry and Metal-forming Association agreed with Mr. Li, saying that there were more than 300 casting and forging enterprises in Beijing in 2006 and the number has now dropped to less than 100, with most of them located in suburbs.

Chen Ji, a professor from the Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB), said the six industries to be moved out the capital city are all traditional industries that have high input, high pollution, high energy consumption and low output.

Professor Chen, who is also director of the China Center for the Research of Industrial Economics at CUEB, said that the enterprises that are getting left behind are medium and small township-owned ones with low added value, and the relocation will help rather than harm their future development.

source from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-04/11/content_32062596.htm

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China News: China's maritime space being carved up: official (11 April 2014)

China's maritime space being carved up: official

China is facing serious challenges to its maritime rights, with its resources being plundered and seas carved up, a senior oceanic official said Friday.

Some islands have been encroached on and the security of strategic thoroughfares is threatened. Various conflicts have occurred in China's waters, said Liu Cigui, director of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), according to the SOA's official website.

Liu made the remarks while delivering a speech at the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

China boasts a mainland coastline of more than 18,000 km and island coastline of more than 14,000 km.

The SOA has taken countermeasures against infringements of China's maritime rights and interests, including Japan's illegal "nationalization" of China's Diaoyu Islands in 2012 and the Philippines' attempt to seize the Ren'ai Reef, he said.

"Initial achievements have been made to safeguard China's legitimate rights."

While talking about waters beyond China's boundaries, Liu said China has wide strategic interests and legitimate rights in open seas, oceans, international seabed areas, as well as the South Pole and the North Pole, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China will make full use of Jiaolong, the country's first manned deep-sea submersible, in oceanic research to enhance its capabilities of deep-sea exploration, Liu added.

source form:http://www.china.org.cn/china/2014-04/11/content_32073905.htm

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China News: Smog clouds tourists' appreciation of big cities (11 April 2014)

Smog clouds tourists' appreciation of big cities

The tourist satisfaction index for domestic destinations stood at 72.6 in the first quarter, down five points from the same period last year, according to a report released by the China Tourism Academy, affiliated with the China National Tourism Administration, on Thursday.

A tourist wearing a mask walks amid smog at Tian'anmen Square on Feb. 28, 2013.

The score is the lowest since the academy started the quarterly tourist satisfaction survey during the second quarter of 2009.

The survey is based on a questionnaire, online comments from tourists and complaints in 60 Chinese cities, with a score above 75 meaning "basically satisfactory".

In the first quarter of this year, the smog in many regions affected tourists' decisions and experiences, the report said.

For example, Wikitravel, a free travel guide website, listed Beijing in a watch list on Feb 25, warning tourists not to visit the city. It said Beijing remained cloaked in hazardous white pollution, hiding much of the skyline that day.

Travel agencies also received a score below 70, according to the report. Agencies for hot destinations such as Harbin, Kunming and Sanya received negative comments about high prices, travel schedules and shopping spots.

The tourist satisfaction index for outbound destinations received higher scores. According to the report, the Chinese outbound tourism satisfaction index in the first quarter was 78.9, or "basically satisfactory", and 21 out of 22 sample countries received scores above 75.

Among them, New Zealand received the highest score of 83.4, the report said.

"From the difference of the two scores, we can see that China still needs to promote the country as an international tourism destination," said Li Zhongguang, director of the Institute of Tourism Industry.

Li said a more comprehensive policy from the central government is needed to develop China's tourism industry, and public opinion toward the sector should be monitored.

The academy estimated that in the first quarter, the number of outbound tourists was 26.4 million, an increase of 17 percent from the same period last year. The total spending of those outbound tourists was $34 billion, a rise of 16 percent compared to the same period last year.

However, the number of inbound tourists continues to drop. In the first quarter, the number was estimated at 31 million, a drop of 3 percent from last year.

The report said that revenue from inbound tourism in the quarter was estimated at $11 billion, a drop of 3 percent from the same period in 2013.

source from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-04/11/content_32061882.htm

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China News: China's 1st pollution insurance plan launched (18 Macrh 2014)

China's 1st pollution insurance plan launched
CRI, March 18, 2014

The Peoples Insurance Company of China (PICC) started offering the first insurance plans for severe air pollution (Fangxin Bao) in the country on March 17, 2014.

The insurance company will pay the insured a maximum of 1800 yuan in pollution subsidies when the air pollution index hit more than 300 for five consecutive days.

The PICC is offering plans to cover those between the ages of 10 and 50 years old at premiums ranging from 78 yuan to 138 yuan. Not exceeding 1800 yuan in total, the smog insurance plan provides policy holders with a 300-yuan payment if the air pollution index reaches more than 300 for five straight days and a 1500-yuan payment if the insured is hospitalized due to air pollution.

spurce from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-03/18/content_31824194.htm

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China News: President Xi to attend nuclear security summit (17 Macrh 2014)

President Xi to attend nuclear security summit

Xinhua, March 17, 2014

President Xi Jinping will explain China's opinions on nuclear security and ideas about international cooperation in this field at the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said on Monday.

According to Li, leaders from more than 50 countries and international organizations will attend the summit in The Hague from March 24 to 25, with the focus on nuclear security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism.

Noting that the NSS has become an important platform to address these issues since its first meeting in Washington in 2010, Li said developing nuclear energy under the condition of safety to support social and economic development was an important topic for the international community.

It will be Xi's first presence at the NSS, demonstrating China's diplomatic efforts in the nuclear security arena, Li said, adding that the president will introduce China's measures to strengthen nuclear security and progress, and will discuss cooperation with leaders from other countries.

He said China hopes participants will reach new consensus and promote international cooperation on nuclear security, improve the security level of nuclear materials and facilities, and advance rational development of nuclear energy.

China expects the efforts to help advance the economy and society, and contribute to world peace and security, Li added.

Besides his attendance at the NSS, President Xi will also pay state visits to the Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium, and will visit the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the headquarters of the European Union during the trip from late March to early April.

source from : http://www.china.org.cn/world/2014-03/17/content_31817960.htm

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China News: N. China sees heaviest smog in February (18 Macrh 2014)

N. China sees heaviest smog in February

Xinhua, March 18, 2014

Air pollution in the Chinese capital of Beijing and neighboring Tianjin and Hebei was heavier than in other parts of the country in February, the environmental watchdog announced on Tuesday.

Vehicles move slowly amid heavy smog in Beijing on Feb. 23, 2014. [Photo/CNS]

In the 13 monitored cities in the region, an average of 68.5 percent of the days in February failed to meet the standards set by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The 74 major Chinese cities monitored nationwide had on average nearly 40 percent of the days in February failing to meet ministry standards, according to the report.

The 10 cities with the most serious problem last month were Xingtai, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Tangshan, Handan, Xi'an, Langfang, Hengshui, Jinan and Beijing -- seven of which are located in north China's Hebei Province.

The ministry said that PM2.5 -- airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter -- was the major pollutant on nearly 92 percent of the polluted days.

East China's Yangtze River Delta and South China's Pearl River Delta had more clear days than other parts of the country, with 68.6 percent and 91.6 percent meeting the standard respectively in February.

The frequent occurrence of smoggy days since last year has prompted authorities to take serious action in tackling air pollution as it has become a main source of complaints and frustration among urban residents.

To address public concerns, the Chinese government aims to cut the density of inhalable particulate matter by at least 10 percent in major cities by 2017.

source from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-03/18/content_31822745.htm

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China News: China, India collaborate on low carbon research (18 Macrh 2014)

China, India collaborate on low carbon research


By Chen Boyuan
China.org.cn, March 18, 2014


Experts on climate change from China and India launched the "China-India Low Carbon Study 2014" on Monday in Beijing, a milestone collaborative research effort between the two countries.

Dr. Panchauri, chairman of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), speaks at the project launch ceremony at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Beijing on Monday. [Photo/Chen Boyuan/China.org.cn]

The study examines factors in low carbon development such as financing, low carbon technologies and field implementation.

"While economic capabilities and institutional systems vary between the China and India, coordinated knowledge driven processes between the two countries will be instrumental in moving both towards global sustainability goals," said Dr. Panchauri, chairman of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), at the project launch ceremony at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Beijing.

India lags behind China in terms of socio-economic indicators such as the proportion of the population with access to clean water, improved sanitation and modern fuels.

There are regional and urban-rural disparities in both China and India, and the two countries can learn from each others' growth models, said Dr. Panchauri, who noted that there are opportunities for technological cooperation between China and India in clean coal incineration and power generation technologies, energy-saving technologies in the industrial, construction and transport sectors, renewable power utilization and carbon capture.

source from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-03/18/content_31823832.htm

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China News: China vows to fight pollution in cities (18 Macrh 2014)

China vows to fight pollution in cities

Shanghai Daily, March 18, 2014

The government has promised to make sure that 60 percent of Chinese cities meet national pollution standards by 2020.

The pledge was made amid growing pressure to make cities livable as hundreds of millions of migrants are set to relocate from the countryside.

The government has promised to make sure that 60 percent of Chinese cities meet national pollution standards by 2020.

China's environmental problems, including pollution and water scarcity, are expected to intensify as rapid migration pushes urban infrastructures to their limit.

Almost all cities monitored for pollution last year failed to meet the standards.

The environment has emerged as a key priority following growing public disquiet about smog, dwindling and polluted water supplies, and the contamination of farmland. Poor air quality is estimated to end hundreds of thousands of lives prematurely each year.

The vow to clean up the major metropolitan centers was made in a State Council plan released on Sunday for dealing with the rapid urbanization drive.

"We will improve and promote green, sustainable and low carbon development in the urbanization process, enforcing the strictest measures on ecological and environmental systems," the plan said.

According to the State Council, 60 percent of the cities will meet national air quality standards in 2020, which it said was up from 40 percent in 2012.

But at the parliamentary session earlier this month, officials said that just three of 74 major cities met the pollution standards in 2013. Policies to meet the new target include boosting renewable energy use, curbing emission-intensive industries and taking heavy-polluting vehicles off the roads.

The government will set up a tiered pricing system for electricity, natural gas and water to control consumption of scarce natural resources. It also plans to roll out trading systems for carbon and air pollutant emissions, energy-saving certificates and water to provide economic incentives to reduce waste.

Beijing has already picked seven regions to launch pilot carbon trading schemes with the aim of setting up a national market to cut emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.

Guangdong Province and the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tianjin have already launched emissions trading scheme.

source from: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2014-03/18/content_31818808.htm

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