China's New Year: Smog and Drought Underscore the Contradiction of Pollution and Mitigation

As China celebrates its new year festival, many of the country's major cities appear deserted as millions of workers returned to their childhood homes in rural parts of the nation. On the upside the mass exodus has improved air quality in some of China's biggest cities. However, as the New Year was being celebrated another round of heavy smog hit a large region of the country.

In China, the Lunar New Year ushers in the year of the Horse which is one of 12 animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. According to Chinese astrology the year will be marked by conflict. One of the ongoing issues that is contributing to social tensions in the country is the problem of smog.

Working Paper - China’s Overseas Investments in the Wind and Solar Industries: Trends and Drivers

Shifting to a low-carbon economy will require current emitting countries and projected future emitters to rapidly scale up their investments in renewable energy. China is already the leading global investor in renewable energy infrastructure, and is increasing its overseas investments in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind. This working paper aims to help policymakers, investors, and researchers better understand the trends in China’s overseas investments in the wind and solar industries, as well as the factors behind those trends.

Four Leading Chinese Environmental Activists

In a recent interview Ralph Litzinger, a Duke Univeristy anthropologist who writes about important Chinese issues, offered his list of notable environmental activists in China. His list includes Ma Jun, Li Bo, Liu Jianqiang and Feng Yongfeng.

Ma Jun and his Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing have been doing extraordinary pollution mapping work in China, and have created a network of environmental activists around what they call the “Green Choice Alliance.” They were instrumental in the first reports to expose the links between Apple and its suppliers’ environmental and health record in factories across China.

Corporate Sustainability Strategies in Asia Part1 (Video)

Corporate Sustainability Strategies in Asia Part2 (Video)

 

Duties on Chinese Solar Higher than Expected

On May 17, 2012, The US Department of Commerce announced stiff anti-dumping tariffs that were much higher than expected. These duties amount to around 31 percent on crystalline silicon solar panels imported from China. The duties come in response to the Chinese government's dumping of solar panels below the cost of production.

Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap for Asia and the Pacific

The Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap for Asia and the Pacific is offered to member States to help policymakers. The report from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) balances ecology and economic growth.

China's Twitter Users Focused on Sustainability

As published in Collective Responsibility, here is a partial list of some of the Chinese people and organizations who use Twitter and are focused on sustainability and the environment.