Comments on: Lessons From The World’s Biggest Polluter

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:14:44 +0000

Kendra, “they sure are cleaning up Beijing!” – nothing to do with international attention from the Games, then?

I have heard rumours that homeless people are being paid to get off the streets, others to stop polluting – generally, here’s some cash, now get out of the way while the international press is here.

By: Kendra Holliday

Kendra Holliday — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:31:17 +0000

I just got back from a trip to China. I saw wind turbines, green grass roofs on large buildings, and tons of recycling of everything – big trucks of foam, plastic, old ladies trying to grab your water bottles.

Some places where we stopped were so brown/grey dirty smelly hazy air it felt apocalyptic – I don’t smoke, but I FELT like I did! But other areas were clean – they sure are cleaning up Beijing!

I think China is still not financially stable enough to get away from coal and polluting water and all that, but as soon as the government makes the decision that they are going to clean up their act and employ clean energy practices and switch to electric cars etc, you better believe it will happen swiftly. Unlike the U.S. who bumbles around with everything.

We still have Hurricane Katrina victims living in temp housing, and China started rebuilding permanent homes for their recent earthquake victims a week later!

By: Mark Seall

Mark Seall — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:04:12 +0000

I would certainly agree with you about the fact that production and hence CO2 emissions have been outsourced. As I wrote: “many observers shook their heads and pointed their fingers towards the East as an excuse to avoid personal responsibility for climate change, before moving on to the next news item on their Chinese manufactured computers or plasma tv screens.”

– we are quick to blame, and slow to take responsibility for the benefits we get in return.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:26:44 +0000

PS carbon neutral games? I wonder how exactly – sponsoring tree planting in its new colonies in Africa?

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:25:15 +0000

A couple of (contradictory) footnotes,
1) Outsourcing distorts the level of CO2 emissions by nation. Measures of UK mainland energy use show our CO2 output as ~2% of global emissions. However, studies of the London Stock Exchange show that UK companies emit more like 17% of global emissions. I wonder how much of that is being emitted in China.
2) As part of its development drive, China subsidises the richest 2-3% of it’s populations fuel use – owning a car being a status symbol. Oh look, fuel shortage, high CO2 output and high prices at the pump…

By: AZ

AZ — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:54:43 +0000

Well I am glad to hear china is doing something about this. Having to wear a mask outside all the time must not be much fun for city people.