"In China’s thousands of years of civilization, the conflict between humankind and nature has never been as serious as it is today... The depletion, deterioration and exhaustion of resources and the worsening ecological environment have become bottlenecks and grave impediments to the nation’s economic and social development more ›

Senior Chinese climate negotiator, Su Wei, likened the US to Zhubajie, the vain pig character from a mythical Chinese classic who preens itself in a mirror. "It has no measures or actions to show for itself, and instead it criticizes China, which is actively taking measures and actions," Su said of the United States. more ›

• Apparently, China's in the midst of a "golf boom," despite the percentage of our population who plays the game being negligible - and the fact that course construction has been officially banned since 2004, according to a story written by Shanghaiist founding editor Dan Washburn. Surprisingly, more than 400 new courses have popped up since then. Not so surprisingly, the government doesn't think twice about bulldozing multimillion dollar investments that are illegally built. [Slate]
• The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority has owned up to its bad RE: forced internment of Chinese immigrants by erecting a memorial to honor them. The chairman of the organization said he was "sorry the early immigrants [...] were denied their civil rights and denied a decent burial" but that he's "glad we're finally honoring them by righting the wrong." Well, half of the wrong, anyway. [The Los Angeles Times]
• In a surprising twist, it seems that China may end up the champion in one leg of its green energy marathon against the US: developing a "smart" power grid. China's advantages include a less-developed existing grid which is easier to modify without service interruptions and a strategery - less cute polar bears, more energy security - more aimed at winning the race than public support.[Solve Climate]

While my feet would think different, apparently this has been one of the warmest winters Shanghai's ever known. The average temperature in the past three months this winter was 6.8 degrees, a full 1 degree above the 30 year average. Despite this being a "warm winter" - the 21st such since 1986 - seems like we're about to get another cold front. Temperatures will be dropping to a chilly 2 degrees next Monday. more ›

• At least one prefecture is now putting the lid on ganbei culture. Kunming's city government has issued a regulation to curb cases of drinking while on duty, drunk driving, making people drink toasts against their will at banquets and getting drunk at any time or under any circumstances. [People's Daily]
• Evan Osnos of The New Yorker answers questions about China's clean energy program and climate change. [New Yorker]
• Experts from all over the world are being called in to bid on helping to remake China's electric system - it's a highly competitive, and possibly incredibly lucrative, time for energy specialists. [Businessweek]

Since the last time we updated you on the happenings from the Danish capital last week, the Copenhagen talks have got a little confrontational. Indoors, away from the protests, the US argued that China’s promised emissions cuts should be internationally verified. China's reply: "thanks, but no thanks." Plus, the US refused to accept legally binding emissions cuts unless China followed suit. more ›

To tell the truth, this editor is quite in support of at least some tenets this new environmental initiative, even if she's already breaking it right now: a group of Chinese websites have started something called "NC63," short for "No Computer 63 Hours," which advises people to shut down their PCs at 6pm on Friday and not start them up again until 9am on Monday. The group “hope(s) to call everyone to take real action to support a low-carbon, green life, to support environmental undertakings for the public welfare, and to choose and support the earth, by turning off your computer for the weekend,” according to the WSJ. Not only do you help save the environment, you're also doing your health and social life a great service. As someone still blogging late into the night, we say preach it sister! more ›

Week one of the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen, which aims to draw up a treaty to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, is almost up and we've been following it closely to bring you a summary of what's being said about China's role. more ›

The most talked about climate flick since An Inconvenient Truth is down for its first licensed showing in Shanghai this Wednesday! The Age of Stupid tells the story of how our era´s stupidity and lack of action in the climate matter will be looked upon from a futuristic point of view, namely in the devastated world of 2055. The movie didn´t make it into Chinese cinemas so Dulwich College in Shanghai is now showing it, making Wednesday´s event one of the few public screenings in China of this engaging film. Sounds like a must-do! more ›

• Oh jeez, this is something straight out of Chaucer: Fake monks and nuns are conning young folks out of money by peddling Buddhist trinkets. [Chinasmack]
• While modern China has officially promoted gender equality, the modern Chinese woman knows it's not quite that. And she's mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore. [Newsweek]
• Sure they've got missiles and other advanced weaponry, but there's something else the PLA is proud of: their bulldozers. They're for peacekeeping. [Washington Post]

• The list of U.S. cities er... places hoping for a new and exciting relationship with Chinese tourists now includes Hawaii, California and Las Vegas [USA Today]
• Can China's new plans to curb the carbon intensity of its economy really help break the impasse at Copenhagen and kick start the stalled U.S. senate? HA! Dream on. [WSJ]
• Of all things China wants to be, a global burden-sharing partner of the U.S. is not one of them. "We do not approve of the notion of G-2," Premier Wen said, adding that China has a long ways to go "before it becomes a modernized country." [AsiaTimes]

Hey, guess who paid a visit over the weekend? Wen Jiabao, who came to Shanghai as part of an inspection tour of east China. The Premier took the opportunity to call for a more balanced and energy-efficient economic development model, especially important considering China's plans to cut CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45% by 2020. How? Through the magic of better technology. While we've never been quite convinced that tech would be the easy button on our environmental problems, we're always happy for a chance to see Grandpa Wen! more ›

While we've already heard many times over how much carbon dioxide emissions China produces, but we were still shocked by how much comes just from Shanghai. Apparently, our city throws out 5,400 tons of CO2 equivalent a year - as much carbon as two Sydneys and three Tokyos. Granted, we've also got five times the amount of people as Sydney (and twice the amount of Tokyo), but geez louise. Experts from Tongji University's College of Environmental Science and Engineering said that restructuring industry would help lower our footprint, since over 60% of fumes are industry-based. more ›

China Green has released another great look at some of the environmental problems plaguing this country. This time around, we head to the Tibetan plateau's Anyemaqen mountain range and the effects of climate change there. As explained on their website: more ›

• In an effort to plug the gaping money hole the Bird’s Nest stadium has turned into after the Olympics, CITIC Investment Holdings has given up its management rights to the Chinese government. We wonder what’ll happen if even the government thinks it’s 200,000RMB a day upkeep is too expensive to handle. [AFP]
• An author details the slight craziness that comes with renovating an apartment in China (Dalian for him). After the carpentry and wiring were done and the workers paid, the extortion letters came. And after those threats were paid off too, what did they happen to find but another letter - this one a thank you note. [New York Times]
• In case you want a long, but incredibly thorough, write up of what’s been happening in the massive Chongqing Corruption trials, here’s one from China Brief about how the whole matter exposes “grave woes in China’s legal apparatus.” [China Brief]

The saying goes that things have got to get worse before they'll get better. Apparently, that applies to greenhouse gasses in China, since China Daily's just informed us that the country's emissions will peak at 2030. more ›

China has always attached great importance to climate change and other countries should make more efforts to jointly protect the earth, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo said in L'Aquila, Italy on Thursday. more ›

• China Raises Tobacco Tax Rates [Caijing] "China has raised the tobacco tax to as high as 56 percent in a bid to meet the central government's target of 9.8 percent fiscal revenue growth for 2009, according to the State Administration of Taxation (SAT)."
• Why Do Chinese Save? Boys Want to Marry [NYTimes] "The high Chinese savings rate has been one of the wonders of the world. The household savings rate, as a proportion of disposable income, is 30 percent, and has been rising rapidly in recent years. That figure is twice as high as the highest rate ever recorded in the United States. Traditional explanations for varying savings rates, such as life cycles — working age people save more — and income uncertainty, do not help much in explaining the rapid rise in China. Now two economists say they have found a reason that explains a large part of the increase. China has too many boys."
• China to Amend State Secrets Law, Avoid Internet Leaks [Xinhua] "China's top legislature Monday reviewed for the first time a draft revision to the Law on Guarding State Secrets, underlining the cutoff of Internet or other public network access to the country's confidential information. The draft revision was submitted to the ninth session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation. It had been discussed and passed in April at an executive meeting of the State Council, the Cabinet."

• Computer-makers fight China's filter order [SFGate] "Responding to another citizens' revolt, 4,000 miles from Tehran, China reportedly won't force individual computer users to install software to filter out "harmful" stuff. But it has not backed down on its order that, as of July 1, all PCs sold in China must have such software installed. That, as we've noted, puts No. 1 U.S. seller of PCs in China, Palo Alto's Hewlett-Packard Co., in a serious bind. Especially, as is now known, because the software can be used to block considerably more than "pornography.""
• Beijing Says 'Buy China' Directive Is Not Protectionist [VoA] "China is defending its so-called "Buy China" directive that gives Chinese companies first, and nearly exclusive, priority in winning contracts under the country's nearly $600 billion stimulus program. When the U.S. government debated adding a "Buy American" requirement to its stimulus bill, China protested loudly. Chinese officials called the move toxic and protectionist."
• Report on effects of Climate Change [Boston Examiner] "As Congress acts to enact a Climate Change bill, China is still seen as being unwilling to make carbon reductions. It would quite possible to have a carbon cap and trade program in place and then have the Senate not ratify the upcoming Copenhagen Protocol if China and India fail to enact law to reduce carbon emissions. The U.S. should lead by example and pave the way for developing countries to participate. Failure by the Senate to ratify the Copenhagen Protocol will send the wrong message to China, Brazil and India."

• China says seven "terror cells" found in Kashgar [Reuters] "China uncovered seven "terror cells" in the western frontier city of Kashgar in the first four months of 2009, the China Daily said on Wednesday, citing the city's party secretary."
• Chinese groups protest Dalai honor [China Daily]"Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday that Beijing remains opposed to "foreign political figures having official exchanges with the Dalai Lama". Qin said "any irresponsible moves taken by whatever country on this issue will constitute gross intervention in China's internal affairs and will certainly seriously damage China's relations with the relevant countries"."

Climate Change: China in Action, produced by the China Meteorological Administration and featured on the always excellent China Green is a short film that documents efforts by the Chinese government, as well as NGOs, scientists and corporations to address climate change: more ›

• To Protect an Ancient City, China Moves to Raze It [NYT] "Over the next few years, city officials say, they will demolish at least 85 percent of this warren of picturesque, if run-down homes and shops. Many of its 13,000 families, Muslims from a Turkic ethnic group called the Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gurs), will be moved."
• Diabetes more likely to strike the young in Asia [AP] "Without strong government policy, education and good clinical care, Asia's escalating epidemic could "erase economic gains made in recent decades," said Hu, one of the authors. Trends of diabetes in the region are influenced by everything from genetic makeup and cultural differences to smoking and degrees of urbanization, the JAMA study showed. But the most startling findings — which tended to vary from country to country — related to body mass and age."
• China Said to Harass Rights Lawyers [NYT] "Many of the lawyers have taken on cases, involving issues like Tibetan political activism and police brutality, that gained national and even international attention. The advocacy groups, Human Rights Watch and Chinese Human Rights Defenders, called the actions by the legal authorities part of an effort to intimidate the lawyers and their law firms into avoiding sensitive cases."

• Chinese Woman Accused of Murdering Official Freed on Bail [WSJ] "A female hotel employee whose arrest on murder charges sparked a wave of national sympathy in China after her lawyers said she was fighting off a rape attack has been released on bail. Deng Yujiao, 21, was arrested after she stabbed two local government officials with a fruit knife on May 10 in the Xiongfeng Hotel in central Hubei province, killing one of them. Ms Deng's lawyers said she acted in self defense when the men tried to rape her after she refused to have sex with them for money. The case has sparked public anguish over the issue of violence towards woman."
• China ties make Macau good bet to beat Vegas [Reuters] "The world economy may be slumping, but don't tell that to Macau -- the former Portuguese colony which is set to trump Las Vegas heading out of the worst global downturn since the Great Depression. In the smoke-filled gambling halls of Macau's MGM Mirage casino, hundreds of Chinese gamblers were crammed around tables flipping cards, playing roulette and rolling dice on a recent day, seemingly unaffected by the slowdown."
• Climate change a 'game changer' in US-China relations: Pelosi [AFP] "US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that the fight against climate change was a "game changer" in China-US relations, as she visited Beijing on a trip focused on energy. Pelosi, a tough critic of China's human rights record and a vocal advocate of environmental protection, is leading a delegation from the US Congress to China on a working visit devoted to energy and climate change."

• Learn English with Obama [Sinosplice] "The book [link on DangDang] claims to teach English using nine of Obama’s famous speeches, teaching you how to speak English like Obama. It even comes with an MP3 CD of audio content. Interesting! (Meanwhile), Here’s another one...that simply takes Obama’s speeches and translates them on the opposing page..."
• US House Speaker Pelosi in China for climate talks [Yahoo News] "US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime critic of Beijing's rule over Tibet and its rights record, arrived in China on Sunday for a trip focused on energy and climate change. US embassy spokeswoman Susan Stevenson confirmed Pelosi had arrived in Shanghai but could not say who the top US official was going to meet in the country's financial hub."
• NAO: Ten Chinese Provinces Embezzled Farming Aid Funds [ChinaCSR] "The National Audit Office of China has released a report which shows that ten Chinese provinces and municipalities had illegally spent a total of CNY2.693 billion from farming aid funds, of which CNY5.8374 million was used to purchase houses and cars. It is learned that NAO audited the use of farming-aid fund in ten Chinese provinces and municipalities: Henan, Gansu, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, Fujian, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Chongqing; and found that there was a general problem in the allocation, use and management of farming aid funds in these regions."

• Secret Meeting Between U.S. and China Broke New Ground on Climate Change [NYT] "Loy said the group was able to delve into the positions of both countries and gain better understandings about the political realities both countries face. Yet as to reaching a global deal in Copenhagen, Loy said, little progress was made."There were things that we learned, but it wasn't a totally radical or surprising conversation. We knew a great deal about China's views before," he said. The discussions were "more informal and occasionally more substantive and frank, but Mr. Xie is a cautious person"."
• Students protest in lead-up to June 4 Tiananmen anniversary [The Australian] "Thousands of students are reported to have protested in the streets of Nanjing, in central eastern China - one of the centres of protests in 1989 - following an incident on Monday night in which government security guards enforcing restrictions on peddlers allegedly attacked classmates who had set up footpath stalls."
• China's top legislator meets with Italian premier [Xinhua] "The Italian leaders expressed the willingness to expand cooperation with China in various fields, saying China's economic growth will hopefully provide new energy for the recovery and rally of world economy. Both sides agreed that the two countries should coordinate their stance on reform of the international financial system and work for an early recovery of global economy from the financial crisis."

A new report commissioned by Greenpeace, the Energy Foundation and the WWF estimates that the environmental and social costs of China's coal usage hit RMB1.7 trillion last year, or about 7.1% of the country's GDP. Speaking on the report, Yang Ailun, Greenpeace's climate and energy campaign manager, urged the government to recognize “the true cost of coal [and] create incentives to develop cleaner, sustainable energy sources." more ›

Shanghai Awaiting Approval on Disneyland [AP] Shanghai is awaiting approval of mainland China's first Disneyland, and the theme park could be built on an island in the Yangtze River, according to reports in the mainland and Hong Kong media.Shanghai sets up $1bn fund [FT] Shanghai's city government is setting up a financial investment company with about $1bn to spend on investments in China and overseas.New mechanisms required for China's climate change efforts - Greenpeace [Forbes]... more ›

Golf in China: All growing, all new, all raw [ESPN.com] In China, the sport of golf is younger than Tiger Woods himself. But the game has grown exponentially in recent years, leading to more courses and the development of some pros through the Omega China Tour. But as Dan Washburn reports, all is not without struggle.PM Manmohan Singh meets Chinese counterpart in Singapore [Times of India] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday met Chinese premier... more ›

China will offer religious services for foreigners arriving for the 2008 Olympic Games, an official in charge of religious affairs said. more ›

Georgia Popplewell of Global Voices Online has offered a great summary of reactions from the international blogosphere to Friday's announcement that former US vice president Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have won this year's Nobel Peace Prize. more ›