(May 14, 2007) Water is the new gold – for investors at least.
Environment watchdog calls for sharper teeth
(May 10, 2007) Pan Yue, vice-minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), has called for the introduction of a new regulation that would require an environmental impact assessment to be carried out prior to the commencement of any major construction project.
China invests to improve dams and drinking water
(May 8, 2007) China will invest 29.65 billion yuan (US$3.85 billion) this year to reinforce dams and improve rural drinking water quality, Chinese media reported on Monday.
China closes down 3,176 polluting companies in 2006
(May 6, 2007) China closed down a total of 3,176 polluting enterprises amid a campaign in which 720,000 companies have been checked for their pollution discharges last year, according to the country’s top environment watchdog.
Massive flood of fresh water diverted to Taihu
(May 1, 2007) China’s water resource regulator has diverted 190-million cubic meters of water from the Yangtze River into algae-polluted Taihu Lake to improve its water quality and allow a clean water supply to resume to the residents of Wuxi, Oriental Morning Post reported today.
China’s environment watchdog blocks 12 industrial projects for lack of public support
(April 27, 2007) Twelve industrial projects are denied environmental protection approvals to operation on grounds that the public have not been invited to assess pollution control measures, China’s environment watchdog announced yesterday.
Unsafe water tops environment fear
(March 13, 2007) Beijing: Unsafe drinking water in rural areas topped last year’s environmental concerns, according to a report from a non-governmental organization based in Beijing.
China’s going down the drain
(March 7, 2007) China has launched an ambitious water-saving plan. But analysts say that if the plan is to be fully implemented, the central government must take effective measures to rein in rampant regional protectionism.
Pollution problem gets systematic help
(March 3, 2007) China will set up statistics, monitoring and accountability systems to cut emissions this year, its top environmental watchdog said in Beijing on Thursday.
SEPA declares war on gov’t-backed violations
(March 1, 2007) Guangzhou: China’s State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) has said it will stand firm in combating government-backed violations that have set back the country’s environment protection efforts in recent years.
China sets water-saving goal to tackle looming water crisis
(February 27, 2007) Earlier this month, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Water Resources, and Ministry of Construction jointly released a water-saving plan to cut the nation’s water use per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 percent within five years.
For citizens’ groups, the struggle for attention is not so lonely in China
(February 13, 2007) Lushan, China: For as long as he can remember, Du Jianhua’s dream has been to find a way to contribute to his society. Starting small, the glass cutter began by cleaning up litter around this town. Later, he began tracking the way garbage was dumped into the Nansha River, fouling the waterway he’d played in as a boy.
China fails to meet environmental goals
(February 12, 2007) China’s environmental watchdog admitted Monday the country had failed to reach any of its pollution control goals for 2006 and had fallen further behind as the economy picked up speed.
Biofuel craze is water madness
(February 9, 2007) If water were a globally traded commodity, with unmet demand in China and India reflected in its price, the world might shed its newfound craze for biofuels.
Water woes plague China’s economy
(February 7, 2007) High in the hills above the sprawling city of Chongqing lies a tiny settlement, whose name translates as Dragon Spring village. It was given that name because its water was so clear and plentiful. But, in a bitter twist of fate, its famous springs have now run dry.
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