(January 25, 2004) The eastern plain in north China’s Hebei Province has a long record of groundwater over-exploitation. Now it finds itself home to the world’s largest acreage of subsidence.
Five areas of subsidence in Beijing
(August 4, 2009) Subsidence areas are appearing in Beijing, the result of long overexploiting the groundwater to the extent of about 100 million litres a year. Five main subsidence areas have emerged. They are already challenging city planning, as well as endangering residential conditions.
Beijing uses reclaimed water to replenish rivers and lakes
(July 23, 2009) Amid the heat wave, clean rivers and lakes such as the Kunyu River and Forbidden City Moat have brought some cool to the city of Beijing. Residents perhaps do not realize that the clean water in those rivers mostly came from recycled water.
At what cost are carbon credits funding hydro projects in the developing world
(August 7, 2009) The Carbon Development Mechanism (CDM), a market-based tool developed by the UN to cut green house gas emissions, may be heralding a boon in hydro development projects in China and the developing world – and doing so at the cost of the environment and local landowners. As policy makers and environmentalists across the globe prepare for the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this winter, criticisms of carbon credit schemes like the CDM are begining to surface.
Carbon credit fraud in the UK
(August 6, 2009) A recent article in the Telegraph examines the rise in UK tax fraud in carbon emissions trading market. The scheme is a variation on the VAT carousel fraud, where criminals import products VAT-free from EU member states, then sell the goods in the UK with a VAT charge, only to quickly disappear without turning over the VAT charge to the UK’s customs and tax department, Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.
More than 37,000 Chinese dams could collapse from excess rain
(August 5, 2009) Earthquake damaged many dams in Sichuan (where more than 90 per cent of China’s dams are located). Monsoon rains are becoming increasingly powerful. Emergency plans are lacking. This summer could bring dangers.
Fatal Mudslides in Southern and Central China
(August 3, 2009) Over the past four days, torrentials rains have caused havock in central and southern China killing a dozen people.
Beijing to set up fee system for renewable water
(July 31, 2009) The draft stipulated that the price of Beijing’s recycled water would be specified by the price control department of Beijing Municipal Government in accordance with relevant national provisions, and would take effect after publication. If the price of renewable water cannot make up for water supply costs, the Department of Public Finance will establish a system of subsidy.
Heavy Rains Create Mudslides and Mine Flooding in China
(July 25, 2009) A major rainstorm swept through central Hunan Province yesterday killing at least 14 people and forcing another 30,000 from their homes.
Xiluodu Hydropower Project Draws Auditors’ Criticism
(July 21, 2009) The Xiluodu hydropower project, China’s second-largest hydropower station, is under fire from government auditors for weak spending controls, costly contract alterations to speed up the project and other problems.
Three Gorges Water Control Project Feasibility Study
(March 27, 1988) The following are links to PDF files containing the full text of each volume of the Three Gorges Water Control Project Feasibility Study
Four people dead, 53 missing in China landslide
(July 23, 2009) A number of workers at the construction site of the Changhe hydroelectric dam on the Dadu river were killed in a recent landslide. According to the government, heavy rains triggered the landslide in a remote and mountainous area of southwest China.
Safety concerns at huge China dam project: auditor
(July 21, 2009) Developers building one of the world’s biggest hydropower projects in southwest China are taking dangerous shortcuts, state media reported Tuesday, citing the national auditor.
As a people, Americans giving more of themselves
The Globe and Mail’s Neil Reynolds breaks down the foreign aid numbers.
Interview with Dambisa Moyo
(July 20, 2009) Dambisa Moyo, economist and author of Dead Aid, discussing problems of foreign aid to the developing world. Moyo believes that pouring more aid into the coffers of African governments will do nothing to promote healthy economic growth. Instead, she calls for an opening of global trade, lower tariffs and a functioning tax system.
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