Name: CHAN, Sin Fong
Subject: China and Kyoto Protocol
Visit Time: 13/12/2007 3:48 AM
Remark:
The segment on “China beefs up clean energy drive” was fascinating. I returned from The Silk Road tour recently, and agree wholeheartedly that the air pollution in many Chinese cities is totally unacceptable. In LanzZhou, the world’s most polluted city, blue sky and sunny day were non-existent.
On the positive note, I saw hundreds of wind turbines rising like white gum trees in various parts of the Gobi Desert. A tour guide also mentioned that some natural gas electricity plants had replaced the coal-fired plants.
In GuangZhou, motor cycles are banned in the city, partly to relieve the traffic jam, and partly to reduce the air pollution.
China has set itself very high targets in cleaning up the pollution. China knows the health of the 1.3 billion people will suffer if this is not done sooner - the health care cost will be enormous. If China’s economic growth continues at the present rate, it has the money to invest in its scientists to develop technology to clean up the mess.
China’s willingness to reduce the carbon emission is self-imposed. It makes no pledges to the world about its reduction targets, nor tells the world what to do. Actions are more important than just Kyoto Protocol.
The government’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol may result in closure of coal mines and power stations, and loss of export income. The map of Victoria could be redrawn with coal mining towns turned into ghost towns.
