Reuters in Beijing – Updated on Jul 29, 2008 The mainland’s worsening coal shortages have exerted unprecedented pressure on Shanxi, the country’s top coal-producing region, to push output beyond approved levels and worsening environmental strains, official media reported on Tuesday. Demand from users who normally get their coal from Shanxi is expected to exceed its [...]
Posts from ‘July, 2008’
Asia Must Strike Right Balance On Oil Policy
Updated on Jul 29, 2008 – SCMP Asian governments are acting irresponsibly in maintaining subsidies on oil. They believe that keeping prices down will promote development, control inflation and ensure stability. Each of these points is arguable. What is not, however, is that their efforts are encouraging abuse of a commodity that is in short [...]
Energy Audits Likely For Existing Buildings
Cheung Chi-fai – Updated on Jul 28, 2008 – SCMP Energy audits for existing commercial buildings may be phased in as a requirement under the proposed law on mandatory building energy codes, a senior official has said. A grace period of at least a year is also likely to be granted to ensure a smooth [...]
Light Pollution in Nathan Road
Residents need help with light pollution in Nathan Road Updated on Jul 27, 2008 – SCMP I refer to the report (“Shedding light on a hot topic”, July 20), about the light-pollution problem caused by the flashing neon on Nathan Road. While smoking is banned in public areas, our government does not put much effort [...]
Rush To Cities Needs Big Thinking
Rush to cities needs big thinking, institute says Ting Shi – SCMP – Updated on Jul 25, 2008 The mainland’s best chance of meeting the challenges of massive urbanisation lies in encouraging the development of its biggest cities, a report issued yesterday says. Urbanisation promises to continue at an unprecedented rate – by 2030, two-thirds [...]
Neon-Liberalism
Updated on Jul 24, 2008 – SCMP Urban Hong Kong is one supersized billboard. Is anyone bothered? This city has always had many neon signs hanging along the busiest roads. Photos to promote tourism show these streets and Hong Kong’s buzz of activity. Owners compete by putting up bigger signs. Building owners are paid for [...]
Powering Ahead With Range Of Initiatives
Group says it has significantly reduced emissions since 1990 and vows to continue with clean-energy strategy May Chan – SCMP – Updated on Jul 23, 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should stretch beyond out-of-pocket donations and voluntary work, according to big businesses in Hong Kong. They have strived to communicate new business ethics with employees, [...]
Clock Ticking On Pollution Bomb
Spending now on energy-saving initiatives will have long-term benefits for businesses, their customers and the city May George – SCMP – Updated on Jul 23, 2008 Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, warned recently that only seven years remained for stabilising emissions of global-warming gases at a level that could be [...]
Shedding Light On A Hot Topic
A night tour of Nathan Road discovers the array of flashing neon is not as cool as it might appear. Yau Chui-yan – Updated on Jul 20, 2008 – SCMP Twenty people gather in Nathan Road and look up at the same flashing advertising sign for a minute. The 20, all from different professions, none [...]
Nuclear Blunders Raise Safety Questions
Incidents cast doubt on ‘clean’ energy Associated Press in Paris – Updated on Jul 20, 2008 First, an overflowing tub at a French nuclear plant spilled uranium into the groundwater. Then, a burst pipe leaked uranium at another nuclear site, raising an alert two days ago. The two accidents within two weeks, both at sites [...]