facts on china

We all know that China has recently become the world's biggest producer of carbon dioxide, but here are a few things you might not know:

1. There are hotel rooms in Beijing that switch off all lights and appliances when you aren't there.
2. Shanghai's maglev train is the fastest in the world.
3. Beijing has street cleaners who ride on bicycles.
4. Cars in Shanghai cost more to licence than to buy.
5. 60 percent of the world's installed solar capacity is in China.
6. Beijing's National Indoor Stadium, to be used for the 2008 Summer Olympics, has 1100 solar panels.
7. In 2005, China ranked 10th in the world with 1,266 megawatt in-grid wind power installed capacity.
8. By the end of 2004 China had produced 200,000 off-grid wind turbine generators, and was ranked number one in the world.

Here are a few more thoughts on China's environment challenge.

Comments

[Simon D]

Interesting list. It's always important to remember that i) China's per capita emissions are still one-quarter that of the #2 emitter, the United States, ii) China's aggregate emissions over time are still well below that of the western, developed world.

[Rory]

Good point. Thanks, Simon.

[Matt]

Yes I've read that about the high expense of car licensing in Shanghai; a policy far more radical than any other for a city in the world that I'm aware of.

There's so much going on in China at the moment it is hard to keep a track of it. But they are certainly deeply involved in installing new and better energy technologies right across the country.

The thing about the Chinese is that there's no fanfare. An announcement is made and then they just get on with it.