Measured Insights
The latest blog posts from our research projects.
What to look for in China's 12th Five-Year Plan
China’s annual political meetings begin on Thursday March 3 and the major outcome will be the announcement of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). Votes at both the advisory China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, opening March 3) and the National People’s Congress (NPC, opening March 5) are not in question. But the content of the Five-Year Plan, as well as various government work reports and major pieces of legislation, are only revealed during the meetings.
Follow-up: Just how does China's air quality compare globally?
Thank you to all who read my previous post, “Chinese NGO releases Air Quality Transparency Index,” and to those have provided some excellent feedback and food for thought. In further exploring the link between information transparency and environmental performance, I made a statement that Chinese cities have a notorious reputation for being the world’s most polluted; however, data limitations could mean that there may be worse air quality out there.
Chinese NGO releases Air Quality Transparency Index
The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) and Renmin University School of Law recently published the first version of what they've deemed the Air Quality Transparency Index (AQTI; available in Chinese only for now). Building off of similar indices aimed...
Talking Tactics
China’s performance in Cancún points to a new, more conciliatory climate diplomacy from a country that knows the sharp end of the blame game, write Angel Hsu and Zhao Yupu.
Last month’s UN-led climate talks in Cancún, Mexico,were largely touted as a success, as countries reached near consensus on critical issues such as technology transfer and the creation of a new Green Climate Fund to help developing countries adapt to global warming. The standing ovation for the Mexican hosts that erupted in the summit’s final plenary session came in stark contrast to the conclusion of last year’s Copenhagen talks, which ended behind doors, closed to civil-society observers.
What can we expect on Climate and Energy in China in 2011?
2011 will be a big year for climate and energy policy development in China, so we thought we’d highlight some of the key China energy and climate-related stories to watch out for during the course of the year. We’ve known to expect major developments now for over a year, since China’s commitments made at the Copenhagen climate talks in late 2009 were scheduled to be implemented in the 2011 12th Five Year Plan. Below we outline some key issues and dates to watch over the course of the coming year:
Real-time, hourly air quality data in China now available
China’s National Environmental Monitoring Center (CNEMC) now has real-time, hourly air quality data for 113 major Chinese cities. Concentrations in (mg/m3) are reported for major pollutants sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM10, particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less).
China institutes new car policies, but are they enough?
One present Santa may have brought a lot of Chinese families this year: a small car. On Tuesday, the Chinese government announced a 10 percent sales tax on small cars effective January 1, sending many who had planned to purchase private vehicles in a dash to meet the year-end deadline.
Seeing the carbon through the trees
Escaping the frigid, air-conditioned corridors of the Moon Palace and Cancunmesse convention rooms, I had the rare opportunity to visit the site of a pilot forest carbon project managed by local Mayan campesinos or farmers.
Game-change or No-change? What to make of China in Cancun
In the politics of climate negotiations, which are often steeped in nuance and careful posturing, it’s easy to get lost in translation. On the ground in Cancun, reports have been flying about China’s so-called “game-changing” concessions, which could possibly “buoy” the climate Talks, which are quickly nearing an end. As we’re both on the ground in Cancun, we’re going to try to clear the air and get to the bottom of what exactly the Chinese have and haven’t said in the climate negotiations.
Yale Delegation meets with U.S. Senate Staffer
Yesterday, a few members of our Yale delegation here at COP-16 in Cancun met with Jonathan Black, who is a member of Senator Jeff Binagman (D-NM), who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
