'Who will emerge as the global green-champion?' asks IEEPA

Since China opened up to the world, most of its GDP growth has come from the manufacturing sector. Its comparatively cheap labor pool has led to a massive growth in exports, as well as GDP, but this has created a massive pollution problem in China.

What many forget is that America once went through exactly the same problem. The trigger for the launch of "Earth Day" was people across America and from many different groups concerned about environmental protection uniting, as they realized they were all speaking the same language and fighting for the same cause.

These factors have now become apparent in China and, in essence, the pollution problem has just been transferred from one country to another. America, the biggest polluter of the last 100 years, is demanding that China change over night, forgetting that they themselves experienced the same problem not so long ago. I call this the natural "growing pains" of a modern economy. Unfortunately for China, it comes at a time when climate change is reaching a critical point.

Many companies around the world see growing green and corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a burden. We have seen this point of view before and from one of the biggest industries in America.

As China continues to grow, technological solutions will only be one part of the equation. Another major factor will be education, a vital element in promoting understanding among the public and, more importantly, the mayors and other leaders of China. In the past, if you wanted to keep your job, it was only determined by one thing - GDP. The system nurtured unsustainable, unhealthy growth. Managing the change from GDP to green GDP is no easy task but there are already examples of cities and mayors actually making that happen.

The question the world is facing now is - who is going to emerge as the market leader in the green market? Is this the opportunity that China has been waiting for? Or will America get its act together and realize this is the future market that can propel America back to the dominant position that it held for so long? Or will China and America work together to combat global warming? This all remains to be seen.

The goal of the International Energy Conservation Environmental Protection Association (IEEPA) is to build cooperation between all countries, including China, in developing a sustainable green market. Global warming and environmental protection is a global problem that needs global solutions.

The IEEPA focuses on bringing together associations, businesses, governments, investment and industry experts from all over the world to develop a green economy in China. The IEEPA works with ordinary people in China, Chinese government leaders, Chinese experts, and other Chinese associations to provide an international platform where all sides can cooperate together.

Through IEEPA's Green World campaign and its associated projects, we are looking to bring growing awareness, education and economic success to the green market.

The author is the public affair's representative of the International Energy Conservation Environmental Protection Association.

(China Daily 12/05/2009 page6)