Home>News Center>China
       
 

Protection of environment job for all
By Sun Xiaohua (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-24 05:35

China has made great progress in its environmental protection thanks to the joint efforts of the government and the public, said Gerd Leipold, the global executive director of Greenpeace.

But he also urged that the Chinese Government should take a more serious view on climate changes by promoting the use of renewable energy.

Leipold has been in Beijing this week to attend a forum about corporate social responsibility.

"Currently China has a much stronger environmental awareness among politicians, academic people, journalists, young people especially students and the population in general," Leipold said.

"The government is excellent when it comes to environmental protection. For example, the response to the chemical spill in the Songhua River last year was very impressive.

"China's environmental legislation, compared with that of other countries, is quite good, and the enforcement is also good."

Greenpeace, one of the most influential environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world, lists China as one of the most strategically important countries in the world.

"It is not only because of China's fast growth," Leipold said, "but also because it is a test case of whether another model of development could succeed.

"If China follows the old Western model of first getting rich by exploiting its environment and then using the wealth to make up for the damage, it will have disastrous consequences."

Leipold called climate change one of the greatest threats to the planet today.

To that end, he said that China took a positive step by holding a large renewable energy conference last year, but needs to do more. And Greenpeace can help the country by providing more information.

Leipold also urged enterprises in China to pursue not only quality in manufacturing but also environmentally friendly processes for the sake of Chinese people's health and the environment.

Last year, Greenpeace urged international food companies not to use genetically modified materials and pushed IT companies to promise not to use toxic materials.

"Greenpeace China has played an increasingly important role in the country these years," said Deng Guosheng, director of the NGO Research Centre at Tsinghua University.

"Although it took some aggressive measures when it entered China, it has shifted its focus to strengthening co-operation with the government and winning trust from consumers. Since Greenpeace insists on not accepting support from companies, it can be very independent and take tough action against them if it finds they are destroying the environment."

(China Daily 02/24/2006 page2)



Musharraf enjoys panda fun in Sichuan
Bull-fight festival in Guizhou
Britain deputy PM visits 'Bird's Nest' in Beijing
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Housing, education and jobs top urbanites' worries

 

   
 

US plans more WTO cases against China

 

   
 

China joins Russia in Iran diplomacy

 

   
 

IPR violators put on notice

 

   
 

'Great Wall's little wall under fire

 

   
 

Poor health takes toll on police force

 

   
  China sending envoy to Iran for nuke issue
   
  China willing to consider aid for Hamas
   
  Hu vows to promote Sino-German relations
   
  Hu calls for change in economic growth mode
   
  Safe sex next front in China's AIDS battle
   
  Iran nuclear crisis can be resolved: China
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement