‘Big dam enhances risks of natural disasters’

BEIJING – China’s land watchdog has asked local authorities to strengthen efforts in monitoring potential geological disasters in the Three Gorges Dam region. Until June 10, the Three Gorges Dam plans to increase water discharges…

The Peril of Plastic

HONG KONG — For bizarre items floating in the ocean, try topping this: The upper half of a set of false teeth, seen bobbing around in the South China Sea. “I remember thinking: ‘How on…

Bill Gates: Innovation, China, and the environment

“When you think about the future, many things come together,” said Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and billionaire philanthropist, at the 2011 Climate Solutions Breakfast, held on Tuesday, May 10, in the Westin Seattle….

Mountain tsunamis – a rising threat

Earthquakes could burst glacial lakes in the Himalayas, flooding populated areas downstream, scientists are warning. Navin Singh Khadka reports. Glacial lakes in the Himalayas could pose a major hazard to population centres if they are…

Free plastic bags may be banned at more places

Shanghai – Hospitals and restaurants may soon be prohibited from providing people with free plastic bags in the latest attempt to limit the use of the environmentally harmful product, according to the Ministry of Commerce….

Rain fails to dispel drought in central China

Rain brought some relief for drought-stricken central China yesterday, but hot weather forecast for the next few days could worsen the situation, the most serious along the Yangtze River in more than 50 years. Rainfalls…

Yangtze River levels hit historic lows in some areas

According to the data from the Yangtze River Hydrometric Station, the water levels of the Yangtze River have declined abnormally during the main flood period. Some hydrometric stations on the middle and lower reaches saw…

Nuclear power, yes or no?

After the earthquake and tsunami on March 11 triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis in Japan, nuclear energy has once more come under the spotlight after a period of rehabilitation. China’s current energy system is…

Drought warning over grain yields

Workers at a national natural reserve in Shishou, Hubei Privince attempts to help freshwater dolphins Friday whose lives were threatened by dangerously low water levels due to a severe drought. Photo: CFP Persistent drought in…

Province planning to purge pesticide abuse

BEIJING / JINAN – East China’s Shandong province is about to launch a licensing system in an attempt to limit the availability of pesticides, because misuse of the agricultural chemicals is a major cause of…