Hi everyone!
Alix Simnock Introduction
Hello!
My name is Alix Simnock and I am one of the US delegates. I just wanted to quickly introduce myself! I am a sophomore at WashU studying environmental studies in particular the social science/political science side of environmental issues and probably public health and Hebrew. I have always had a interest in environmental issues stemming from a fifth grade geography class on the deforestation occurring in the Amazon Rainforest, which actually lead to a three year long research project on deforestation in Madagascar. On top of that, I would say I know a little about a lot of environmental topics and so I am excited to learn a lot more about America/China/Global Warming, and hopefully become an expert on this particular topic! I think the relationship between America and China will play a pivotal role in deciding the outcome of our environmental future and so for a solution to be made to combat global warming they must work together. They are two very powerful nations,who have the power to lead the rest of the world to deal with our environmental problems, but they also have the potential to cause even more damage. I think through collaboration they could halt further damage. If they do not work together though I do not think as much will get done because neither country will want to sacrifice their standard of living/change their living style if they do not think the other is doing the same, for example, America will not want to invest millions of dollars in green technology and shift their dependence from coal if they do not feel China is trying to lower their coal dependence also. I am very excited that I get to be a part of MOCK COP 16 and help to create the white paper, to add to the solutions to global warming and work on the relationship between America and China. I cannot believe the conference begins this Thursday! I cannot wait to meet the Chinese Delegates and begin the conference. I feel honored to be a part of this and hopefully make a difference.
China’s Stance and Expectations for the Cancun Conference
Dear WUSICE participants, I’d like to share this passage with you about China’s stance and expectations for the coming Cancun UNFCCC COP 16 Conference.
This passage was written by Su Wei. Su Wei has attended international negotiations on climate change since 1989, and was deputy chair and chief negotiator of the Chinese delegation at the Copenhagen Conference.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the issue of climate change and, out of the sense of responsibility for the long-term welfare of Chinese people and the whole mankind as well, calls for substantial and effective international cooperation in this regard. It believes the core tasks for current international negotiations are to strictly follow the mandate of the Bali Roadmap, to ensure full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, and to address climate change mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer and financial assistance in a coordinated and holistic manner.
Firstly, the world should stick to the fundamental framework of the Convention and the Protocol, and strictly follow the mandate of the Bali Roadmap. The Convention and the Protocol lay the legal foundation for international cooperation on climate change, embody the consensus of the international community on the issue and constitute the guidebook for the implementation of the Bali Roadmap. The Bali Roadmap gives the authorization to fully, effectively and sustainedly implement the Convention and the Protocol, provides for climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as financial and technical support for the purpose, and determines further quantified emission reduction targets for developed countries for the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.
Secondly, the world should take responsibility for their historical cumulative emissions and current high per capita emissions to change their unsustainable way of life and to substantially reduce their emissions and, at the same time, provide financial support and transfer technology to developing countries. Developing countries will, in pursuing economic development and poverty eradication, take proactive measures to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Thirdly, the world should observe the sustainable development principle. Sustainable development is both the means and the end of effectively addressing climate change. Within the overall framework of sustainable development, economic development, poverty eradication and climate protection should be considered in a holistic and integrated manner so as to reach a win-win solution and to ensure that developing countries secure their right to development.
Fourthly, the world should give equal priority to climate change mitigation, adaptation, financial support and technology transfer. Mitigation and adaptation are integral components of combating climate change and should be given equal attention. Compared with mitigation that is an arduous task over a longer time span, the need for adaptation is more real and urgent to developing countries. Financing and technology are indispensable means to achieve mitigation and adaptation. The fulfillment of commitments by developed countries to provide financing, technology transfer and capacity building support to developing countries is a condition sine qua non for developing countries to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate change.
China will, on the basis of the Convention and the Protocol, at the requirement of the Bali Roadmap and in accordance of domestic conditions, fulfill international obligations proportionate to its development level and actual ability, and execute potent policies, measures and actions, doing its share to protect our planet.
An active and constructive participant in international negotiation on climate change, China hopes the Cancun Conference can complete the negotiations envisioned in the Bali Roadmap and yield legally binding results through negotiations of the working groups of the Convention and the Protocol. Its targets are as follows:
First, the Conference will set reduction goals for the developed countries that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol for the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol through negotiations of AWG-KP. The AWG-KP and the AWG-LCA are the two equally important negotiation tracks under the Bali Roadmap. The first commitment period of the Protocol will expire at the end of 2012. To ensure a seamless transition between the first and second periods, the AWG-KP is pressed to finish its negotiations at the soonest, which is also a precondition for progress at negotiations of the AWG-LCA. Only if the further quantified emission reduction commitments for developed countries that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are first determined by the AWG-KP, can comparability under the AWG-LCA be established later on. The Cancun Conference is therefore expected to make solid progress in negotiations over reduction targets of the developed nations for the second commitment period under the Protocol, and consolidate consensus reached at the negotiations, thereby laying solid ground for the negotiations to head in the right direction.
Second, the conference should solve the mitigation, adaptation, financial support and technical transfer issues through work of the AWG-LCA. In accordance with the Bali Action Plan, negotiations of the AWG-LCA shall determine the reduction commitments by developed nations that are not Parties to the Kyoto Protocol（primarily the U.S.）, and ensure that their projected reductions are comparable to other developed nations in terms of magnitude, nature and compliance mechanism. An effective mechanism should be launched for the developed nations to fulfill their commitment of assisting the developing nations with finance and technology and on capability building, so that the developing nations are able to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In particular, more details should be settled about the $30 billion fund pledged by developed nations at the Copenhagen Conference, including share of contributions, timely and full payment, and measures of management and use of the money. The fund is critical to the establishment of mutual trust between the developed and developing nations. On receiving assistance on finance, technology and capability building from the developed nations, the developing nations will take mitigation measures in accordance with their respective conditions and within the framework of sustainable development.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the issue of climate change and, out of the sense of responsibility for the long-term welfare of Chinese people and the whole mankind as well, calls for substantial and effective international cooperation in this regard. It believes the core tasks for current international negotiations are to strictly follow the mandate of the Bali Roadmap, to ensure full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, and to address climate change mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer and financial assistance in a coordinated and holistic manner.
Firstly, the world should stick to the fundamental framework of the Convention and the Protocol, and strictly follow the mandate of the Bali Roadmap. The Convention and the Protocol lay the legal foundation for international cooperation on climate change, embody the consensus of the international community on the issue and constitute the guidebook for the implementation of the Bali Roadmap. The Bali Roadmap gives the authorization to fully, effectively and sustainedly implement the Convention and the Protocol, provides for climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as financial and technical support for the purpose, and determines further quantified emission reduction targets for developed countries for the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.
Secondly, the world should take responsibility for their historical cumulative emissions and current high per capita emissions to change their unsustainable way of life and to substantially reduce their emissions and, at the same time, provide financial support and transfer technology to developing countries. Developing countries will, in pursuing economic development and poverty eradication, take proactive measures to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Thirdly, the world should observe the sustainable development principle. Sustainable development is both the means and the end of effectively addressing climate change. Within the overall framework of sustainable development, economic development, poverty eradication and climate protection should be considered in a holistic and integrated manner so as to reach a win-win solution and to ensure that developing countries secure their right to development.
Fourthly, the world should give equal priority to climate change mitigation, adaptation, financial support and technology transfer. Mitigation and adaptation are integral components of combating climate change and should be given equal attention. Compared with mitigation that is an arduous task over a longer time span, the need for adaptation is more real and urgent to developing countries. Financing and technology are indispensable means to achieve mitigation and adaptation. The fulfillment of commitments by developed countries to provide financing, technology transfer and capacity building support to developing countries is a condition sine qua non for developing countries to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate change.
China will, on the basis of the Convention and the Protocol, at the requirement of the Bali Roadmap and in accordance of domestic conditions, fulfill international obligations proportionate to its development level and actual ability, and execute potent policies, measures and actions, doing its share to protect our planet.
An active and constructive participant in international negotiation on climate change, China hopes the Cancun Conference can complete the negotiations envisioned in the Bali Roadmap and yield legally binding results through negotiations of the working groups of the Convention and the Protocol. Its targets are as follows:
First, the Conference will set reduction goals for the developed countries that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol for the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol through negotiations of AWG-KP. The AWG-KP and the AWG-LCA are the two equally important negotiation tracks under the Bali Roadmap. The first commitment period of the Protocol will expire at the end of 2012. To ensure a seamless transition between the first and second periods, the AWG-KP is pressed to finish its negotiations at the soonest, which is also a precondition for progress at negotiations of the AWG-LCA. Only if the further quantified emission reduction commitments for developed countries that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are first determined by the AWG-KP, can comparability under the AWG-LCA be established later on. The Cancun Conference is therefore expected to make solid progress in negotiations over reduction targets of the developed nations for the second commitment period under the Protocol, and consolidate consensus reached at the negotiations, thereby laying solid ground for the negotiations to head in the right direction.
Second, the conference should solve the mitigation, adaptation, financial support and technical transfer issues through work of the AWG-LCA. In accordance with the Bali Action Plan, negotiations of the AWG-LCA shall determine the reduction commitments by developed nations that are not Parties to the Kyoto Protocol（primarily the U.S.）, and ensure that their projected reductions are comparable to other developed nations in terms of magnitude, nature and compliance mechanism. An effective mechanism should be launched for the developed nations to fulfill their commitment of assisting the developing nations with finance and technology and on capability building, so that the developing nations are able to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In particular, more details should be settled about the $30 billion fund pledged by developed nations at the Copenhagen Conference, including share of contributions, timely and full payment, and measures of management and use of the money. The fund is critical to the establishment of mutual trust between the developed and developing nations. On receiving assistance on finance, technology and capability building from the developed nations, the developing nations will take mitigation measures in accordance with their respective conditions and within the framework of sustainable development.
By Ling Yun Zhi（Richard）, Fudan University
WOW.
Karen Mok, WUSICE China Liaison
US-CHINA TEN-YEAR FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATION ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
The Governments of the United States and China established the Ten Year Framework (TYF) for Cooperation on Energy and Environment in June 2008. The Framework facilitates the exchange of information and best practices between the two countries to foster innovation and develop solutions to the pressing energy and environment problems both countries face. In July 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Chinese State Counselor Dai Bingguo participated in the initialing of the Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Cooperation on Climate Change, Energy and Environment , which further elaborated the role of the TYF and established a new dialogue and cooperation mechanism on climate change. The most recent meeting of the TYF Joint Working Group occurred May 11-12 in Washington, DC.
U.S. agencies involved in the Framework include the Departments of State, Energy, Treasury, Commerce, Interior, Transportation, and Agriculture, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Trade Development Agency, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Participating agencies for China include the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Forestry Administration, the National Energy Administration, and the Ministries of Finance, Environmental Protection, Science and Technology and Foreign Affairs. The lead agencies for each country implement the TYF, including the following action plans on electricity, water, air, transportation, wetlands, nature reserves and protected areas, and energy efficiency.
- Clean Air: This plan includes U.S.-China collaboration on sulfur dioxide emission trading in the power industry, control of vehicle emissions, regional air quality management, control of nitrogen oxide emissions, and control of ozone and particulates.
- Clean and Efficient Transportation: This plan involves collaboration on developing non-petroleum alternative fuels including biofuels, promoting energy conservation and emission reduction in civil aviation, improving traffic management and policies, transportation infrastructure, and planning, as well as achieving efficient and sustainable transportation development.
- Clean, Efficient, and Secure Electricity:This plan facilitates bilateral cooperation on electricity generation and transmission with an emphasis upon diversification. Additional collaboration may include renewable and alternative sources of clean energy, cleaner fossil fuel, power grid and the electricity market, and nuclear power.
- Clean Water: This plan encourages collaboration on water quality management, safe drinking water, and prevention and control of pollution from agriculture and rural areas.
- Energy Efficiency:China and the United States recently approved this action plan to further cooperation in the fields of energy auditing, public financing mechanisms, and energy efficiency in building technologies.
- Protected Areas/Nature Reserves: This plan promotes best practices for enhancing nature reserve management, improving habitat conservation, management and restoration of protected areas, strengthened scientific collaboration, and conservation of endangered species.
- Wetlands Conservation: This plan fosters collaboration on best practices in wetland policy, monitoring, management, and scientific research, and helps build the capacity of each country to protect these crucial areas
In addition, seven public-private partnerships, known as “EcoPartnerships,” contribute to the Framework’s goals, with new partnerships being planned in the future. EcoPartnerships promote further collaboration at the sub-national level, as well as between the private and public sectors. As the EcoPartnerships program expands, it will encourage U.S. and Chinese governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to share best practices, foster innovation, and further sustainable economic development.
In the most recent TYF Joint Working Group meeting, the two sides exchanged views on emerging issues that might warrant future inclusion in the TYF, including green growth.
For more information about the Ten Year Framework’s Action Plans and the EcoPartnership program, including information about the potential role for local and regional governments, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations and businesses, please visit the following websites:
China’s Main Problems and Questions on Sustainability
Posted by Fudan Delegate Ling Yun Zhi（Richard）
Our Difficulties:
1. Resource constraints is a daunting challenge to China.
2. China’s current energy supply is coal-dominated, creating severe pollution.
3. China’s energy efficiency is low, causing large energy waste.
Our Questions:
1. Is nuclear energy a GREEN energy source? What is the proper attitude for us towards Nuclear Energy？
2. When are we supposed to use renewable energy as the major energy source？
3. When it comes to energy and environmental problem, who should play the key role within a country?
Great Job Everyone
First off, great job everyone for posting and commenting on all the posts – by having such interactive discussions and debates on news articles, images, videos, etc., we’re building a stronger and stronger international network of environmental issue exchange.
Anyway, to make WUSICE even more prominent on the web, here’s a tip: if you make a post, please use the ‘tag’ box on the right side of the screen to post tags of key topics in your post – i.e., NGOs, coal, fossil fuels, global warming, China, etc. Just type in the key words in the ‘add new tag’ box, then click ‘add’. It makes our blog more accessible to other WordPress blogs. Thanks!
Now that we’ve got our WashU and Fudan delegates, posting and commenting on posts should definately help the delegates from different schools get to know each other and hear the other institution’s students’ points of view!
In other news, with the Conference fast-approaching, your WUSICE execs are working hard and cramming in as many meet-ups as they can before the big day: November 4th!
Keep the blogging going! Thanks so much for your continued participation – we’ve come a long way since last year!
- Anne, PR
When it comes to economy and environment
Dear readers,
I am Wenqi Yue, the treasure of WUSICE, usually referred to the “Money person”. I am an undergraduate student in WUSTL majoring in Economics (probably math as well). I hope everyone is as excited as I am about the upcoming conference and ready to crack some tough problems!
One of the goals of WUSICE is built upon the idea of establishing and enhancing the network between universities around the world over environmental issues, and for me, linking environmental to communities’ well-being as well. And yes, for me, that is closely related to the economic issues. I am passionate about exploring new solutions on balancing out economic growth while protecting the environment, which put me in an interesting position, or the in between, when conflicts are formed between environmental preservation and economic development. Communications becomes crucial, and understanding between individuals and countries sometimes the tipping pointing of solving those issues.
If I have to choose a side, I will take myself as a “Breakthrough” supporter, or an happy follower of Michael Shellenberger and Ted Norhaus’s approach towards environmental issues. Economy growth can go hand in hand with environmental protections. Wal-Mart at the top of Fortune 500 list is probably the biggest motivation for package companies to reduce the amount of plastics they use, keep the preservatives to a minimum, etc.
If you are interested in learning more about Breakthrough, please check out www.thebreakthrough.org, and also don’t forget to google about Walmarts’ action on being an environmental friendly company. I am very curious about the feedbacks I would get.
Growth In Fish Farming Raises Concerns for Environment
VICTORIA, BC — Large-scale farming of fish that themselves have low environmental impact can nonetheless lead to higher environmental damage, according to an assessment of farmed fish and the countries that produce them.
The research, performed by the University of Victoria’s Seafood Research Ecology Group, also found that regions with the fastest-growing fish farming sectors are linked to more negative impacts.
The Seafood Research Ecology Group, led by marine ecologist John Volpe, used the Global Aquaculture Performance Index, which it created, to assess 20 fish species and 22 countries, based on 10 indicators.
The research focused on finfish like salmon, cod and grouper, and looked at criteria like reliance on capturing wild fish to stock farms, antibiotics use, water pollutants discharge and industrial energy use.
Each species and country received two overall scores: the normalized score is based on per ton produced, and the cumulative score looks at the total impact. Scores range from 0-100, with 100 meaning lowest impact. Scores were based on data from 2007, the last year that complete data on all indicators was available.
The assessment found that even in areas where best farm fishing practices are used, massive production of fish can cause more negative impacts than multiple small, poorly-performing farms. Atlantic salmon, for instance, gets a score of 70 based on per ton performance, but its cumulative score is 36.
The researchers also found that some of the worst countries, particularly China and Japan, are those with the newest and fastest-growing aquaculture production. Fish like groupers, red drum and cobia have some of the worst scores, but production of them has increased 40 percent in the five years before 2007.
Atlantic salmon has the top normalized (72) and cumulative (91) scores among the fish species. Following on the normalized side is flathead grey mullet (71) and Atlantic salmon (70), while the next highest scores on the cumulative side are turbot (89) and Atlantic cod (88).
The highest-scoring countries on the normalized side are New Zealand (73), the United Kingdom (72) and Norway (72), while the highest cumulative scores go to France (96), Iceland (96) and Israel (91).
The researchers findings are available in the inaugural Global Aquaculture Performance Index report.
Fish – CC license by fabbio
Biological Development–Take 2.
Karen Mok, WUSICE China Liaison
The relationship between economic development and biological and natural conservation is one of the fresher ideas I’ve come across recently.
But in this “relationship,” no specific times for a date have been set, so who knows if it’ll be long-term?
But I sincerely hope not. I’m going off the inspiration I got from this quote:
“Our answer is clear: successful conservation of our natural resources, our ecosystems, and our biodiversity is central to addressing all development challenges and to improving the lives of the poor.
Biological resources provide livelihoods, sustenance, medicines, trade, tourism, industry, and more. Forests, grasslands, lakes, oceans, deserts, and other natural ecosystems provide a range of natural services that people have often taken for granted, even though they are vital to human welfare.
I would add one more consideration: each of us – all of us – are stewards of other life on this planet. We should respect those lives.
As a practical matter, we need to demonstrate the connections among overcoming poverty, sustainable economic growth, and the preservation of the planet’s rich natural heritage.”
POWERFUL rhetoric, yes. It’s up to us to change this rhetoric to reality.
From the article : “World Bank Pushes to Include Ecology in Accounting”
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/world-bank-pushes-to-include-ecology-in-accounting/
C-ROADS: An Interactive Model for Climate Negotiators
Hi everyone. My name is Adam Hasz, and I am a third year student at Washington University. I am studying environmental studies and urban studies, and am particularly interested in sustainable development and ways in which we can collectively work towards stabilizing our planet’s climate. I have been very active with Green Action, the environmental activist group on my campus, and have helped to coordinate several demonstrations against coal companies and other dirty energy corporations. In addition, I have been involved with 1Sky, the Energy Action Coalition, the Missouri Student Environmental Coalition, and the Sierra Student Coalition.
I want to share something that I hope will be very useful during our conference: C-ROADS, an interactive climate model used to calculate the long term results of various global climate commitments. C-ROADS is part of the Climate Interactive project developed by MIT System Dynamics guru John Sterman. C-ROADS was first used at the COP15 Copenhagen Negotiations to immediately show delegates the long term consequences of their proposed policies.
To use the C-ROADS model, UN negotiators first enter the proposed emission policies that have been reached through the UNFCCC process. Then, the model simulates the carbon cycle and other greenhouse gas cycles using the GHG emission concentrations specified, and generates a likely outcomes in terms of global temperature change and sea level rise. The basic process is displayed in the image below:
While the actual C-ROADS negotiating software is not available, a simplified simulation model is available to the public through this link. I hope that we can use this model during our own negotiations, and hopefully create policies that lead to a safe level of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Interactive has many resources available on its website to help global citizens understand the C-ROADS model, the dynamics of climate change, and how progress on this issue requires international cooperation. In addition, Climate Interactive provides C-ROADS materials in Chinese, which Fudan University students may appreciate.
The latest model results from August 31 (which use the most up to date international pledges) do not look promising. Currently, we are on a path towards 840 ppm of CO2 by 2100, which places us very high above the threshold of dangerous anthropogenic climate interference. We need a dramatic shifts in emission commitments from the international community in order to prevent drastic changes to the global climate system over the next century.
But there is hope. We are that hope. Continued disagreement between China and America in regards to fair GHG emission reductions has been one of the major roadblocks in creating a unified global climate treaty. Through the WUSICE US-China conference, we can work to build a bridge of trust, solidarity, and cooperation between Chinese and American youth. Together, we can push our leaders to take bold action at the domestic and international levels to address climate change and usher in a new era of sustainable prosperity.
C-ROADS shows we still have a lot of work to do to ensure a stable climate and create a sustainable society. But I am confident that humanity is up to the challenge, and that youth will lead the way.
California’s Clean Energy Battle
With the Nov. 2 elections looming a week away, Californians face two vital ballot initiatives that will determine the fate of the state’s progressive clean energy policies.
Proposition 23, if passed, would suspend the implementation of AB32 – the “Global Warming Solutions Act” – until California’s unemployment rate falls below 5.5% for a full year. (In comparison, California currently has a 12.4% unemployment rate.)
AB32 is a HUGELY progressive policy. It calls to reduce California’s CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, by fostering a clean energy industry. Since AB32 was passed, California has attracted over $9 billion in clean energy investments.
Understandably, Prop 23 has raised vocal support and opposition and over $40 million in campaign contributions. Notable supporters of Prop 23 are the big oil companies Valero & Tesoro. Lining up in opposition are a motley team of conservation groups, non-profits, Al Gore and even Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Luckily, poll results show that Proposition 23 is unlikely to pass. Unfortunately, oil companies have turned their attention to a lesser-known ballot initiative: Prop 26. Proposition 26 would make it difficult for California’s state and local government to impose fees on corporations that impose costs on society such as pollution or toxic waste. The bill could cost California billions in revenue.
Let’s hope that voters preserve California’s landmark environmental bills.
Nadav Rindler
Washington University in St. Louis
The psychological perspective of environmental change
Hi everyone!
My name is Jennifer Wei, and I’m a sophomore at Washington University studying Finance, Economics & Strategy, and Psychology.
As you may have guessed from my Finance and Psychology background, I’m interested in the interaction between the environment and the economy; more specifically -the role that businesses play in the bigger scheme of the environment and how they can help to change the world.
I’m also interested in how business concepts, such as rewards and motivations that companies use to boost productivity or sales, can be applied to the environment. On the surface, these two concepts may seem unrelated. However, just like how people are motivated by different forms of rewards (this can be extrinsic like money, and/or intrinsic like passion for their job and/or the respect they gain from peers) in the business world, environmental activists are also motivated by something. We are all human, and we all have rationales for our actions, otherwise they would be a waste of our time.
A recent tool environmental activists have employed is making environmentally sustainable actions “cool” and respectable. For example, the idea of picking up groceries with a reusable grocery bag and not plastic bags not only make people feel good about protecting the environment (intrinsic motivation), but also allow others to think they are fashionable, respectable, environmentally-aware, a good citizen, etc (extrinsic motivation). Similarly, Washington University’s LEED-certified buildings bring honor to the university. That’s why you see those plates that tell you the building is LEED-certified. If the University only cared about the building being LEED-certified, there would be no need to put a medal up to show this off to the world.
So the question for environmental action becomes…how can we provide intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for businesses and individuals so that they desire and will act on this desire to make a difference?
————
At the end of this blog, here are two brief paragraphs on my background and my motivations to participate in an environmental collaboration between China and America:
Being born in China makes me Chinese. But having lived the majority of my life in America makes me feel just as American. When people ask me which country I like better, I tell them I don’t know not to make them feel good (or feel bad, depending on where they’re from), but because I truly have no preference for either nation. I love them both, equally.
Although on the surface, America and China seem to be quite cooperative in the political arena, there are many underlying issues and tensions between the two countries -one being the environment. As we move forward into the future, there will be many decisions that these two countries will have to make individually and together regarding the environment. I can only hope that environmental issues will only bring them together, and not tear them apart. This is why I’m so excited about this conference and am very excited to meet you all!
Check this out
Dear all!
It is Summer Zhao, the co-founder and president of WUSICE. It is exciting to see that all things are coming together and the conference is going to happen in 10 ten days! We need a countdown.=) Are you ready? WUSICE members and the Wash-U delegates can’t wait to see you and we extend our warmest welcome. Karen and Anne put tremendous effort in perfecting this website and setting up the blogging; let’s give them huge THANKS and keep on this great work, interacting with and educating one another while having fun!
Here I want to share with you a very interesting innovation that arrested my attention—a green clean technology called “Bloom Box.” How do you power your house?? By electricity generated by power plants and large transmission line grids you might say. But in the future, you might only need to put a small black chunky box in your backyard, which can power your entire house wirelessly! This is the box for the future: Bloom box.
It is innovated by K.R. Sridhar, the Indian-American scientist, and the founder and CEO of Bloom Energy Company. It is simply a box, but it has an incredible efficient power plant within. It is more efficient than the grid and way more efficient than the solar panel.
The procedure of how he invented and produced this bloom box is very interesting and mysterious. He baked some kind of beach sand, cut it into squares and coaxed it with green and black ink that was made by some secret formula. The disks were stacked together and the more disks added, the more power it could produce. 64 stacks would be able to power a Starbucks! I encourage you watch the video on 60 minutes news; it has a way more detailed explanation: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6816773n&tag=mncol;lst;3
You might wonder, well now that the Bloom Box is such such good, why nobody knows about it? It is because it is a new product, and Sridhar wants to secretly test it before putting it into the market. His customers, the subjects for his experiment, include Google, EBay, Wal-Mart, FedEx, CIA and etc!
It has flaws such as high cost and instability, but Sridhar is trying to reduce the cost; plus it doesn’t require any burning or combustion, so it is very clean and green. Overall it is very promising. Well who knows if it will be the thing for your house in the future! 
LOVE
Summer
WEEE – the New Environment Threat
The electric and electronic equipment has been developed, applied, and consumed worldwide at a very high speed. Subsequently, the significant increasing amount of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a common problem facing the world. In view of the deleterious effects of WEEE on the environment and the valuable materials that can be reused in them, legislations in many countries have focused their attention on the management of WEEE, and new techniques have been developed for the recovery of WEEE. In China, rapid economic growth, coupled with urbanization and growing demand for consumer goods, has increased the consumption of EEE in large quantity, thus made the WEEE manifold rapidly, posing a severe threat to the environment and the sustainable economic growth as well.
WEEE can contain over one thousand different substances, many of which are toxic and some which have a relatively high market value when extracted. Inadequate disposal and poor recycling practices to recover metals such as gold, copper and silver contribute to potential harmful impacts on the environment and pose health risks to exposed individuals. The WEEE stream is thus important not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of its toxicity.
China and India are countries most impacted by inappropriate recycling practices and countries that also have a great need for material resources and very low labor costs. Environmental levels of the selected pollutants in the areas of study are compared with some reference toxicological values and the possible impacts for ecosystems and humans in the areas of study are discussed.
Poor WEEE recycling techniques, particularly in developing countries, are generating more and more environmental pollution that affects both ecosystems and the people living within or near the main recycling areas.
The tags collected from GuiYu Guangdong, PRC (largest WEEE dump waste yard in China). Most of them are imported from west coast of American.
On the banner: peddling import WEEE is an illegal act
In the picture: people are busy transporting WEEE
Gilbert Shi
How can U.S. cooperates with China to reduce global warming?
Global climate change is a major issue which no one can ignore. China and the United States are the world’s two largest emitters of greenhouse gasses, each accounting for over 20% of global emissions by 2009. Maybe the problem is no longer whether U.S. should cooperate with China or vice versa. The vital problem is how to corporate. How to come up with an acceptable ways for both countries to address climate challenges?
On February 3, 2009, at the Harvard Fairbank Center, University of Michigan Business School Professor Kenneth Lieberthal gives this lecture on the seminar entitled “Increasing U.S.-China Cooperation to Address Global Climate Change.”
Dr. Lieberthal served as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for Asia on the National Security Council from August 1998 to October 2000. His government responsibilities encompassed American policy toward all issues involving Northeast, East, and Southeast Asia.
Kenneth Lieberthal suggested that Sino-US cooperation is so necessary to be the most urgent issue of senior leaders of the two countries. Besides, he also made nine recommendations to reduce the political obstacles to such cooperation.
Lieberthal made the nine recommendations to the leaders of two countries.
First, the two leaders have publicly acknowledged the other’s view is reasonable. U.S. leaders should recognize the total emissions in U.S. history is enormous; China’s economic growth has only just started, per capita emissions still small, the Chinese people have the right to pursue their ideal lifestyle, the United States cannot and should be limited to China growth rate.
Secondly, establish clean energy, energy conservation, the framework of the agreement to reduce emissions of climate change and energy as part of the framework agreement.
Third, focus on the establishment of two or three specific cooperation projects, with a demonstration effect. Chinese Foreign Ministry’s caliber has always been, “you money, the technology we use your (state) money to buy your (private) emissions reduction technology, you enjoy the benefits of environmental protection.” This idea is in the United States Congress absolutely does not work, cannot implement anything. Lieberthal said that when he and Chinese scientists communicate with each other, their tone and point of view is very different, more practical, more concrete, and more feasible.
Fourth, develop technology. The United States deal with some of the basic technology of carbon dioxide, such as carbon sequestration technologies, but do not have much combat experience and experience. In this regard, China has a huge demand and market, so there is great room for cooperation. If the Government can take the lead and private investment, public-private cooperation model, then the potential. And this is not “you give me some good, I give you the benefits of (give-and-take approach)” a simple exchange, but in the true sense of cooperation.
Fifth, offer more and more local communication and cooperation (for example, between Chinese cities and U.S. cities), to share successful experiences, replication of successful practices.
Sixth, to help China strengthen its ability to govern from the center to facilitate information flow between the local five-story governments increased transparency, so that the central government really understands the actual needs and problems in the operation.
Seventh, in the international negotiations, find common ground between the United States. For example, in Copenhagen in December of last year, if the two countries can be reached before this fall’s consensus on some principles, it will increase the likelihood of success in Copenhagen. This consensus may include a step of reduction steps, rather than the set as before until a certain emission reduction targets.
Eighth, make use of the existing agreements. For example, the former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has done a lot of work in this area.
Ninth, in the bilateral summit, make the clean energy on the agenda of the prominent position. Sino-US summit this year in 45 multilateral international conferences have the opportunity to meet; they are usually arranged during the meeting about an hour the opportunity of bilateral talks.
Gilbert Shi
Partly from another book
ＨＡＲＶＡＲＤ ＥＣＯＮＯＭＩＣ ＮＯＴＥＳ
A CHINESE PUBLISHED BOOK
Brazil and India taking action on the Environment
Hello everyone! My name is Dylan Tucker, and I am a US delegate for the Climate Change and Sustainability Conference. Currently, I am in my senior year majoring in Political Science with minors in Environmental Studies and Latin American Studies. This is my first post and I just wanted to say how excited I am to start networking throughout the world in order to work towards a cleaner future. Below is an article discussing global trends of nations considering environmental impacts of their policy actions. It cites Brazil and India as taking positive actions in this area based on the findings of the The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB) project funded through the UN. This project was created to detail environmental impacts of economic activities so that nations can make more informed decisions based on the long term consequences of their actions. Although the US and China are the two biggest emitters of carbon, and should take the lead in reducing these emissions, we do not have to go it alone. This problem affects everyone.
Old News, No Change
David Yang (Washington University in St. Louis)
Hey I just wanted to introduce myself! My name is David Yang and I am a sophomore at WashU. I’m a Biomedical Engineering and International Area Studies Major. I like sleeping whenever I can and eating cup ramen. What I like even more is the feeling after tests where I am unconcerned with anything for a moment. What I dislike is ice cream and chocolate really. My dream is to work for the UN!
I’m a big fan of literature, but I write mostly freehand literature without form. Anyways…
http://newyorkskywatch.com/rosalind-peterson-speech-transcript/
This is an old speech, but I think one of the main things we should focus on is how we can change the stance of nations so that individual nations take an initiative to do something about what has obviously been known for a pretty long time. It’s great that we’re approaching the UN, but the UN is not the most effective international body (ex. Darfur). This speech was delivered at the 2007 UN Climate Change Conference and…well maybe we should list the international changes that have occurred concerning environmental change…the effective ones. I also say that we list the changes that have occurred within individual countries.
I believe that during this conference we should also suggest initiatives that students and adults can take to voice a concern for environmental issues. An important concept that must be tackled is generating enthusiasm for the cause in the gray area of individuals who 1) believe that there are environmental issues but believe nothing can be done or they can’t do anything, 2) are unsure about their stance on environmental issues so they do nothing, or 3) are apathetic.
Some thoughts:
1) Start young, educate grade school students. They will affect change in the future.
2) Make problems visible. I’m not saying make them worse so they become apparent, but use effective advertising in effective places and have it become part of everyday life. Stimulate the brains everyday concerning the environment.
How can you make the environment an issue that the Leader of a Country must take? Obama had to face the BP Oil Spill, but we don’t want an environmental disaster to result in a leader taking action: we want a leader to take action to prevent environmental disasters.
Comments and thoughts welcome.
Peace,
David
Utopian Veneers
Karen, WUSICE China Liaison
Hello Delegates!!! First let me express my profound amazement at how talented and exceptional all of you are–it inspires me everyday to know that we have been able to find such a fantastic cohort for our first conference. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You all have made our tireless efforts worth it.
My older sister is currently in Copenhagen studying architecture, and during a visit to Stockholm, Sweden, she came across a Green Utopia City–the best 3 words I can think of to describe it. It’s called Hammarby Sjöstad. An entirely new city created with sustainability embedded in all aspects of its design… a wonderful idea, yes? But what struck me as my sister described me was her comment: “It’s a city, yes, but there’s barely anyone living there.”
Quite simply, it’s too expensive for many of the people who lived there before to return, or take advantage of this “utopia.” So we see firsthand how important sustainability efforts must be thought of simultaneously with urban planning and existing socio-economic fabrics that lie beneath a city. The question I must ask, then, is how? How to unite all these factors, how to create a city, a world where sustainibility is not an independent variable, but interlinked with all the variables that build a society, a world?
Check out the city here:
Hey Everyone!
I too wanted to introduce myself, but also respond to Michael’s post.
I’m a junior at WashU majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Environmental Science. I’ve been active on campus promoting individual sustainability initiatives, and I spent this past summer researching/writing on energy security at the Brookings Institution in DC. I spent the summer before that in China (or rather a month of that summer), specifically in Shanghai, Beijing, and SW China. I’m really excited to meet everyone!
It struck me when I was first reading the series of articles Michael posted on, that the same issue has plagued the US civil nuclear industry as it tries to compete with state-run or state-financed firms (principally Russian, South Korean, and French) selling nuclear power plant services and components. The situation is complicated by variations by nation in fuel cycle policies and regulation. Given that the US is currently the largest nuclear power producer currently but that utilities have struggled to get the go-ahead to build more plants, and China is investing heavily in nuclear power (foresight+government policy/incentives) I wonder how both this issue and the trade issues Michael posted about will effect both the US and China’s thinking at COP16…I would hazard a guess and say it isn’t for the better!
On a completely different note, I wanted to post an article on coal mine explosion that occurred in China very recently. I’m wondering how much regulation has been put in place recently (The article refers to one) and how well they are being enforced?
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/20-Dead-17-Missing-in-China-Coal-Mine-Blast-105096059.html
I was going to close with “Cheers!” but it just didn’t seem appropriate.
-Ellie Cooper, WashU
US and China Clash over Clean Energy Subsidies (+ Intro)
Hello everyone!
I just wanted to briefly introduce myself (Michael Craig) and then share an interesting article from the NYTimes. I’m a 5th year Environmental Studies major specializing in Biology/Ecology (with a minor in Environmental Engineering) at Washington University. I’ve done independent research on both seed predation and renewable energy policies, and I’m hoping to begin work in the environmental advocacy field come January (although the job market doesn’t look so great right now…). I also love to read, mainly science fiction, fantasy, and history; run; and eat. I’ve traveled a fair bit, mostly in the Americas and Europe. The closest I’ve been to China was South Korea, where I traveled on an educational trip with Wash U’s engineering school last summer. I look forward to meeting and getting to know all of you in the coming weeks!
Now, on to more weighty manners: there has been a series of articles from the NYTimes discussing an ongoing spat between United States manufacturers and the Chinese government. Basically, many clean energy businesses in the United States have accused the Chinese government of violating World Trade Organization policies by giving clean energy uncompanies preferential treatment and subsidies. This feud is just another piece in the puzzle of ongoing tension between China and the United States, which includes the argument over the valuation of the Renminbi. I think Richard’s previous post is absolute right in that we need more trust, but I also think the ongoing fights between the United States and China over economic issues only serves to foment the distrust between our nations.
The article is available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/business/16wind.html?hp and is titled “U.S. Plans Inquiry on China’s Subsidies of Clean Energy.”
-Michael Craig, Washington University in St. Louis
Fudan Delegates
Our 2010 Cohort page is up-to-date with Fudan delegate biographies. Please visit the page to read a little bit about our very excited 2010 Fudan University cohort!
- WUSICE
An Office in the Woods
“Eight miles from the center of Madrid, the Spanish architectural firm SelgasCano has created a transparent retreat among the trees…”
Thought this was a cool article! Here’s a pic – click the link for more!
Less Distrust and More Mutual Understanding on Environmental Protection
Posted by Fudan WUSICE Delegate: Ling Yun Zhi（Richard）
Developing and developed countries, at their different growing stages, have numerous recognition difference, misunderstanding and distrust on the issues of climate change and environmental protection.
In developing countries, some analysts argue that it is a “conspiracy”: Great powers intend to contain the development of small states in the name of “environmental protection”, asking the latter to assuming more responsibilities. There are also such voices that regard “climate change” as a method through which scientists will get more research expenditure, through which interest groups will pursue their own goals.
However, from my own perspective: Developed countries, at their post-industrialization period, have their own wishes to environmental protection and have more full-fledged institutions, which mainly focus on their countries’ own benefits, instead of ruining small countries’ economic development. If small countries always interpret great power’s action as a “conspiracy”, it will do no good to both sides.
On the other hand, developed countries are supposed to be kindly aware of developing countries’ difficulty. Industrialization is an inevitable period, which developed countries have already finished while developing countries have not. Therefore, technology transfer and financial support is crucial to those countries who are in their initial or halfway industrialization period.
If developed countries and developing ones have less distrust and more mutual understanding, there will be more arenas for further cooperation and fruitful progress.
USA Pavilion at Shanghai Expo Fulfills Pledge to be Carbon Neutral
The theme of 2010 Shanghai Expo is “Better City, Better Life”. Of course, environmental protection is an indispensable topic in terms of city and life. So there are many interesting ideas and innovations exhibited in Expo which are related to environmental issues. I’m working in the Press Center at Expo now, and I received a news release from the USA Pavilion which I would like to share with you.
USA Pavilion at Shanghai Expo Fulfills Pledge to be Carbon Neutral
[SHANGHAI, 26 Sept 2010] – The USA Pavilion and Alcoa Foundation jointly announced today that the Pavilion has reached carbon equilibrium covering the entire six-month duration of the Shanghai Expo, including the production of key building materials used in the Pavilion. A total of 8,250 tons of carbon offset credits were purchased from three selected Gold Standard-certified projects in China to offset the Pavilion’s carbon footprint.
As the first national pavilion committed to be carbon neutral during the entire six months, the USA Pavilion fulfills a pledge to be a green pavilion, a commitment U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made on May 22 during her visit to the Expo.
The footprint calculation results cover both the GHG emissions for the six-month duration of the Expo and the production of key building materials, including aluminum, steel, cement, glass, used in the Pavilion. The footprint will be offset through purchasing 8,250 carbon credits from three sustainable development projects in China that all registered according to the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) and to the Gold Standard.
On 26 Sept 2010, the USA Pavilion signed carbon credit purchase contracts at a press briefing with the three Chinese projects, namely Jiangsu landfill gas to energy conversion project, Gansu micro-scale “run of river” hydroelectric power generation project and Gansu wind farm project.
“I am proud the USA Pavilion will be supporting the Expo’s theme, ‘Better City, Better Life’, through the purchase of credits from carbon offset projects in China which fulfills our commitment to be carbon neutral for the six-month duration of Expo 2010 Shanghai, said Ambassador José H. Villarreal, U.S. Commissioner General, Expo 2010 Shanghai .
“The USA Pavilion is pleased to put into action our message of sustainability and healthy community-building by supporting three Gold Standard-certified projects across China to offset our carbon footprint. I would like to thank Alcoa Foundation for its generous contribution in helping the USA Pavilion be the best possible Expo citizen and become the first national pavilion to commit to carbon neutrality at Expo 2010 Shanghai.”
Apart from the carbon footprint calculation and neutralization approaches, the USA Pavilion has also adopted comprehensive measures to minimize energy consumption and GHG emissions. Many of America’s leading companies helped build the Pavilion and their cutting-edge technologies that hold the promise of unlocking a more sustainable and prosperous future are woven into the building itself. From the photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity and help power the Pavilion, to the solar water heater, the rooftop garden and the recycled bamboo flooring, the USA Pavilion is a model of both innovation and environmental responsibility.
At over 60,000 square feet (6,000 square meters), the USA Pavilion is one of the largest national pavilions at the Expo. With the theme of “Rising to the Challenge,” the United States presence showcases American culture, values, innovation, and business, in one of China’s most dynamic cities, while celebrating the friendship and cooperation between the United States, China, and the rest of the world.
Posted by Alice (Delegate from Fudan University)
