Gray Smog Conceals a Greening China

Country could be world's leader in clean energy by 2020

(NEWSER) - China is on course to obtain 20% of its energy from wind and solar sources by 2020—a transformation that would make the country the world leader in renewables. Beijing is ramping up its targets for clean energy, helped by the $590 billion stimulus package passed last year, a senior government official told the Guardian. "Due to the impact of global financial crisis, people are all talking about green and sustainable development," he said. More»

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton emphasized the environment today in China as she wrapped up a weeklong visit to Asia, the New York Times reports. “When we were industrializing and growing, we didn’t know any better,” Clinton said, praising recent advances in green energy and asking for more. “We hope you won’t make the same mistakes we made.” Some analysts think energy policy is the prime issue to unite the interests of the two countries. More»

Scrap fetching a fraction of the price it used to—if it's not cheaper to send it to landfills

(NEWSER) - With the economy tanking, recyclable material is selling like, well, trash. Mixed paper, which sold for $105 per ton as recently as October, now fetches $20-$25, the New York Times reports. “It’s awful,” said one recycling rep, who says her yard is packed with refuse that can’t be sold. “Either it goes to landfill or it begins to cost us money.” More»

Facing big bills, Americans cut back on A/C, look for other heat-beating solutions

(NEWSER) - As fuel costs, and eco-guilt, creep upward, Americans are leaving the thermostat high or kicking air conditioning altogether this summer, the Wall Street Journal reports. Some two-thirds of families are reducing air-conditioning use, a poll finds, as power plants raise prices as much 30% to keep up with natural-gas hikes. Meanwhile, people are getting creative to keep cool. More»

Huge dam project nixed but many more on the way

(NEWSER) - China has decided to scrap plans for a huge dam at Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yangtze River, the Guardian reports. The dam would have left a popular tourist area underwater and forced 100,000 people from their homes. The decision is a rare victory for Chinese green activists, but they face many other battles against big dam projects in the region. More»