• Air

Beijing Breathes Easier

• air pollution
• China

By Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer Beijing’s reputation for smog may be lifting. In 2013, the city’s pollution was so bad that people called it an “air-pocalypse.” Readings for PM2.5, a tiny pollution particle that can adversely impact human health, hit 900 micrograms per square meter, 90 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended […]

• Weather

Flooding in Central China Kills 33, Damages Cultural Heritage Sites

• China
• Flooding
• rain

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer After over a week of sudden natural disasters across the globe, at least 33 people have now died in catastrophic floods in central China. The Henan province is currently facing millions of dollars of damage, and 200,000 evacuees are looking for an end to the nightmare. As the army mobilizes to prevent further flooding, […]

• Climate Change

G7 Environment Ministers Issue Bold and Broad Declaration Ahead of Leaders Meeting

• #30x30
• biodiversity
• China
• climate change
• COP
• G20
• G7
• Glasgow
• Kerry
• nature
• pandemics

On Friday, the G7 Environment Ministers issued a long and detailed statement that was loaded with promises and high ambition.  The most headline-grabbing of the pledges was around the decision to end direct financial support for new coal-fired plants in developing countries going forward.

Why This Matters:  Parts of the communique seemed directed toward the Chinese (not a G7 member).  Special Envoy Kerry immediately called on the G20 countries to agree to the same pledges.

• Energy

Nearly 30% of Global Emissions Come From China

• China
• coal
• greenhouse gas emissions

by Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer China’s greenhouse gas emissions have soared higher than all developed nations combined, according to a new report by Rhodium Group.  In 2019, China was responsible for more than 27% of total global emissions.  According to Rhodium’s analysis, China’s emissions have more than tripled over the past 30 years, in […]

• Cosmos

Chinese Rocket Debris Hits Ocean Near Maldives

• China
• rockets
• space

by Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer Debris from an out-of-control rocket from China hit the Indian Ocean near the Maldives on Saturday, causing NASA to criticize China for not meeting “responsible standards.” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement: “Spacefaring nations must minimize the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of […]

• Climate Change

White House Economic Advisors Warn China Could Outdo the U.S. on Clean Energy

• American Jobs Plan
• carbon emissions
• China
• clean energy
• Council of Economic Advisors
• jobs
• renewable energy

The Biden administration published a report on Friday that argued that failing to make headway on adopting clean energy technologies and lowering carbon emissions will dramatically affect the nation’s economy — potentially putting us behind other global superpowers, particularly China. 

Why this Matters:  President Biden’s Council of Economic Advisors, who provided the report, emphasized that economic development and addressing climate change are not mutually exclusive — an argument so often deployed by opponents.