[enviro-vlc] Low-carbon lifestyle in China: fad or return to tradition?

[Vern Weitzel]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/29/content_10575396.htm

Low-carbon lifestyle in China: fad or return to tradition?
www.chinaview.cn  2008-12-29 14:46:18	 	


     BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Lin Hui always checks the small tag attached 
to clothing when he shops. He wants to see what kind of fabrics have been used.

     "I prefer cotton clothing," explained the Beijing-based website editor. "I 
heard the production of polyester fabrics consumes too much oil and energy, 
which is not green."

     Whether cotton fabric is truly greener, or more environmentally beneficial, 
than polyesters remains a subject of debate. But Lin's attitude is clear - he 
wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide.

     "What I do may be trivial, but if everyone tries to live a low-carbon life, 
the result will be really big," said the 35-year-old.

     Just this year, the low-carbon lifestyle, or Lifestyle of Health and 
Sustainability (LOHAS), suddenly became trendy in China, particularly among 
young urbanites, Lin said.

     He works for ditan360.com, a non-profit, environmental website set up early 
this year. It provides all kinds of information about carbon offset, including 
government policies, tips on how to save energy and stories about celebrities 
"going green".

  CATCHING ON

     Lin isn't the only one trying to improve China's environment by monitoring 
his carbon footprint.

     On the popular social networking website, Douban (www.douban.com), 
established two years ago, more than a dozen environmental discussion groups 
have been set up.

     In one group, called "Low Carbon Living", a carbon calculator is available 
online. People are using it to measure the amount of greenhouse gases they 
produce during certain activities. For example, a family of three consumes 3,000 
kwh of electricity a year. They would need 22 trees to offset 2,355 kg of CO2.

     "We are both the cause and victims of global warming, so it's everyone's 
responsibility to reduce carbon emission," reads a message posted on the group's 
home page.

     Cyberspace information is translating into real life practice. Li Ling uses 
stairs more frequently than the elevator because she believes it keeps her fit 
while saving electricity.

     "Sometimes I do want to use the elevator because I am tired or in a hurry. 
Afterwards, I remind myself about my carbon footprint. Then I may do something 
to offset it, for example, eating less meat, buying local products or taking 
public transportation," says the 24-year-old who lives in Shanghai.

     Businesses are also beginning to pick up on the trend.

     This Sept., Ctrip (www.ctrip.com), an airline ticket website, launched a 
service for clients to offset carbon dioxide released during each domestic plane 
trip they take.

     For example, a single flight from Beijing to Shanghai can produce 222.4 kg 
of carbon dioxide. Three new trees should be planted to neutralize that carbon 
footprint.

     Ctrip clients can exchange 5,000 credits, which are earned by flying15,000 
kilometers, for one tree. It will be planted by volunteers of a Shanghai-based 
environmental group, "Roots and Shoots", in a desert area in north China's Inner 
Mongolia throughout April, 2009.

     The service, the first of this kind in China, has received a positive 
response from passengers, according to Liu Hongbing, Ctrip's client service 
manager. In the past three months, 2,300 people exchanged credits for trees.

     Another business, URBN, a boutique hotel in Shanghai, opened one year ago. 
It is also trying to capitalize on the increasing popularity of "going green." 
It is marketed as China's first carbon-neutral hotel.

     Management says it tracks all energy consumed by the property- including 
staff commutes, food and beverage delivery and the energy used by each guest.

     According to an agreement signed in May 2007, URBN will purchase carbon 
credits from Emissions Zero, an international intermediary which invests in 
local "green" energy development and emission reduction projects, to offset the 
hotel's carbon footprint.

     URBN "hopes to set an example for other businesses and industries" in 
China, the fastest growing emitter of greenhouse gases, said Geneva Holden, 
business development manager.

     She added, market response has been amazing because guests, mostly 
foreigners, like the idea of sustainability. But being environmentally friendly 
doesn't come cheap - staying in the hotel's penthouse room can cost 4,000 yuan 
(584 U.S. dollars) per night, almost a monthly salary for an office worker in 
Shanghai.

     With expensive flights and hotel stays, most people in China can't afford 
the new trend of "going green."

     That's where the government comes in.

  ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

     In order to curb air pollution and road congestion during the Beijing 
Olympics, the Chinese capital enacted a two month ban on nearly half of the 
city's 3.5 million cars.

     The action helped eliminate 120,000 tonnes of pollutants, or about 63 
percent of total vehicular emissions before the ban, according to figures 
published by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform in 
mid-November.

     "The effect was obvious, so many people want the measures to continue," 
said Zhou Wanjun, who also works for ditan360.com.

     In fact, they were extended. Under the new ban, which started Oct. 11, 70 
percent of government vehicles and all corporate and private cars in Beijing 
take turns staying off the road one day during the work week.

     The environmental impact is yet to be totaled, but some residents said they 
see a difference and want to do more.

     "Now I use the subway and a bicycle to get to work. If I purchase an 
apartment in the future, I don't want it to be too large. Affordability is a 
major concern, but if my lifestyle is good for the environment, why not?" said Zhou.

     Other governmental departments are also trying new environmentally friendly 
policies for the first time.

     A three-day seminar, sponsored by the State Forestry Administration (SFA) 
two weeks ago in Beijing, captured newspaper headlines, not only because of what 
participants spoke about but also what they did.

     Besides learning about carbon credits and the forestry industry, people 
decided to neutralize the 82.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide produced during the 
meeting. They donated 20,000 yuan (2,920 U.S. dollars) towards a tree-planting 
project on the outskirts of Beijing, which covers 1.3 hectares.

     Cui Dapeng, an expert on sustainability at the Chinese Academy of Social 
Science, the country's leading think-tank, said these are all good attempts to 
raise public awareness, but more needs to be done to prove whether government 
actions are indeed practical and useful on larger scales.

     "We are just at the starting point of building a low-carbon society. We 
need overall participation, from high-ranking leadership down to the public," 
said Cui.

     The Beijing Olympic Games in August played a major role in popularizing 
low-carbon ideas because many measures were taken to make the global event a 
"green Olympics," he added.


  CHALLENGES AHEAD

     But in what demographic did that environmental message sink in?

     In a country of 1.3 billion people, not everyone does what Zhou, Lin Hui 
and Li Ling do.

     An online survey of 300 people, conducted by ditan360.com in April, showed 
that only 16.5 percent of Chinese know about the concept of carbon offset.

     "Low carbon? What are you talking about?" asks Beijing cab driver Liu Yong. 
"I've heard about global warming. But is it really caused by carbon dioxide? I'm 
not sure."

     To Liu, a low-carbon life seems like just a fad, irrelevant to himself 
because the idea is borrowed from Europe and America. Others argue the concept 
is more like a return to traditions.

     "To live a simple and frugal life has always been considered a virtue in 
our culture. We should have kept it," says Lin Hui. "Nowadays tradition has been 
eroded by consumerism as we earn more money. People want to live in bigger 
houses and drive bigger cars."

     Used to be known as "the Kingdom of bicycles", China now has become the 
most sought after market for global auto companies.

     There used to be an estimated 10 million bicycles in Beijing, nearly one 
for each person, before the city's streets and Hutong lanes became congested 
with cars. Now, about 1,200 new vehicles take to the roads everyday.

     "As a developing country we also have the duty to prevent global warming. 
That's a duty for all on this planet. If all Chinese live like Americans, we may 
need five earths," said Cui.

     This reflects a serious environmental challenge for China. As the most 
populous nation on the planet with world's fastest growing economy, it has 
become the second biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

     "I hope we eventually return back to the essence of the Chinese philosophy 
- harmony between nature and humans," said Lin Hui.

     Cui said, while it is very important for individuals to be environmentally 
savvy, policy makers should play a major role in guiding the trend, from 
production to consumption.

     "We need incentive policies to encourage technical innovation and the use 
of environmentally friendly products."

     Electronic giant Panasonic estimated in 2006 that if energy-saving lights 
were used in all new offices buildings in Beijing, 78.51 million kwh of 
electricity can be saved a year. That equals 58,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

     Jiang Kejun, an energy expert at the National Development and Reform 
Commission, did similar research. It showed annual electricity consumption at a 
three-person household in Beijing can be decreased from 3,000 kwh to 1,500 kwh 
if adequate energy-saving appliances and measures are adopted.

     However, only 38 percent of households and 48.7 percent of offices used 
energy-saving lights, according to a 2007 survey conducted by the China Youth Daily.

     It concluded the biggest challenge in promoting the use of such products, 
is cost. An energy-saving bulb is priced at 20 yuan (2.9U.S. dollars), while an 
ordinary incandescent bulb costs just 2 yuan.

     Experts suggest the government and businesses should find solutions to give 
incentives to consumers. Companies with products that are not "green" should be 
charged fees to compensate for pollution.

     China did enact a rule in June which charges consumers between 20-40 cents 
for one plastic bag.

     Jiang said, that's a start. In the future, he would also like to see all 
products sold in China labeled with information about how much energy was used 
to make them.

     The ongoing financial crisis may slowdown global efforts to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions as governments and businesses may lack funds to support 
new technology development and use, Cui said.

     Which means a low-carbon lifestyle for all Chinese might continue to be 
just a trend within certain groups.

     "Undoubtedly low-carbon development is a correct direction because in the 
long term, climate change will be the top challenge for humanity," Cui added.