Reflections are only that, reflections, nothing more nothing less. Often these reflections are related to books I read, but occasionally also other things. These are often written very late, very fast, using notes from my mobile phone, so the grammar and spelling is horrible.
Just trying to see if it is possible to put a Youtube clip here (and if it is possible to rate an embedded version):
High quality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP8Frk2VidQ&fmt=18
Not so high quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP8Frk2VidQ
The below Op-ed in China Daily was written with the help of the WWF team in China, especially Yu Gao. China is a fast moving country and there are so many things happening there. I look forward to spend some more time there in the near future.
Opportunity in crisis must be capitalized on
By Dennis Pamlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-10 07:46
As President Hu Jintao stated on last Saturday at the NPC, a crisis also means an opportunity. This is very true especially when we talk about the financial and ecological crises together. The financial crisis is generating serious problems today, but these problems dwarf the catastrophe we will face if we do not address the over consumption of natural resources by the rich people on the planet. If everyone were to live like an American in terms of resource consumption, we would need more than five planets.
Scientists agree that a 21st century economy must be extremely resource efficient, still most countries have responded to the current financial crisis by suggesting increased investments in old industries and infrastructure. Even if jobs are created in the short term, unabated investment of this kind will accelerate the destruction of the planet, and generate conflicts between countries as the hunt for scarce natural resources intensifies. China must avoid a solution to one crisis that creates an even bigger problem. Any measure to deal with the financial crisis should be designed to both help people out of poverty, and at the same time help the rich part of the population shift to a resource-efficient lifestyle.
While most countries ignore poverty and only want to increase consumption, China must deal with both and do this in a way that ensures long-term sustainability. This task is difficult, but it also gives China a unique opportunity to become a key provider of truly sustainable solutions, not only for the domestic market but also for the rest of the world.
Construction in China offers one fantastic opportunity. There are cost-efficient solutions available today that would allow China to build resource-efficient buildings that are net producers of energy. Instead of the present situation where buildings use 40 percent of virgin materials and energy along with 16 percent of the annually available fresh water, China could take the lead in developing a new generation of buildings.
Another example of the new kind of infrastructure needed is "digital bridges and roads", often called virtual meeting rooms and tele-working. These are solutions that allow people to meet without having to physically travel. More than 4 million people fly between Beijing and Shanghai every year, and the number of people who commute by car to work is increasing fast. In this situation, China, and the rest of the world, has much to gain from a 21st century infrastructure that could help reduce unnecessary physical transport with cars and planes.
The world needs China as a key exporter of affordable sustainable solutions. The good news is that China is already on the way in many areas, for example by exporting energy-efficient light bulbs. About 80 percent of these energy efficient light bulbs come from China and in Europe alone 23 million tons of CO2 could be saved if more energy-efficient light bulbs were used.
Leading renewable energy companies are already attracted to the city of Baoding and want to help it become the Silicon Valley of renewable energy production. Everyday Baoding is helping the world by exporting wind and solar solutions, but much more could be done. It is also crucial to support innovative companies that so far have not been discussed as important solution providers. China Mobile is one example; a company which is world leading when it comes to resource efficient IT solutions, ranging from smart transportation solutions to e-paper, solutions which in the future should be exported.
WWF has just started a new global initiative which focuses on China as an opportunity for global sustainability. Through this initiative we will work with different stakeholders in China and urge foreign governments and companies to support China's efforts to shift towards resource-efficient development. We want to support both the development of more sustainable domestic solutions, but also an accelerated export of sustainable goods and services from China to the world.
Accelerating the transition towards a resource efficient, low carbon economy could make China and the companies in China rich while saving the planet. Over the next 30 years, more than 200 trillion dollars will be invested in urban areas around the world to provide basic services like transport, communication, light and heat. Already today, low carbon and environmental goods and services sector is worth around $4 trillion, according to a recently released report commissioned by the UK Government.
A strong focus on 21st century smart solutions in China would trigger increased domestic consumption that would not only be in coherence with the goals of a harmonious society and turn China into an innovation centre for the 21st century, but also enable the export of solutions that could help the world move toward a global circular economy.
The author is a WWF Global Policy Adviser.
(China Daily 03/10/2009 page10)
[From China Daily]
上周六，胡锦涛主席在全国人民代表大会上指出，危机也意味着机会。当我们同时谈及金融和生态危机时，这就显得尤为正确。虽然目前经济危机带来了严重问题，但如果不解决富人对自然资源的过度消费，我们将面临灾难性的后果。与之相比，经济危机的影响不免相形见绌。如果地球上每一个人都像美国人一样消耗资源，我们将需要不止五个地球。
虽然科学家们一致同意21世纪的经济必须是资源高效型的，仍有多数国家提出增加在传统工业和设施上的投资以应对当前的金融危机。即使短期内可增加就业，但这类投资如果持续下去将加速对地球的破坏，国家之间也会因对有限自然资源的争夺而产生冲突。中国必须避免这类饮鸠止渴的作法。
应对金融危机，在减少贫困的同时，应采取措施帮助富裕阶层形成资源高效型的生活方式。当多数国家忽略了贫困问题而一味寻求消费增长时，中国必须二者兼，保证长期性的可持续发展。这个任务虽艰难，但也给中国提供了一个独特的机会，成为面向国内和国际市场提供真正可持续解决方案的主要国家。
中国正在进行的建设提供了这样一个绝佳的机会。利用现有的成本最优的解决方案，资源高效型的建筑物可以成为能源的净提供者。而目前的建筑秏用了40％的原材料和能源以及年度可用淡水的16％。中国可以成为开发新一代建筑的领导者。
另外一个新型基础设施的例子，是“数字桥梁和数字公路”，即虚拟会议和电话办公。这些方案使得人们不必长途跋涉就可以进行会谈。仅在北京和上海之间通过飞机来往的人，每年就超过了400万。而开车上班的人数更是迅速增加。在这种情况下，通过减少不必要的汽车和飞机出行，中国以及其他国家可以从21世纪的高效基础设施中获益良多。
世界需要中国成为可负担得起的可持续解决方案的主要出口国。可喜的是中国已经在很多方面开始行动了，例如出口价廉的节能灯泡。大约80％的节能灯泡产自中国，而更多地采用这类节能灯泡，仅在欧洲每年就可减少排放2300万吨二氧化碳。
领先的可再生能源公司已经汇集于保定市，帮助这座城市成为可再生能源生产的“硅谷”。保定市每天都在出口风能和太阳能设备，但还可以做的更多。
我们很少谈及创新型的公司是重要的解决方案提供者，而对他们的扶持也很重要。中国移动是一个例子，该公司提供包括智能交通管理到无纸业务等在内的资源高效型的IT解决方案，并成为了世界范围的领导者，而这些解决方案将来也可出口。
世界自然基金会近日启动了一项名为“China for a Global Shift” 的全球行动计划，将中国视为全球可持续发展的重要机会。通过这个行动计划，我们将与中国不同的利益攸关者合作，敦促外国政府和公司支持中国的发展模式向资源高效型转变。我们不仅支持可持续的面向中国国内的解决方案，而且旨在加速这类可持续产品和服务的出口。
加速向资源高效、低碳型的经济转变，可以使中国以及在中国的公司获利，也可以拯救地球。在下一个30年中，全球将有超过200万亿美元的投资将用于城市建设，提供诸如交通、通信、照明和热力等基础服务。根据英国政府委托进行的一项最新研究报告显示，目前低碳以及环境友好型的产品和服务市场规模已达4万亿美元。
中国对于21世纪明智的解决方案的重视，将激发不断增加的国内消费，这不仅与建设和谐社会的目标一致并推动中国成为21世纪的创新中心，并且可促进出口以帮助形成全球性的循环经济。
Interesting article in New Scientist...
This graph is a very rough overview of what the companies in the Green IT exhibition was communicating. It was just me walking around talking with people and looking, so it is not a scientific assessment. But it is clear that the IT sector is moving towards a 98% perspective… (see xls attachment for short comments)
The panel at the German-Californian ICT Business Summit in CeBIT was also very encouraging. The perspective that we need a 21st century infrastructure and insight about existing innovations from Brian McGowan, California's Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Commerce, was refreshing. I think there will be synergies to my work there. Not the least as Arnold right before we started the panel both mentioned IT and Biotech as key sectors that drive innovation and delivers smart solutions…
More of these sessions would be nice to see. Fabian Bahr, Head of International Affairs and Mario Tobias Head of Technologies & Services from BITKOM, are really helping the IT Sector becoming a winner in the low carbon economy. Thanks!
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