20080331 Realization of 'three direct links'

clipped from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-03/31/content_6577254.htm Premier Wen Jiabao Sunday called for the early realization of the "three direct links" and resumption of dialogue and negotiation between both sides of the Taiwan Straits. He reiterated his call for the early resumption of negotiations and dialogue on the basis of the 1992 consensus. Anything can be discussed, such as the realization of the "three direct links" - mail, transport and trade flights and - and the enhancement of economic and cultural exchanges as well as key issues such as ending the state of hostilities and reaching a peace agreement between the two sides, he said.

20080313 中電排廢勁升 15年新高

clipped from www.mingpaonews.com 【明報專訊】電廠是溫室氣體的主要排放源之一，中電去年排放的二氧化碳高達1953萬公噸，較06年大升8.6％，創下過去15年新高。至於其他污染物，大部分錄得顯著升幅，中電解釋是由於去年減少燃氣，增加燃煤所致，今年會增加使用超低硫煤，控制排放量。 中電昨日發表可持續發展報告，多種污染物排放量較06年上升，除了二氧化碳，氮氧化物及懸浮粒子分別上升25％及5％，只有二氧化硫微降3％。 中電青山發電廠廠長盧柏昌表示，由於崖城氣田的天然氣供應量有限，中電去年使用的天然氣只佔整體燃料組合的23％，是過去3年新低，換言之燃煤量增加，因此部分排放物較06年上升。他說，若中電建議興建的液化天然氣接收站項目得到批准，消除不明朗因素後，中電就可即時增加天然氣供應，有助減少排放物。 環保署表示，已逐年收緊中電的排放上限，以達至2010年的減排目標。為確保發電廠的排放總量上限能順利落實，政府已於上月向立法會建議修訂《空氣污染管制條例》，立法規定發電廠的排放總量上限，有信心2010年的排放總量上限會如期達標。 天文台長林超英引述環保署資料，指本港二氧化碳排放量，佔全球1000分之二，但香港只佔全球人口的1000分之一，換言之本港人均二氧化碳排放量，較全球人均高出1倍。他認為，少用電，多植樹可減少排放溫室氣體。

20080313 12年後大約沒冬季 天文台警告 暖化惡果早至

clipped from www.mingpaonews.com 天文台長林超英昨日警告，氣候暖化的後果可以非常嚴重，不單破壞生態系統，亦可影響糧食生產及食水供應，按照目前情，即使全球人類即時消失，本世紀末的平均氣溫亦會較上世紀末上升0.4℃。他說，全球暖化不單指氣溫上升，發生極端天氣的風會亦會大增，例如旱澇失調，酷熱或寒冷天氣日子增加等。 最新評估顯示，香港本世紀末的平均溫度，會較上世紀末上升4.8℃，較04年評估的3.5℃增加37％，若以高排放加上持續城市化速度推算，最多會上升6.8℃；每年夏季平均熱夜日子(28℃或以上)，會由15日上升至30日，最多可達54日；每年平均酷熱日子(日間氣溫33℃)，會由7日上升至15日，最多可達19日。冬季方面，沒有冬天的日子最新評估會大幅提前到2030至2039年期間來臨，最快更可於2020年至2029年。換言之，本港12年後可能已沒有冬天。 林超英警告，氣候變化「不是熱些、冷些、是否舒服等問題，而是關係人類存亡。」他指出，科學界有共識，若下世紀末平均溫度的上升幅度平均不多於2℃，生態系統可以自我復元；若超出2℃，就會發生失控的溫室效應，地球上的植物不能有效吸收大量二氧化碳，直接影響人類存亡。 他說，氣候變化好像很「虛無縹緲」，其實與市民息息相關，破壞生態系統會令糧食減產，部分地區氣溫上升，會令一些疾病變得活躍，此外還會引發各種天災，例如旱澇失調，影響食水供應。

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20080213 Desert expansion threatening Mogao Grottoes

clipped from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ezine/2007-10/12/content_6168602.htm Kumtag, China's sixth largest desert, is expanding by 1 to 4 meters eastward annually, posing a threat to the Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟), also known as the Caves of 1,000 Buddhas (千佛洞), in northwestern Gansu (甘肅) Province. Dunhuang (敦煌), of which 90 percent has surrendered to desertification. The Mogao Grottoes, one of China's most popular tourist destinations, were listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO (聯合國教育科學暨文化組織) in 1987. Altogether 735 caves have been found and frescos on the inside walls cover an area of 45,000 square meters. The caves also hold 2,400 colored Buddha statues. Funds have been appropriated by the central and local governments for the reforestation and desert control to guard the ancient heritage site. The effort, though, is weak, compared with the austere ecological degradation. The full-scale scientific research has been seen as an important part of the integrated efforts to curb the desertification.

20080213 Brilliant future seen for nuclear power

clipped from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-02/13/content_6450374.htm As one of the world's fastest growing economies and the second largest consumer of energy, China is looking more to nuclear power to better distribute its energy sources. Currently 11 nuclear reactors in operation, with a total capacity of around 8,000 mW. Authorities plan to increase the country's nuclear power capacity to 40,000 mW by 2020. "China's nuclear power industry has experienced a transition from appropriate development to accelerated development," Shandong will become an important nuclear power base for the country. All of China's existing nuclear power plants are located in coastal areas, such as Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong have all said they are preparing sites to host new nuclear stations. Several inland regions have also taken part in the development of nuclear power. Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing have all said they are planning to build China's first inland nuclear power plant. Nuclear power has become the third most important power source in China.

20080212 WMO: La Nina may be partial cause of S China's freeze-up

clipped from www.chinadaily.com.cn GENEVA -- The current La Nina weather phenomenon may just be a partial cause of South China's freeze-up at the start of 2008, said the United Nations World Meteorological Agency (WMO) Monday. The latest La Nina pattern, which began in the third quarter of 2007, has picked up strength in the past three months, with sea surface temperatures now about 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius colder than average over large parts of the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean, said the latest report issued by the WMO. However, he said China's freeze-up was a result of several causes combined and was partly caused by a cold surge from the north and west. La Nina is a large pool of unusually cold water in the equatorial Pacific that develops every few years and influences global weather. It is the climatic opposite of El Nino, a warming of the Pacific, and both have been associated with extreme weather around the globe. rescuer carries an 80-year-old woman out of Jinlian village in Longnan county