Cars choking Mongolia

Mongolia’s car-free day urges cycling instead - NZweek: "ULAN BATOR, March 31 — The Mongolian capital held a “Car-Free Day” Sunday, calling on people to travel by bike in a bid to cut the city’s severe winter air pollution.

Traffic congestion and environmental problems caused by vehicle emissions have become a thorny problem for the government. Sunday’s campaign, co-sponsored by Ulan Bator city hall and the Bicycle Federation, included bicycle touring, cycling performances, parade square running, children’s painting, health consultation and other activities."

'via Blog this'

China to build walkable city

China’s Tianfu Ecological City will celebrate pedestrians | Toronto Star: "In Tianfu Ecological City, feet will rule — along with the people who use them.
“It should be easier to be a pedestrian than a motorist,” says Kindel. “That’s the reverse of the thinking in Toronto or Chicago. The needs of the pedestrian have been neglected over the past 30 years in North America.”"

'via Blog this'

China: Do-it-yourself #freetransit

Car sharers call for support - CHINA - BEIJING - Globaltimes.cn: "Shunfengche non-profit foundation, an NGO providing free rides to those in need, announced Tuesday at an event at the China Millennium Monument that they have designed a sticker for drivers who participate in the scheme to affix to their cars, to differentiate them from illegal taxis. Liu Kunming, director of Shunfengche, said they have asked municipal traffic authorities to recognize their drivers are providing a public service, and allow them to use the bus lanes, be excluded from license plate restrictions and can have toll-free highway access.

Previously, the organization has mostly helped offer rides to people who need to go home during Chinese holidays, although some have already been offering rides in the capital.

"We are a free voluntary organization. All our drivers are from different social backgrounds," he said.
"

'via Blog this'

Want to solve #climatechange? #freetransit, not electric cars is the answer.

Norway shows the way with electric cars, but at what cost? | Reuters: "In fact, in places like China, the requirements for electric cars just add to environmental problems.

Many Chinese power plants use coal with few filters, spewing out particulate matter - chemicals, acids and metals - that causes more pollution per km for electric cars than gasoline-powered cars, said Chris Cherry, an electric vehicle analyst at the University of Tennessee.

"In China, electric vehicles may worsen health effects compared to normal cars," said Cherry, who was lead author of a study published in February in the journal Environmental Science and Technology."

'via Blog this'

Urbanization lowers birthrate, a terrifying prospect for captitalism

China Hits Key Demographic Ceiling As Working-Age Population Now Declining | Zero Hedge: "The impact will be more pronounced between 2015 and 2020, as the labor force is expected to see outright contraction. This wrenching demographic trend will also have a particularly negative implication for China’s capital stock growth, which accounted for 40-50% of the double-digit growth in the 1990s and 2000s"

Oil demand in 2012 expected up 1% mainly due to China - IEA. Let's not.

International Energy Agency - Oil Market Report: "The world is forecast to consume 90.8 mb/d of oil in 2013, 240 kb/d more than in last month’s report and 930 kb/d (1.0%) up on 2012. A raised 4Q12 demand estimate and heightened expectations for China are the main contributors to the hike."

'via Blog this'

China pollution anger spills into state media (Update)

China pollution anger spills into state media (Update): "The choice between development and environmental protection should be made by genuinely democratic methods," the Global Times said. "Environmental problems shouldn't be mixed together with political problems."

Ironically, the smog from coal-burning actually mitigates global warming, at the same time climate disruption aggravates the coal smog. Either way, degrowth is the answer.