This week China upped its green efforts by adding itself to the list of more than 100 nations giving qualified approval to the Copenhagen climate accord which calls for voluntary limits on the greenhouse gas emissions. China also approved a three year plan to make a "green" Beijing. The Green Beijing Action plan will establish nine projects to integrate efficient energy use, green technology, and environmentally-friendly urban management.
Even as efforts to conserve energy and water continue in China, the country remains under a severe drought. More than 6 million people in southwest China’s Yunnan Province were struggling with water shortages as the drought that started last fall, continued to worsen. Yunnan is experiencing the worst drought in six decades. So far the estimated direct economic losses were more than 10 billion yuan (about $1.46 billion). The number of people affected is expected to hit 10 million by May 2010.
In business, China continued to consolidate its position in the exports sector, with its exports rising by a total of 46 percent in February as compared with a year earlier. These figures surpassed analysts` predictions. This has resulted in more export-focused nations calling for China to increase the value of their currency, the renmenbi. Competing exporters say that China`s artificially low renmenbi gives it an unfair advantage at a time when the rest of the world is still seeking to recover from the financial crisis..
China Daily recently conducted a poll among its readers, on whether the government should lose its one-child policy. An overwhelming 71% participants agreed, citing the increasing aging population, gender imbalances, and a declining workforce. However, the other 29% disagreed saying a rise in population would lead to a shortage of natural resources and increase pollution. The topic still remains much-debated and is a priority on the Chinese government`s agenda. Read more about China`s economy, politics and other current events in the Daily Updates section of our website.
In China, where tradition reigns, homosexuality is no longer taboo. In our most recent article "Homosexuality in China," we examine the views of Chinese citizens on same-sex relationships. Find out about this and other news at our website.
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