China tailpipe tally: the world's biggest nation "modernizes" with more cars - Currents

E: The Environmental Magazine, Nov-Dec, 2002 by Jane Pek

Since a return to the days of romantically named bicycles like Golden Lion and Racing Deity is not likely, what CSEP hopes to promote, in tandem with other nonprofits and the Chinese government, is an advanced public transit system as an alternative to the automobile. "We are encouraging new approaches that convey public benefits, including dedicated bus rapid transit systems and safer streets for bicycles and pedestrians," Ogden explains. He is aware, however, that China has some way to go to avert environmental ruin. "China needs to clean up fuels, implement stricter tailpipe emissions standards, adopt aggressive fuel economy standards and introduce hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles," he says.

Daunting? Perhaps. Fortunately, Yang points out, the Chinese government is cognizant of the situation. The inclusion of the environmental issue in the latest Five-Year Plans, Beijing's vehicle retrofit program and the national phase-out of lead gasoline appear to bode well. As Esty puts it, "When looking at China, one has to have a degree of short-term pessimism but long-term optimism." CONTACT: China Sustainable Energy Program, (415)561-6700, www.efchina.org; EPA, Office of International Affairs, (202)564-6429, www. epa.gov/oia; International Fund for China's Environment, (202)822-2141.