China: a greener shade of red

The latest comments from Chinese prime minister, Wen Jiabao are encouraging evidence of a growing environmental awareness in the world's most populous nation, which also has the fastest growing economy. Without Chinese efforts to go green, there is little hope that individual sacrifices in the developed West are worthwhile.

China will soon overtake the United States as emitting the most greenhouse gases. It is therefore vitally important that the words of the Chinese premier are converted into action. Although the speeches are positive, China's breakneck development has come at a terrible environmental cost. The bicycle is being rapidly replaced by the private motor car, and new airports are opening at the rate of one a week. Beijing is one of the the most polluted cities on earth and other parts of China are affected by encroaching deserts and melting glaciers that provide the drinking water for China's vast population.

We desperately need the Chinese on board as the world faces the global emergency of climate change. We can only hope that the Chinese take up the environmental message as enthusiastically as they are pursuing economic growth.