China Unveils Climate Change Strategy

China uses a lot of energy and its economy has been growing very quickly, which means that their carbon output has also been increasing. China has already taken some steps towards greening their economy and now they will continue that trend. China’s climate change strategy looks like a good step.

The country stressed that economic development comes first with a focus on sustainability. They also maintained their stance that developed nations need to take more action on climate change because most of it is their fault. I totally agree with China on this last point.

But it also stressed that the country’s first priority remained “sustainable development and poverty eradication”.

“China is a developing country. Although we do not have the obligation to cut emissions, it does not mean we do not want to shoulder our share of responsibilities,” Ma Kai, chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, said.

Edit: And if the government wants to try anything funny, the Chinese will create flash protests with their mobiles.

Noah’s Ark Version 2.0

On Mount Ararat, Greenpeace volunteers are working feverishly to make Noah’s Ark to raise awareness about global warming. This is a neat and creative idea. The message about climate change is targeted at politicians.

Volunteers are racing to complete the wooden vessel under bright sunshine by end-May, to coincide with a summit of leading countries next month in Germany where climate change will be high on the agenda.

HUGE Solar Roof

PGIGrup is about to make Europe’s largest solar roof. The building is going to be built in Madrid and generate 3 megawatts of electricity.

At over a kilometer in length, the rooftop will have an area of over 57,000 square meters, of which 21,000 will be occupied by solar panels. The power installed will be of approximately 3 MW peak, which will generate over 3.6 GWh per year.

It is predicted that this design will enable it to save 15% on climate conditioning in winter, and 34% in summer, as well as saving on lighting. The facade of the office blocks is a double skin, where the external glass is hung out from staggered glass fins.

Tesla Motors Humming Along

Tesla makes electric cars that go fast, real fast. Auto Blog Green is wondering if we’ll soon see “gas stations” for electric cars in California.

The company won a grant to develop recharge stations to power the electric vehicles in an effort to encourage people switching from infernal-compustion engines to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

When CARB solicited proposals this year, they said that, “Electric fuel vehicles have the largest potential to reduce climate change emissions and petroleum dependency relative to any other alternative fuel vehicle under consideration.” The awards list shows more money being sent to biofuels ($12 million for ethanol and biodiesel) than EVs and PHEVs ($5 million), though.

Previously on Things Are Good.