China

Speculation Leaves 50 Million Homes Empty in China
Experts say China has the highest vacancy rate on residential units of any country in the world. The roots of the problem lay in housing speculation, according to China's leaders.

Global Coal Consumption Grows After Three Years of Decline
The rise is attributed to Asian nations, particularly India and China, where coal-power plants are newer than in the West. It shows a growing disconnect between energy and climate goals, warned the International Energy Agency.

As Temperatures Increase, Maps Show Sea-Level Rise Will Devastate Cities
Data visualizations illustrate the catastrophic consequences of single-digit global temperature increases.

The Most Carbon-Intensive Component of Electric Vehicles Deserves Attention
It's well known that an electric vehicle is only as clean, from a greenhouse gas perspective, as the electricity it consumes to power it. A new study finds that the electricity used in the manufacturing of car batteries also must be considered.

World's Longest Sea-Crossing Bridge Opened Today in China
A $20 billion, 55-kilometer bridge connecting Mainland China to Macau and Hong Kong opened Wednesday morning.

Federal Policy Would Keep Chinese Railcars Out of the U.S.
Proposed restrictions on federal spending for transit railcars center on concerns about market competition and national security.

Petrochemical Industry to Drive Major Growth in Oil Demand
A new report from the International Energy Association projects that petrochemicals will be the largest driver of oil consumption, greatly increasing greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting the effect of electric vehicles on oil demand.

Phasing Out the Internal Combustion Engine No Easy Task
A report from the Global Climate Action Summit on a looming deadline set by the Paris climate agreement: ending sales of new gas and diesel-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035.

China Population: From Explosion to Implosion
China's one-child policy, which compelled couples to seek abortions or undergo sterilization procedures, ended in October 2015. Yet the country's birth rate hasn't increased, and Communist Party officials are concerned about economic growth.

Growing Numbers of Hong Kong Residents Sleep in McDonald's
A diverse collection of people sleep in McDonald's restaurants in Hong Kong, either because they live too far from their work or because they are more comfortable in the air-conditioned restaurants than at home.
Senate Bans Procurements of Chinese Transit Vehicles
The temporary ban applies to bus and rail projects seeking funding from a number of FTA programs.

Trump Rebuffed by Federal Energy Commissioners on Coal and Nuclear Power Bailout
Last month the Trump administration directed Energy Secretary Rick Perry to require grid operators to purchase power from aging coal and nuclear power plants, enabling them to keep operating as a matter of "national security." Regulators disagree.

China Will Drive Electric Vehicle Market
Two new reports on the outlook of electric vehicles paint a bright future for the new technology. No country is more critical than China, where policies will force global auto companies to invest in clean technology if they want to have a future.

Second-Tallest Building in the World Under Construction in Shenzhen
The Shimao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Centre will be more than half a kilometer high when it's complete.

U.S. Recycling Markets in Free Fall After China Pulls Import Plug
China has stopped purchasing the recyclables that millions of Americans place curbside on recycling days, upending the industry. Recyclables are already directed toward landfills as domestic markets are sought. Berkeley, Calif. may go a novel route.

Time for a Tesla Turnaround?
The Tesla Model 3 is now America's best-selling electric vehicle. The news follows a spate of bad news for the Silicon Valley-based electric vehicle manufacturer.

Newly Installed Bollards Shooting Water at Jaywalkers in China
Lasers, water vapor, shouting bollards, and facial recognition have all been deployed in the city of Daye in China to control traffic and pedestrians.

Population Limits Push Residents Out of Beijing and Shanghai
In top-tier Chinese cities like Shanghai and Beijing, new population caps have spurred the relocation of residents, many of them low-income, to smaller cities and the outskirts.

Friday Eye Candy: Dockless Bikes, as Far as the Eye Can See
You might have read about the oceans of impounded dockless bikes, piling up around cities in China, but you've never seen them like this.

Energy Demand and Carbon Emissions Increased in 2017, Just Not Everywhere
The International Energy Agency found that China and India were responsible for 40 percent of the increased energy demand. The biggest decrease in carbon dioxide emissions came from the U.S., largely due to increased use of renewables.
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