China - what is China? What can we expect from a country that is said to build a new coalplant each week? Our first impressions of the country are suprising. We are welcomed by a country that is working on solutions to global warming, and that realises that it has to happen quickly. The solartaxi is fully acknowledged as one of the solutions, and was greatly welcomed.

Over bumpy roads, the Solartaxi has arrived in China. Another part of the world and another adventure to go on. Of course you’ll get all the amazing images through my regular video blogs coming soon. So stay tuned!

But… after my impressions from almost six months travelling with the Solartaxi, I’d say that the tour is so much more than just the spectacular action on the road. This is why I have decided to share our personal thoughts and concerns with you in a new video series from behind the scenes: Unvarnished, uncensored, simply “uncut”. Exclusive on clubofpioneers.com! Watch Louis in our first episode with his first impressions of China!

Its all about covers, uncovering and cover-ups this week!The Guardian published a list of ten green gadgets. Our best is a toy car powered through a mini solar panel that creates enough electricity to create a small light show and turn tap water into hydrogen. Other items include the fabulous sounding solar technology freeloader (a battery charger) and the new bamboo encased laptops from ASUS.
See the whole list.
Straight out of Russia, Wired reports on a wooden mobile phone case. But look again, its not just the case but each part is wrapped in a wooded container, battery and SIM card included. It's made from Russian apple-tree wood.

There is a 2 mile long diesel oil slick off the coast of Vancouver due to an overturned barge, but oil was not the only thing dumped into the ocean - a fuel truck and logging equipment went overboard too, making this a particularly toxic spill. It gets worse - The slick is close to Robson Bight, a protected area where killer whale pods come to rub on the shallow gravel of the beach.
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Hundreds people have stripped of in public once again for photographer Spencer Turnik, except this time its in the name of the planet. Greenpeace had joined forces with the attention seeking Turnik, and persuaded hundreds of exhibitionists to lie on a glacier in Switzerland. The reaction has been, as expected, huge.

Bild: Greenpeace/Wuertenberg China is doing whatever it takes to clear the skies for Olympic time. Not only are there attempts to control the weather by firing missiles at the sky , this week Beijing took 1 million cars off the roads to see if it reduced pollution., Violators caught driving in the city were to be fined $13 and ordered to return home,
The results were negative, and the hopes now are for strong winds. A giant fan perhaps?
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And to end off MR “Al Gore2” Kerry has publicly endorsed the 11th hour, by inviting Leonardo di Caprio to write a letter. Here it is....Our climate crisis demands action, and to get action we need awareness and activism -- so I'm really happy to see great work being done by people like Leonardo DiCaprio to help catalyze the grassroots movement. I'm pleased to give him the chance to tell you about this important new film--John KerryHello ,I'd like to thank John Kerry for giving me this opportunity to tell you about something that's very important to me. I'm writing to tell you about my new environmental film, The 11th Hour. The film documents the environmental crises we face and the solutions we must begin to implement.Please click here to take a look at the trailer.With the help of over fifty of the world's most prominent thinkers and activists, including reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, physicist Stephen Hawking, and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai, The 11th Hour documents the grave problems facing the planet's life systems. Global warming, deforestation, mass species extinction, and depletion of the oceans' habitats are all addressed.However, the most powerful element of The 11th Hour is not a portrait of a planet in crisis, but an offering of hope and solutions. The film ends with a call for restorative action through reshaping human activity.The 11th Hour opened on August 17th in New York and Los Angeles . On the 24th it opens in other cities, and in the following weeks across the country. It would be great if you could go see it and bring a friend.
You can go to our website to get more information on the movie and when it will play near you.We need the message of this movie to hit as far and wide as possible.The hope is us. Let's begin.
Thank you,
Leonardo DiCaprio

On August 3rd the Beijing government announced a new “green performance system,” where the careers of Government and party officials will be determined by their performance in meeting environment protection and energy efficiency targets. In the past, officials were judged mainly on their ability to promote economic growth and there was little incentive to protect the environment or act against polluters.
In addition to the “new green performance system”, a new green credit policy has been developed by the State Environment Protection Authority together with the People's Bank of China. The nation's environmental watchdog has listed 30 polluters, and the list forwarded to leading financial institutions. Blacklisted companies will, in theory, find it harder to get loans.

In the past, environmental policies introduced by the government have been under-funded and under-resourced. Greenpeace spokesperson Kevin May notes that “the worry is about implementation.” Huang Shengchu, head of the China Coal Information Institute, said it was difficult for local officials to cut energy use without greater investment and many would fail environmental targets.
It is speculative as to exactly why Beijing is implementing these new environmental protection policies, but they do represent a positive step as far as awareness and policy are concerned. It remains to be seen whether these will be accompanied with practical outcomes, and whether they will be integrated with other development goals.*******Club of Pioneers contacted Sze Ping Lo, the Campaign Director of Greenpeace China, to find out more about what Greenpeace thinks about China's new green performance laws and the new green credit policy.What does Greenpeace think about these two new initiatives?
Greenpeace thinks that the government is going in the right direction by these two new initiatives. The green performance policy holds local officials accountable for energy conservation and environmental protection. And the green credit policy that stops the money flow to blacklisted companies. But implementation is the key to their success.What would Greenpeace like to see happen in China in terms of environmental protection?
Greenpeace thinks what the central government is doing is impressive, but is far from enough. We expect to see a mentality change for a broader population in China, not limited to SEPA or high level officials from the central government. We would like to hear about concrete environmental protection initiatives echoed from the local levels, we would like to see
public concern of environmental degradation being heard and taken into account; we would also like to contribute to the awakening of the environmental awareness.
Links to the story:The Age
Peoples Daily
Fotos: Anna Benjamin

We met Professor Kiang, the Founding Dean of the College of Environmental Sciences, Beijing University at the World Future Council. The scientist was quite outspoken about the need of his country for solutions in energy supply and climate protection. The future of mobility however in his country lies in electric bikes, Kiang said. There are already 100 million electrical bikes in China. China is eager to tackle climate change, Kiang emphazises. But this issue is far to big to be handled by China alone, he added. Clean coal technologies are not available yet, Kiang said, to lower CO2 emissions drastically. To find the technical solutions it needs global efforts.

Back home Professor Kiang is responsible for bringing to China many of the world's leading experts on sustainable development, both to educate the next generation of leaders and to develop a working case study in the south of China. He is an internationally recognized expert on air quality, Professor Kiang retired from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) as an Institute Professor where he was responsible for its environment science, engineering and policy program, one of the top 5 in the USA. Mr. Kiang is currently working with others to establish a Center of Northeast Asia for Peace, Security and Sustainability initiated by Maurice Strong. He has also been very active in trying to get China and the US to cooperate on tackling climate change.

Tongji University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 20th, 2007. Chinese President Hu Jingtao sent a congratulation letter on the Centenary. And meanwhile other leaders, including Premier Wen Jiabao and top legislator Wu Bangguo, expressed their congratulations as well. Li Tieyin and Gu Xiulian, vice chairmen of the National People's Congress attended the centenary ceremony. State Councilor Chen Zhili, Minister of Education Zhou Ji, and Sectary of CPC Shanghai Committee Xi Jinping delivered their speeches of congratulations. Wan Gang, president of Tongji University, made the presentation: “A Century Tongji Promises to Society”.

After that, Professor Kurt Kutzler, president of TU Berlin expressed congratulations on behalf of presidents from other Chinese and foreign universities. Wu Mengchao, academician of Chinese Academy of Science and Professor Sun Lijun also delivered their speeches on behalf of the alumni and on the behalf of the faculty and students. The celebration ceremony had attracted the attendance of over 10,000 people from all over the world.
Tongji University has developed rapidly in recent years, especially in the research of clean energy automobile. President Wan Gang, nominated as the chief scientist of Fuel Cell Vehicle Research Project in the State “863” Program since his returning from abroad, led the team of College of Automotive Engineering to win remarkable and widely acknowledged achievements in fuel cell development.Since both Tongji and BMW are together concerning about the development of new energy vehicles, making achievements in alternative energy and joining good cooperative relationship, on the occasion of Tongji Centenary Celebration BMW Group provided 33 VIP shuttle cars for the anniversary, including 10 units 7 series, 20 units 5 series and 3 units Hydrogen7, among which the BMW H7 had become a shining star during the celebration. Many famous scientists showed their great interest because of its excellent quality and advanced technology.
During the International Forum of Innovation and Sustainable Development from May 18 to 20, H7 were used as VIP shuttle cars, which perfectly matched with the concept and made contribution to the forum’s social influence. On May 20, the appearance of the 3 BMW H7 in Si Ping campus created a great sensation among the guests. As a matter of fact, BMW H7 has acquired widely acknowledges from the society of its leading technologies during the whole course of the celebration

German economy is booming – above all, business with sun, wind and water is flourishing. What years ago no one would have imagined and would not have been perceived in the general public has now become reality: Environmental technology in the broadest sense is way ahead of traditional branches of German record exporting.

“In 2020 this sector will provide for more employees than that of mechanical engineering or the automobile industry,” states Torsten Henzelmann, consultant with Roland Berger, in the 8 April 2007 issue of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. Henzelmann and his colleagues have written an ecology atlas for Germany on behalf of the German federal government, which will be presented during the EU summit in June. Over 1500 companies active in ecological technology were surveyed. Around one million people are currently employed in these companies. In environmental engineering Germany already occupies the leading global position and is the avant-garde of eco-technology. Banks are investing in technologies of the future; climate protection and alternative sources of energy are top items of the political agenda and have gained magnitude in the awareness of the media. In view of these developments it is no wonder that Germany’s Minister of Environment Sigmar Gabriel has named this eco-boom the “third industrial revolution”. Export hits of the eco-industry, one example: Energy requirements in China grow each year by 20 percent. Coal-fired power plants guarantee that 16 of the 20 cities worldwide with the worst air quality are located in the so-called Middle Kingdom, China. This means that the Chinese government needs to invest in soot filters, drinking water purification, and sewage treatment plants. The necessary know-how for operations engineering, chemical engineering and plant construction is “made in Germany”.