environment

China Sees Slight Dip in Growth of CO2, Experts Urge Caution

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Experts believe recent La Niña events have increased oceans’ ability to absorb carbon dioxide, indicating that natural factors may have contributed to the recent slowdown in the rise of carbon dioxide concentrations.

Zhu Junxi

China Keeps Finding Massive Sinkholes Teeming With Strange Wildlife

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

China’s karst landscapes are pockmarked by gigantic sinkholes that act as safe havens for an extraordinary variety of rare and endangered species. But these unique ecosystems are now under threat.

Li Pasha

City Slickers: How Shanghai Is Outfoxing Its Raccoon Dog Problem

In 2019, raccoon dogs were limited to 40 local communities. Now, they’ve expanded to over 300. Recent efforts such as community education and property management are gradually yielding results in addressing the uptick.

Ding Rui

New Dam in NW China Aims to Restore Flow to Parched Heihe River

A sharp decline in the Heihe River’s water levels in recent weeks now threatens regional agriculture and the ecosystem, prompting urgent responses from local governments.

Harsh Winter Drives Tigers Closer to Cities in Northeast China

Experts attribute the rise in tiger sightings in the region to food scarcity and mating season behaviors, leading to the reclusive predators getting closer to human settlements.

Eye on Climate Goals, China Names 15 Cities as New Energy Hubs

Over the next three years, the government aims to add more than 600,000 new energy vehicles across these pilot cities, which include Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chongqing.

Ye Zhanhang

Amid Global Warming, El Niño Threatens Uncertain Winter in China

Weather forecasters expect temperatures will hover near or above average across China, punctuated by bouts of cold air and more rainfall in the south.

How Shanghai Turned a Notorious Dump Site Into an Eco-Haven

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

Laogang Waste Disposal Base processes a third of Shanghai’s waste and generates 1.6 billion kWh of electricity yearly, offsetting half a million tons of coal usage.

Wu Huiyuan 

Small PM2.5 Spike Can Raise Death Risks by 8%: New Chinese Study

Published in The Lancet, the research also indicates that previous studies may have overstated the dangers of PM2.5, especially at lower concentrations.

New Guangzhou Regulations Set to Curb Harmful Wildlife Releases

In a first for China, the new law prohibits the release of foreign wildlife, with certain species like the alligator gar and plecos explicitly listed. But native species can be set free with prior government approval.

China, Mekong Countries One Step Closer to Real-Time Water Data Sharing 

Experts say that real-time data sharing between China and Mekong countries would mark huge progress in tackling climate risks such as downstream droughts and floods.

Rains Revive Poyang Lake, Offering Hope After Record Dry Season

The turnaround is attributed to the heavy autumn rainfall in and around western China, signaling a bright season for migratory birds.

Yang Caini

E-Invites to Bike Rides, Weddings in China Get a Green Makeover

Amid increased awareness among the youth about climate change, carbon-neutral weddings, which promote eco-friendly products, cost money, and recycling, are gaining traction and popularity.

Fan Yiying

Migratory Birds Protection in Spotlight at World Coastal Forum 

Land reclamation, invasive species, and loss of natural habitats pose challenges for migratory birds, including in China, a vital sanctuary for millions of birds during migration season.

China Can Use Big Data to Tackle Climate Health Impacts: Report 

From infectious diseases to mental health issues, China faces a litany of public health challenges as a result of climate change. Part of the solution may be highly specific health interventions using big data to identify vulnerable groups, a new report from the World Economic Forum suggests.

Floods Set 75 Crocodiles Loose in Guangdong, Leaving Locals on Edge

Officials say that 69 adult crocodiles and six juveniles broke free from a breeding farm near Maoming City, and efforts to recapture them are underway.

Cities on High Alert as Historic Rainfall Batters South China

As the region anticipates continued heavy rains, officials emphasize preparedness to combat potential floods and landslides.

The Villages Caught Up in China’s Massive Panda Conservation Drive

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China has created a giant new national park to protect its wild pandas. There’s just one problem: Tens of thousands of people already live there.

Ni Dandan

Chinese Consumer Backlash Beckons as Japan Releases Nuclear Wastewater

The move to release nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean is likely to hit Japanese-related businesses in China hard, from restaurants to cosmetics.

Li Xin

China Falls Back on Coal To Meet Summer Peak Demand

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Experts say grid upgrades and demand-side management are needed to meet loads made greater by AC during extremely hot summer.