Popn density is a big issue. The mass urbanisation forecast for China in the coming decades is a real problem.

The population density of some areas of China is very low. But the popn density of the cities is at least 3x that of European cities and in many cases 10x that of the US. This just concentrates the polution.

@Alex. I agree about the consumption. And consumption per capita is increasing (still not at EU or US levels). But now the proverbial is starting to hit the fan, there is a social and political will to change/invest in new technologies.

In the UK in the late 60s early 70s we had rivers covered in white foam, with not fish, around some of our industrial cities. In the 1940s we smog so bad that many people died. Result - we changed what we were doing. China is also begining to change.

Some European countries are already discussing moving back to nuclear power. Citing the many wasted years of potential R&D in this area. Japan, 3 Mile Island, Sellafield, are exceptioinal cases. The tsunami in Japan is a really exceptional case, and more of a case of where to site nuclear power.

Nuclear power is an insideous threat, that may last into the future for thousands of years. In the mean time we have the very real hazards of burning fossil fuels. Global warming, lung and other diseases, not to mention the 10s of thousands of people killed mining everyyear (and those who die from miners diseases).

The arguements against nuclear energy are very strong. So are the arguements against the continued use of fossil fuels. However, it is easier for a government to change how the industry produces electricity, than it is to control how the populace use it.

my 2c

There have been leaps in some solar technologies. 6 years ago they were using flat panel water heaters on the roof. This is technology that has been around for decades. This was the best available at the time.

Now the tubes with the heat exchangers are common. These are very efficient, our neighbor's often boils and spouts steam. Such is the demand in China that the industry has leapt onto new technologies.

I firmly believe that this will drive technology in other areas too, including energy, and China will be a leader. Why? Because USA and EU have a legacy energy industry. It is not realistic to rip it out and start again. However, China has a lot of new infrastructure to build, including energy production capacity. There is an economic driver for development, not just the political idea to do it.

Yep, BJ definately has a car culture. If you have a car you have to be seen driving it. The subwas systems provide an alternative means of transport for those who do not yet have a car, usually.

Except for the environmentally concerned traveler, bad traffic seems to be the only real reason for people to seek alternative means if they already own a car. But this it true the world over.

This subject came up a month or two ago. Possible answer here, and it is not just at the airport.

www.gokunming.com/[...]

It will happen about the same time as the big one in San Francisco. Also overdue.