Sanyo Electric has developed refrigeration equipment that uses CO2 as the refrigerant instead of Freon and has supplied it to the Sapporo branch of the Japan Cooperative Association. This is the first time that commercial refrigeration equipment using CO2 refrigerant has been supplied in Japan. Compared to refrigeration equipment using refrigerant instead of Freon, the greenhouse effect, converted into CO2 emissions, is reduced by approximately 60%. The sales target is 22 billion yen by 2012. Sanyo Electric supplied eight refrigeration units and display cases to the "Sekikyo Sapporo Nishinomiya no Sawa Store," operated by the Sapporo branch of the Japan Cooperative Association. This store is a large supermarket built with wood, and the plan is to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% compared to previous stores. The supply price of the refrigeration equipment is "about 1.5 to 2 times" of the original product (Sanyo Electric). At the time of supply, the company received a subsidy from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for the 2010 fiscal year's "Support Business for the Development and Practical Application of Emission Suppression Equipment for Three Gases, Including Hydrofluorocarbons." The refrigeration equipment consists of a refrigerator with a built-in CO2 compressor, an evaporator for evaporating and vaporizing high-pressure CO2 refrigerant, display cases for displaying goods, and piping connecting these components. To use CO2 refrigerant, the refrigerator is equipped with two "CO2 two-stage rotary compressors" that compress the refrigerant in two stages. When using CO2 as a refrigerant, compared to using a refrigerant that replaces Freon, the pressure needs to be increased...

Philips has released its first televisions that do not use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Philips' Econova TV fulfills its environmental commitment by phasing out these harmful substances by the end of the year, far ahead of other television manufacturers. This continuous innovation and leading technology leaves other brands with no excuse to refuse to use PVC and BFRs. Brominated flame retardants, mostly used in circuit boards and plastic casings, are not easily decomposed in the environment upon disposal, and long-term exposure may impair learning and memory functions. PVC is mostly used for insulation in some electronic products and electrical cables. The production or incineration of PVC leads to the release of dioxins. Due to the high persistence of this chemical in the environment, even low concentrations have a significant impact. More PVC-free and BFR-free products are available. Acer has already produced and marketed products free of these substances. Indian companies Wipro, HCL, and HP also have several production lines for notebooks, PCs, and printers, manufacturing compliant products. In contrast, Toshiba, LG, Samsung, Dell, and Lenovo do not have complete PC production lines and do not use these substances. Toshiba misled customers about its products.

The green energy revolution is painful; governments, businesses, families, and individuals must all change. Friedman said that a "revolution" without pain is not a revolution, but a "party." What should be pursued is a green "revolution," not a green "party." In Taiwan, what green revolutions have businesses, individuals, and groups promoted? What have they sacrificed? And what have been the joys and results? Low electricity prices cannot incentivize energy conservation; the green energy revolution must change the status quo. Tu Yue-yuan stated that, for the power industry, emission reduction should start from two aspects: "reducing emission intensity" and "saving electricity." Regarding emission intensity, currently, Taiwanese citizens emit approximately 0.623 kg of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed, higher than in Europe, Japan, and South Korea. High emission intensity will hinder sustainable economic development in the low-carbon era (increased electricity consumption); to effectively reduce emission intensity, the energy structure must be discussed. Whether it's building renewable energy power generation facilities or developing carbon dioxide reduction technologies, substantial investment is required. According to internal estimates by Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), the carbon reduction cost for onshore wind power is approximately NT$2,300 per ton, for offshore wind power it is approximately NT$4,500 per ton, and for solar photovoltaic power it is as high as NT$13,600 per ton. If these high costs are not fully reflected in electricity prices, the power industry will struggle to operate sustainably. Furthermore, low electricity prices will fail to incentivize effective electricity conservation and may even distort market mechanisms, negatively impacting the environment. We must establish a correct understanding: the green energy revolution requires changing the status quo and incurring costs to create a low-carbon lifestyle.

According to the State Council's "Regulations on the Management of Recycling and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products," the National Development and Reform Commission, together with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, formulated the "Catalogue of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products for Disposal (First Batch)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Catalogue") and the "Several Provisions on the Formulation and Adjustment of the Catalogue of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products for Disposal," which were approved by the State Council and came into effect on January 1, 2011. The Catalogue includes five categories of products: televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, room air conditioners, and microcomputers. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology formed the Catalogue Management Committee, which is responsible for adjusting the products listed in the Catalogue in accordance with the relevant principles and procedures of the "Several Provisions on the Formulation and Adjustment of the Catalogue of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products for Disposal." — Source: China Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization Department

At the "High-Level Forum on the Future Path of China's Carbon Market" held this month, Cui Jindu, Standing Committee Member of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor, stated that Tianjin has achieved remarkable results in all aspects of comprehensively promoting integrated supporting reforms and developing a low-carbon economy through energy conservation, emission reduction, and emissions reduction. It has already completed the national assessment of the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" energy conservation and emission reduction targets one year ahead of schedule. In 2010, Tianjin continued to accelerate the development of a low-carbon economy. The Tianjin Municipal Government issued the "Tianjin Climate Change Response Plan," completed a general survey of greenhouse gas emissions, and proposed a target and implementation measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of CDP from fossil fuel combustion by 15.5% over the next five years. Based on completing the national assessment of the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" energy conservation and emission reduction targets one year ahead of schedule, the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" energy conservation and emission reduction targets were established. Tianjin has consistently been at the forefront of the country in the construction of its carbon trading market. Cui Jindu introduced that the Tianjin Municipal Government has promulgated policies and regulations on emissions trading market management, exchange business rules, member management rules, registration and settlement business rules, and exchange supervision. The municipal government organized relevant departments and exchanges to formulate a comprehensive pilot program for trading major pollutant emission rights, promulgate implementation plans for energy efficiency trading in civil buildings and energy performance contracting, and develop energy performance contracting trading and consulting service products. The exchange completed the first batch of sulfur dioxide transactions based on the internet, the first energy efficiency product transaction based on national civil building energy efficiency standards, and the first energy performance contracting project transaction. The Tianjin Emissions Exchange developed an electronic trading network system and a voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction electricity trading platform.

At the United Nations Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, Professor Cheng Tianquan, Chairman of the Council of the "China Voluntary Carbon Emission Reduction Standard," announced the official release of the "China Voluntary Carbon Emission Reduction Standard." This is China's first complete voluntary carbon emission reduction standard system independently developed in accordance with international rules. Carbon emission reductions approved and verified through the "China Voluntary Carbon Emission Reduction Standard" will have international authority and be recognized by domestic and international markets. It is reported that the "China Voluntary Carbon Emission Reduction Standard" system, jointly initiated and developed by the Shanghai Renmin University Scientific Development Research Institute and the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange, includes charters, carbon emission reduction technical standards, carbon trading standards, registration and write-off procedures, mediation and arbitration rules, etc. It is a Chinese voluntary carbon emission reduction standard system that combines the international situation with China's reality, Chinese leadership with learning from international experience, scientific rigor with applicability, and the roles of government and the market. The "China Voluntary Carbon Emission Reduction Standard" is China's first independently developed standard in the field of carbon emission reduction, demonstrating China's full capability to independently develop "scientific and internationally high-level carbon emission reduction standards." Professor Cheng Tianquan stated that the establishment of the "China Voluntary Carbon Emission Reduction Standards" system is conducive to China's transformation of its economic development model and the construction of an ecological civilization; it also helps China gain the initiative in international climate change negotiations and enhance its global standing in the field of climate change response. Furthermore, it represents a positive exploration that can accelerate the transformation of economic development patterns and promote energy conservation.

A report released by the London Assembly on the 29th stated that if the 2012 London Olympics fail to address poor air quality and the issue of renewable electricity, it may be unable to fulfill its promise to be the greenest Olympics ever. The London Olympic Organizing Committee had stated that it would make this Olympics the most sustainable and environmentally friendly in history. The London Assembly's Environment Committee, in its report, praised the authorities' innovative work in reducing the Games' carbon emissions and waste recycling, but also expressed concern about the authorities' greening targets. The report pointed out that the London Olympic authorities abandoned plans to use wind turbines to generate electricity in the Olympic Park and failed to ensure that more electric vehicles would be available to transport officials and athletes. The London Olympics are expected to generate 8,250 tons of waste and 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The report warned that air quality along major transport routes may not meet European Union standards unless relevant emergency measures are taken during the Olympics; it recommended that the government act before that. Furthermore, the report also recommended that the Olympic authorities cooperate with long-distance bus and railway companies to minimize carbon emissions from aircraft. –Source: China National Radio

Environmental NGOs Greenpeace and ChemSec jointly wrote a letter to relevant officials in the European Parliament, urging them to ensure that the RoHS Directive achieves its goal of significantly reducing toxic substances and materials, particularly brominated and chlorinated flame retardants and PVC used in electrical and electronic products. The European Parliament's Environment Committee voted to add these substances to the priority list, establishing a standard approach that includes further restrictions outside the EU. Electronic waste is the world's fastest-growing type of waste, and products containing brominated and chlorinated flame retardants and PVC release particularly harmful brominated and chlorinated dioxins and furans. These substances can cause cancer, damage the nervous and immune systems, cause birth defects, damage the reproductive system, and cause developmental disorders in children. Scientists are calling for public attention to these two types of flame retardants, a clear preventative measure taken by the EU. Environmental organizations and industry have provided sufficient evidence to justify the immediate restriction of the use of chlorinated and brominated flame retardants and PVC materials in electrical and electronic products. Major European television, computer, and mobile phone manufacturers have already stopped using these harmful substances. — Source: WTO Inspection and Quarantine Information Network

Indonesia faces a power shortage crisis, with over one-third of its population suffering from daily power outages. Even five-star hotels need to generate their own electricity to operate. Recently, frequent volcanic eruptions in Indonesia have prompted Indonesians to consider using geothermal energy from volcanoes as a free energy source to create new electricity. A manager at a volcanic power plant explained, "We will utilize the available heat energy to boil the boilers, operating solely on the Earth's own energy." Simply put, if the energy from Indonesia's frequently erupting volcanoes can be properly converted into geothermal power generation, it could not only solve the power shortage problem for 30% of the country's population but also avoid additional environmental pollution. A hotel manager stated, "Normally, a typical hotel spends 20% of its profits on electricity; now we only need to spend 10%, all of which is due to the new energy source." Now, with five-star hotels collaborating with volcanic power plants, the power shortage problem has finally been solved. Building on the success of high-end hotels, the Indonesian government hopes to expand the development and utilization of volcanic power, aiming to reduce Indonesia's carbon emissions by 26% by 2020. Source: Yahoo News, TVBS

To mitigate global warming and control greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union mandates that power plants and industrial equipment emitting carbon dioxide must pay carbon dioxide emission fees. The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is the world's largest carbon emissions trading mechanism, generating €90 billion annually in carbon dioxide emissions trading revenue. The EU stated that carbon dioxide trading will continue until January 26, 2011, and the allocation and transfer provisions of pollution laws will remain in effect. Following the decision of the Paris carbon dioxide exchange BlueNext to terminate trading, the Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Poland, and Austria have already stopped carbon dioxide emissions trading. A report on the European Community Greenhouse Emissions Authorizations (EUAs) indicates that Czech companies are emitting excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, effectively stealing €6.7 million. Member states that reduce production or upgrade equipment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions can sell emission credits to companies exceeding emission limits. These emission credits will be reduced in the future, thus achieving the goal of reducing carbon dioxide production. (Source: Bureau of Foreign Trade)

The recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is once again facing the awkward situation of "all talk and no action." An industry insider told a reporter from *China Enterprise News*, "One shoe dropped two years ago regarding the implementation of the regulations on the management of WEEE recycling, but the other shoe—the standards for recycling fees, subsidies, and payment methods for the first batch of five categories of products subject to mandatory recycling—has yet to be released. This will directly affect the progress of mandatory recycling of WEEE in China." Recently, *China Enterprise News* exclusively learned from the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Working Committee of the China Resources Comprehensive Utilization Association that detailed information on the charging standards and methods for WEEE will be released as early as March this year. Currently, there are still significant uncertainties regarding specific product charging standards and subsidy methods, but it is a certainty that manufacturers will pay fees based on output, while recycling and dismantling companies will need to rely on substantial subsidies to maintain normal operations. The fee schedule is expected to be announced as early as March. Starting January 1st this year, the state officially implemented mandatory recycling for five types of products: color TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and computers. According to relevant regulations and supporting measures previously issued by the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, manufacturers of these five types of products will pay recycling fees, and corresponding recycling and dismantling companies will receive a certain percentage.