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Earthquake experts have found that the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan Province in May added substantial stress to three other major fault systems, doubling the quake risk on those shifting seams in the earth. The scientists, writing in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, say that the region faces a 57 to 71 percent chance of a temblor of magnitude 6 or greater within a decade and about a one in four chance of a quake greater than 7.0 in 30 years. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With its towering furnaces and clanging conveyer belts carrying crushed rock, Taiheiyo Cement's factory looks like an Industrial Revolution relic. But it is actually a model of modern energy efficiency, harnessing its waste heat to generate much of its own electricity. Engineers from China and elsewhere in Asia come to study its design, which has allowed the company to slash the amount of power it buys from the grid. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The enormous loss of life in collapsed schools around China's quake-stricken Sichuan Province could have been significantly reduced using known methods for designing or retrofitting structures in earthquake zones, several experts on global hazards said Tuesday. But China is just one of many countries with known earthquake vulnerability that has been slow to transform schools -- a keystone of any community -- from potential death traps into havens, these experts and some community campaigners for school safety said. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the increasing level of carbon dioxide concentrations by industrialized and industrializing countries, leading to global warming. It is stated that even as talks on climatic changes continue, the concentration of carbon dioxide due to increased use of fossil fuels, is rising. China is stated to follow suit of the U.S. on the way of fossil-fueled prosperity. Scientists say that the emissions from developing countries like China and India may swamp other natural resources.

The article reports that United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has asked the U.S. and China to play a more constructive role in protecting global environment. Releasing the report on climatic changes prepared by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), he said that the meeting of world's energy ministers to be held in Bali, Indonesia, should agree on a comprehensive climate change policy. The meeting will discuss to replace Kyoto Protocol.

The article presents the author's views on a strategy related to climate change released by China on June 4, 2007. The strategy, according to the author, promises to improve energy efficiency, but refuses to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The author further comments that the strategy rebuffed the efforts made by U.S. President George W. Bush and European countries to draw developing countries, including China, into a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The article focuses on the extinction of the baiji, the first Cetacean to be erased from Earth in modern times. An expedition in search of any baiji, conducted by Chinese biologists, ended empty handed after six weeks of patrolling the waters of the Yangtze River in China, its only known habitat. The baiji or the white-flag dolphin frequented the Yangtze's sandy shallows for some 20 million years.

The article reports that according to a new United Nations report, widespread tree planting in China has slowed the rate at which the earth's forested area is decreasing, but the clearing of tropical forests continues to grow.

Focuses on the central role of the United States and China in the international debate over how to deal with global warming. United States' dominance in the production of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases associated with rising temperatures; Emissions restrictions called for in the pending climate treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol; U.S. President George W. Bush's rejection of the Kyoto pact.

Reports on the human threat against the Wolong Nature Reserve, China's largest and most heralded sanctuary for endangered giant pandas.

China and the United States were at an impasse on Monday at the United Nationsclimate change conference here over how compliance with any treaty could be monitored and verified. China, which last month for the first time publicly announced a target for reducing the rate of growth of its greenhouse gas emissions, is refusing to accept any kind of international monitoring of its emissions levels, according to negotiators and observers here. The United States is insisting that without stringent verification of China's actions, it cannot support any deal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This story was reported by Jim Yardley, Jake Hooker and Andrew C. Revkin, and was written by Mr. Yardley. DUJIANGYAN, China -- The earthquake's destruction of Xinjian Primary School was swift and complete. Hundreds of children were crushed as the floors collapsed in a deluge of falling bricks and concrete. Days later, as curiosity seekers came with video cameras and as parents came to grieve, the four-story school was no more than rubble. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents several news briefs worldwide as of November 7, 2002, such as the closing of the Yangtze River in China.

Impatience was clearly rising Tuesday at global climate negotiations here as delegates struggled without success to surmount disputes over issues like emissions targets and financial aid for developing countries. With less than four days left in the two-week conference, a new draft negotiating text circulating among delegates reflected the wide gulf over those issues and others like monitoring emissions of heat-trapping gases. The United States and China remained at a tense impasse over China's refusal to accept international monitoring on its turf. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In a day of fresh tragedy and continuing fear, the nation observed an official period of silence on Monday to mourn the tens of thousands of earthquake victims. At 2:28 p.m., exactly a week after the quake, traffic halted around the country, and millions of Chinese stood for three minutes with bowed heads and teary eyes. Rescue workers also stopped to honor the dead, a pause in a difficult but enormous relief effort as the hopes of finding new survivors faded. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]