| Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Al Gore | | | | is necessary. It requires three major |
| needs to rename his famous $40 million | | | | ingredients. |
| powerpoint presentation to "The | | | | The first, and by far most important, is |
| Inconvenient Truth about China". | | | | a major change in thinking on the part |
| While the media and policy establishment | | | | of the Chinese leadership. Of all |
| are preoccupied with global warming | | | | people, I am a believer in economic |
| issues that may have important | | | | growth but it has to be balanced against |
| consequences in 50 years or may be | | | | damage to the environment. For the most |
| vastly overstated, an environmental | | | | part, Chinese environmental laws and |
| disaster exists in China right now. This | | | | regulations are already on the books, |
| significant challenge, however, is also | | | | they just need to be strictly enforced. |
| a major opportunity for the Chinese | | | | This means giving local and regional |
| leadership and American business. | | | | administrators more independent |
| To get your attention, below is just a | | | | authority, something that the leadership |
| just sampling of facts drawn from | | | | is uncomfortable with given their top |
| various sources including an excellent | | | | down, authoritarian bent. It also |
| article by Elizabeth Economy in Foreign | | | | requires a change in its "economic |
| Affairs. | | | | growth at all costs" attitude. |
| - China is the world leader in air and | | | | Secondly, cleaning up China's |
| water pollution. | | | | environment will require big bucks. No |
| - Sixteen of the most polluted cities in | | | | problem here in light of huge China's |
| the world are in China. | | | | $1.3 trillion in foreign exchange |
| - According to World Wildlife Fund, | | | | reserves. Setting aside $200 billion |
| China is the largest polluter of the | | | | over the next three to five years should |
| Pacific Ocean. | | | | help enormously. |
| - 2/3 of China's largest 660 cities face | | | | Thirdly, this environmental initiative |
| a water shortage right now. | | | | will require technology and expertise. |
| - The EPA estimates that 25% of the | | | | This is where American business, the |
| particulates hovering over LA originate | | | | global leader in environmental |
| in China. | | | | technology, comes into the picture. |
| - In converting coal into energy, | | | | Congressional pressure on China |
| America is six times more efficient than | | | | concerning growing U.S.-China trade |
| China, Japan is seven times more | | | | deficits is enormous and growing. Giving |
| efficient and India is three times more | | | | American firms the lead in helping China |
| efficient. | | | | to address environmental issues will |
| - About 190 million people in China are | | | | help the Chinese leadership to show its |
| sick from contaminated water. | | | | citizens that it is taking concrete |
| - Netherlands' Environmental Agency | | | | action while at the same time sharply |
| states that China is the world's largest | | | | reducing trade tensions and imbalances. |
| contributor of CO2. | | | | The environmental challenge in China is |
| - A World Bank/China Government joint | | | | daunting but procrastinating will make |
| study estimates that about 750,000 | | | | it ever the more unmanageable. American |
| infants a year face premature death due | | | | business is ready to saddle up and help |
| to respiratory disease. | | | | wherever it can. If all this |
| - Chinese experts believe that only | | | | happens, the following ETF baskets of |
| about 10% of China's environmental laws | | | | American businesses could directly |
| are consistently enforced. | | | | benefit if they have the foresight to go |
| Clearly, decisive and immediate action | | | | after opportunities in China. |