Is China Going Green? -- Part V -- You Know It Is

If you are a regular China Law Blog reader, you know by now that I take seriously China's intentions to improve its environment.  And, if you are not a regular reader, well, the title of this post ought to tell you the same thing.  You can find my previous posts on China's environmental efforts here, here, here, here, and here.

As further proof, the Shanghai Daily ran an article today on how a number of China's provinces are now either seeking only environmentally friendly investments or at least greatly favoring those sorts of investments.  According to the article, "China's regions and provinces are seeking to lure investors with green, clean projects in a bid to move away from traditionally polluting industries."  The article goes on to mention how Zhenping County, in northwestern Shaanxi Province, is seeking to avoid polluting industries in favor of food or herb processing and eight of its eleven investment projects this year are in "environmentally friendly industries." The article also cites Guizhou Province's efforts to "build a recycling economy" and, according to a senior official with Guizhou's Development and Reform Commission, "any enterprises wanting to invest there are required to have a 'zero pollution discharge.' "

Bottom Line:  There is money to be made in China by being environmentally friendly and Western companies' greater experience with this gives them an advantage.