Hearing on China’s Energy Policies and Their Environmental Impacts
Opening Statement of Carolyn Bartholomew, Vice Chairman
August 13, 2008
Washington, DC
Thank you, Chairman Wortzel.
Good morning, and welcome to the U.S.-China Commission hearing on “China’s Energy Policies and Their Environmental Impacts.”
In the months leading up to the Beijing Olympics, the environmental impact of China’s energy use has become the object of intense scrutiny. While Beijing’s smoggy skies may be less of a concern for those of us seated in this room than they are for that city’s residents, China’s impact on our own environmental health is becoming harder and harder to ignore. Recent reports have suggested that China has now passed the United States to become the world’s leading emitter of carbon dioxide, and pollutants from Asia have been detected in the air and water supplies in the Western United States.
Given these challenges, it is essential that we foster greater cooperation between the United States and China on the environmental issues that concern us both. Some of our expert witnesses today will share their views on the state of energy and environmental policy in China. We hope that they can give us guidance on the ways in which the U.S. could favorably impact Chinese environmental and energy policymaking, as these are important issues for the Commission to consider as we shape our annual report to Congress.
I want to express my thanks to the panelists who have taken the time to appear here today, and to the members of the public who are attending the hearing. With that, I’ll turn the microphone over to Commissioner Reinsch, who is one of the co-chairs of today’s hearing.