Bush's "Go to China" Moment on the Environment?

There's been buzz recently that the Bush Administration might be planning a turnaround on climate change issues which, after years of denial, has been compared to Nixon's trip China after years of communist bashing.

Well maybe Bush should do more than metaphorically "go to China" and actually follow some of China's recent action on the environment. China recently announced the following major steps:

1) China now mandates energy efficiency standards in urban construction and requires construction contractors to use energy efficient building materials and adopt energy saving technology in heating, air conditioning, ventilation and lighting systems in public buildings. Full Story.

2) China expects to cut water consumption 30 percent by 2010, as part of efforts to propel a sustainable development, by increasing the efficiency of agricultural irrigation, and cutting industrial water consumption. Full Story.

3) China plans to invest 1.4 trillion yuan (US$175 billion) in environmental protection between 2006 and 2010 - more than 1.5 percent of the national GDP. Full Story.

Also, even though China has for many years has been seen as a threat to the environment, green business opportunites are now growing. Full Story.

Regarding Bush's conversion, some of stories floating state that Bush plans a goal of stabilizing carbon dioxide levels in the global atmosphere at 450 parts per million by the year 2106. Yes, you read right, in one hundred years (phew, I feel better now). And let us not forget Bush's prior statement on the subject. :-)