Last month in Beijing, United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson met with representatives of the U.S. and China Business Councils for Sustainable Development and with the Chinese government’s ministry of environment protection. The meeting included a tour of a Beijing cement plant, as all present discussed ways to modernize the cement industry in China to decrease pollution and cut costs.
Cement consumed by China (http://cementamericas.com/mag/cement_chinas_cement_demand/) represents 44 percent of the worldwide total cement production, making the country a vital partner in improving the sustainability of the cement industry, an energy-intensive business. Worldwide cement producers like Holcim and Lafarge are working with the business councils in both China and the U.S. to become more energy efficient.
The visit illustrates the Environmental Protection Agency’s continued interest in working with China to foster global environmental cooperation. Administrator Johnson toured the country a year ago and was quoted as saying that he views sustainability collaborations in China as a way “to continue to move both our nations toward a cleaner healthier, more productive future.” He said that the U.S. and China share the challenge of creating the right balance between growing economies and environmental reform. That mission is shared by the U.S. and China business councils.
The meeting between the U.S. and Chinese government’s environmental leaders is only the most recent event in a long line of events codifying the partnership and building the U.S. business council’s credibility in China as it works to help the Chinese business council achieve its goals of environmental reform for China. “US BCSD is a recognized name in China and a real partner of CBCSD,” said Xinhua Dang, a Shanghai-based executive and advisor to the U.S. business council who was present at the meeting.
