Britain, China boost links on tackling climate change

http://news.smh.com.au/britain-china-boost-links-on-tackling-climate-change/20080119-1mwa.html

Britain and China are entering a new era of environmental cooperation and will lead the world in creating a sustainable future, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Saturday as he ended a two-day visit.

Brown switched focus from Friday's emphasis on boosting trade ties with the world's fastest-growing economy by inspecting cutting-edge projects in Beijing and Shanghai that aim to radically slash China's greenhouse gas emissions.

Chief among them were efforts to construct the world's first "eco-city" at Dongtan, on Chongming island off Shanghai, which it is hoped will provide virtually carbon-neutral living for up to 10,000 people from 2010.

The project is a joint venture between the Shanghai authorities, HSBC and the British design and engineering firm Arup, which is also involved in the Beijing Olympic stadium project for this year's summer Games.