Beijing air pollution monitoring

Measuring air in odd corners is a data-collection, analysis and sharing project to raise the public awareness of the complexity of air pollution distribution and encourage people to take relative measures through the monitoring on the indoor and outdoor air quality (focusing on the concentration of PM _2.5) with a low-cost device (AirBeam). Since August to September in 2015, we monitored the indoor air quality (PM_2.5) in public place including Beijing Subway, hospitals, malls and so on, and the results showed that regardless of the air quality outdoors, the levels of PM_2.5 within many subway lines were worrying. We suggest that people wear facemasks when staying in the subway whether it is a hazy weather or not.  

Chinese Air-related NGO interview and capacity building

REEI conducted related researches on the air pollution issues in 2015. By interviewing domestic major NGOs focusing on the air pollution, we understood the methods of non-governmental organizations to deal with the problem of air pollution and analyzed the major opportunities and challenges. We also organized the NGOs’ capacity- building workshops on air pollution issues, shared the results of domestic researches and international experiences, and invited experts to share the advance in the research of air pollution and public health.  

Analysis on the China’s energy transformation and Roundtable

It is of vital importance to evaluate the costs and benefits during the process of systemic transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We should not only consider the cost and benefits in the aspect of economic development, but also focus on the important issues like social justice, public health and environmental quality. What REEI understands is that energy transformation is integrated that we must thoroughly evaluate the rationality and effectiveness of transition path from several factors, such as economy, society, environment, health and so on. With the mainline of research, REEI expects to work out an energy system transformation roadmap for China defined by climate change, social issues, and environmental health. And with the communication and roundtable forum between China and foreign countries to promote the multiple participating exchanges and discussions on environmental policy.  

Global Green and Health Hospitals

Global Green and Health Hospitals (GGHH) is an initiative under Health Care Without Harm. As a global nonprofit network, its members include the hospitals, health systems and health facilities from all over the world. Since 2014, REEI has cooperated with HCWH and carried out the GGHH project in China. Through the cooperation with domestic health sectors, to reduce the environmental impact of health sectors and promote the environmental and public health policies.  

‘Series Analysis on Air Pollutants Information Disclosure’ (a research for Friends of Nature, 2014)

Based on the air pollutants information from provincial environmental department and national key monitoring enterprises, we’ve conducted a series of analysis on the publicly available information and data, compiling into several analysis paper focusing on the following subjects: information disclosure platform, emission standards and cap control, environmental information regulation and relevant international experiences.  

‘Analysis on Coal-to-Gas in Jing-Jin-Ji Region’ (a research for Nature University, 2013-2014)

By linking regional air quality to coal consumption, this series of analysis discussed the possibility of switching from coal to natural gas for the Jing-Jin-Ji Region, and the natural gas infrastructure construction and market supply in Beijing, concluding that ‘Coal-to-Gas’ is one of the key measures in contributing to a better air quality in the coming 5 years for Beijing and the region.  

‘Environmental, Health and Social Impact of MSW Incineration Plants’ (a research under the grant from the Social Sciences Research Council’s China Program, ‘Forum on Health, Environment and Development’, completed in 2013)

With field research and desktop study, the project is to investigate the existing and potential environmental and health impacts from an incinerator in Chengdu City of Sichuan Province on the local environment and public health.  

‘Reflecting on the Justification of Feed-in-tariff Renewable Power Policy for Waste-to-energy Incinerators’ (a research report for GAIA, completed in 2013)

The research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis to question the use of subsidy policy(feed-in-tariff to renewable power) in waste-to-energy incinerators. The finding is that the policy can not be justified based on the current policy and industrial practices. The report suggests to cut off the distorted subsidy.  

‘The Role of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Reducing the Dominance of Coal Power and Hydropower in the Energy Mix: the Case of China South Grid Power’ (a research with International Rivers, completed in 2012)

The report projects the electricity demand of five southern China provinces between 2015 and 2020, which China South Grid Company (CSGC) powers. The developmental potential of the energy efficiency and non-hydropower renewable power, including wind, solar PV and biomass, is examined. The major finding is that the non-hydro renewable development targets set by CSGC are too conservative to meet the national directive. With large potential in non-hydro renewable energy and energy efficiency, and beneficial national policy in renewable energy and energy efficiency, CSG is capable of harnessing more non-hydro renewable energy and credits from energy efficiency. This may significantly contribute to decreasing dependence of grid network on coal power and hydropower.

‘Scenario Analysis of Carbon Emissions from Coal Industry in Five Chinese Northwest Provinces between 2011 – 2020’ (a research report for Greenpeace East Asia, completed in 2012)

By examining the carbon emission trajectories of these five provinces under existing policy framework, this report is to discuss whether the five are able to fulfill the energy intensity targets and the carbon intensity targets designated by the central government by 2015 and 2020. The major finding is that four out of five provinces would fail to meet the energy/carbon intensity targets without developing more active efforts of reducing the coal use in the decade to come.