Having just eclipsed the USA as the planet’s biggest emitter of CO2, China has revealed its latest weapon in the battle against climate change: the reintroduction of the sweatshop.
The nation’s cabinet has insisted that air conditioning units in places of work are not to be run at temperatures lower than 26C and workers are to dress in light casual clothing reported The Telegraph today.
In an attempt to lead by example, President Hu Jintao was this week pictured at a conference wearing an open-necked shirt rather than a jacket and tie.
The campaign to cut energy use was prompted by difficulties in meeting the increasing demand for electricity across Chinese cities.
In Beijing yesterday temperatures reached a sweltering 37C, which in turn saw air conditioning use push electricity consumption to 11.22 million kilowatts by late afternoon - the highest level in history according to the government’s official Xinhua news agency.
China’s rapid economic growth and subsequent demand for energy has seen a huge surge in the construction of coal-fired power stations – believed to be up to two new facilities every week.
Figures released this month revealed that last year China, the nation with the world’s largest population, produced 5.6 billion tonnes of CO2 compared with 5.2 billion tonnes from the USA. By comparison, the UK currently churns out around 550 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
