(Map from MyBeijingChina)

How China (and India) go over the next century will largely signal how the world goes as far as climate change, sustainable development and global economy. With billions of people wanting what many in the West take for granted, the breaking points will be stressed all the more. To me, this is why it is of prime importance to help China and India grow sustainably while not taxing world resources in the extreme. I think one of the best ways to go this would be for green technology innovators to locate their operations in either China or India since they'd have access to highly trained engineers who come cheaper than in the West and who probably have more at stake, these being their home countries. It's a daunting task to help China and India grow without overburdening the planet. Of course, it would help some if the West cut emissions at the same time it helps the developing world cut emissions before they reach levels higher than the West.

On those wandering notes, here are some sustainability stories out of China ...

*From Mark Diesendorf at the Sustainability Center in Australia:

China's future pathway could determine the success or failure of global sustainable development. If,in the future, China seeks a 'standard of living' (i.e. a level of wastage and environmental destruction)equivalent to that of the average Australian in 2002, then it is unlikely that human society has much ofa future on Planet Earth. If, through excess demand for water, China becomes an importer of staplefoods, then world food prices will increase and so will hunger in many poor countries.

*Chinese government to subsidize 22 million reservoir immigrants.

*Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits unsustainable oil fields.

*Dell may face lawsuit in China over alleged false advertising.

*For other resources, see the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development, the UN's sustainable development page for China, and a World Resources Institute powerpoint presentation.