China's Environment: What do we know, and how do we know it?

The conference will focus on the scientific as well as social, political, economic, and cultural problems that have to do with China's environment.

DATE: Friday, December 7, 2007
            Saturday, December 8, 2007
TIME: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
           9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

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China's Environment:
What do we know, and how do we know it?
A Conference Organized by The Berkeley China Initiative
University of California, Berkeley
December 7-8, 2007
Funded by the Luce Foundation

China’ environment has become a subject of great domestic and international interest and importance. Pollution of the air, water and soil; climate change; deforestation; desertification; water shortage; animal and plant species extinction; public health concerns – the list of topics is extensive and growing. The Chinese leadership has given high priority and publicity to environmental cleanup and sustainable development. The international community – government agencies, scientists, universities, think tanks, businesses, non-governmental organizations, media – on their own and in collaboration with Chinese counterparts, have undertaken wide-ranging research and published numerous reports calling attention to the internal and global impact of China’s environmental problems. Given China’s size and complexity, as well as complicated and at times conflictual relations between the center and localities, many experts have raised questions about the reliability and validity of the data that have comprised the basis for our understanding of China’s environment and the formulation of policies to address problems, as well as the extent to which policies have actually been implemented as reported.

On December 7-8, 2007, the Berkeley China Initiative will host a conference at the University of California, Berkeley, on the theme, “China’s Environment: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?” Acknowledging that the problem has scientific as well as social, political, economic, public health and cultural aspects, the BCI will bring together an international lineup of experts from a diverse range of fields – science, media, policy, business, NGOs, social science, humanities – to share data on China’s environment, as well as reflect on how the data are collected, verified, disseminated, and utilized.  

The format includes 3-4 keynote speakers and 6 panels which bring together experts from different fields who may not ordinarily converse with each other. The goal is to generate fresh and unexpected questions, connections, insights and recommendations. The conference will be webcast and a report prepared for wide dissemination. 

This conference is funded by a generous grant from the Luce Foundation as part of BCI’s 3- part series on “The Production of Knowledge About China.”