Green Hops: Walmart, Geely, Smart Grid

Climate Social Responsibility.  At its firs global supply-chain summit in Beijing, Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, launched an ambitious program dubbed the “Global Sourcing Responsibility Initiative” that will require its Chinese suppliers (which may number up to 20,000 according to China Daily) to abide to potentially costly energy efficiency targets, to be verified by third party audits, among other environmental and social goals.  The program will be expanded worldwide by 2011.

A new report by the Carbon Disclosure Project suggests that major Chinese companies lag far behind their foreign counterparts in carbon-risk awareness and carbon reporting.  But China Mobile (the world’s biggest wireless operator with 420 million subscribers), Broad Air Conditioning (the world’s leading manufacturer of low-energy air-conditioning units) and Suntech (the world’s third largest solar energy company) are not among these companies as they have just joined the Climate Group’s global climate coalition.  As members to this coalition, the three companies will make ambitious emissions reduction commitments beyond what is currently required by law.  China Mobile, for instance, has set itself the target of reducing its energy intensity by 40%, double the national target, reports The Guardian.

Auto & Transportation.  Geely, China’s first independent auto maker, is looking to follow BYD Auto’s footsteps to export its electric vehicles (EV) technology.  Read the full story