China has made a dramatic reversal in it's energy policies. According to British newspaper, the Independent, China has slowed or halted the building of 22 major dams and power stations out of concerns over the environmental impact. The Chinese State Environment Protection Agency says that the projects will not continue until a proper assessment of their impact is made. According to the Christian Science Monitor, a growing number of Chinese support tougher policies to protect nature.
The move comes just in time for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol on Wednesday. The United States is one of the few countries to not sign onto the Kyoto Protocol. The Bush administration cites growing pollution in China and the unwillingness of the Chinese government to intervene in the environment as one of the primary reasons for not joining.