Sino-the-Times

China is undergoing a transformation unlike any the world has ever seen, expanding existing mega-cities and building new ones at breakneck speed. With a rapidly urbanizing population of 1.3 billion, many fear the toll China's boom will have on the global environment. According to this article in the NY Times, China is currently:

• The world's second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after the U.S..
  
  
• The world's largest producer and consumer of steel, cement and coal.
  
  
• Home to 7 of the world's 10 most-polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization.