Monday, March 3, 2008

China wants gradual shift away from its one-child policy

Over the last few years quite a few commentators have pointed to China as an example for tackling the population component in emissions reduction strategies. I'm guessing those commentators don't speak Mandarin.
Here's the story from the IHT:

China is studying how to move away from its controversial one-child policy, but any changes would come gradually and would not mean an elimination of family-planning policies, a senior official said Thursday.

Zhao Baige, vice minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, said that government officials recognized that China must alter its current population policies.

"We want incrementally to have this change," Zhao said, according to Reuters. "I cannot answer at what time or how, but this has become a big issue among decision makers."

With more than 1.3 billion people, China is the world's most populous nation and is home to one of the world's most stringent family-planning regimens. Most urban couples are limited to a single child, while farmers usually can have two. Minorities often are allowed to have two or more children....MORE