China offers opportunity to UK Environmental Firms, says EIC

Henry Kerali
16 March 2015

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UK environmental services and innovative technology particularly for contaminated land are welcome in China, according to Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) Public Affairs Director, Michael Lunn.

His comments came on the back of a meeting between an international delegation from Sichuan province, the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences (CSES), and EIC members earlier this week.

“Expectations in China have significantly increased to ensure there is clean air, clean land and safe drinking water. All of these issues are interconnected" - Michael Lunn, EIC

“The Chinese recognise the UK is the leading marketplace for environment solutions,” said Lunn, “so they’ve come to the UK for a better understanding of the services we can offer them.”

At the meeting EIC member companies presented their services to the Chinese delegation with EIC facilitating the dialogue between both parties. CSES was particularly interested in how to combat contaminated land, air pollution, and environmental protection.

While China continues to “grapple” with rising levels of pollution, contaminated land has become a prominent concern in the country when mixed with future economic growth.

“The issues have arisen due to speed of growth in China,” Lunn said.

“Expectations in China have significantly increased to ensure there is clean air, clean land and safe drinking water. All of these issues are interconnected.”

Aside from pollution, the Chinese delegation were also concerned about how to improve energy efficiency, recycling, circular economy, as well as “a whole host of ways to improve the environment to help grow their economy further”.  

“The size of the problem in China is so huge there are still many opportunities for UK environmental firms,” Lunn said. “China is not a closed market – it is very much open for business, particularly from the UK.”