Asia

A look at China's coal-rich, yet water-scarce northern region.

Myriad obstacles, from roads to snow to a nuclear crisis, hamstring rescue and recovery missions.

Clearly wary about the consequences of its rapid economic development on the environment, China has set a path over the next five years to reduce consumption of the two most important resources that power its economy— coal and water. The country plans to rein in water use and introduces new energy intensity reduction targets in pursuit of more sustainable economic growth, according to the draft proposal of the 12th Five-Year Plan, the master economic blueprint that will chart China’s development through 2015.