The Greening of China's Smoky Funeral Rites

When it comes to mitigating climate change, any little act of self-sacrifice helps. That's why it's commendable that some Chinese people are shunning the traditional way of honoring ancestors – by burning large wads of fake money – in favor of greener kinds of tribute, like writing a fake check.

News of this trend surfaced recently in Harbin, a city in northeast China of about 10 million residents. While it's no Beijing or Tianjing, where the air can smell like 18-wheeler exhaust mixed with burning camel hair, Harbin has its share of days when the atmosphere turns foul, bringing an unhealthy dose of second-hand smoke to regional lungs. China's distinct musk is all part of the price of being the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.