Will Beijing Continue Down its Environmental Path?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07. 6.08
Image from angus_mac_123
We've all seen the length to which China has gone in order to burnish its environmental credentials ahead of the Olympics. Whether it be building sparkling new sustainable facilities for the Games or "forcing" good weather through unconventional means, China has been doing its utmost to ensure it not be perceived as eco-insensitive. The big question, however, remains: Will it stay green?
ES&T's Naomi Lubick ponders this very question in a recent story tracing China's progress-to-date and examining its future ambitions. While China may have already surpassed the U.S. in becoming the world's greatest emitter of carbon dioxide, what Lubick sees certainly portends well for the country's future.
Image from harryalverson
First, the less encouraging news: China's energy use and water degradation have surged over the past decade as the country's economy has ballooned, and the number of cars on the road has reached record levels. A leap in cement production accompanied the country's construction boom, translating into the emission of 950 million tons of CO2 in 2007 alone. Forcing clean air in the capital has also required some drastic steps: taking 1 million cars off the roads and artificially stimulating rain.
On a positive note, the Chinese government, realizing that its continued growth will depend on maintaining a stable environment, has pushed ahead with several ambitious new initiatives, including a 5-year plan (2006-2010) to reduce its carbon footprint by 20% through a mix of renewable sources -- with a heavy emphasis on solar and wind.
China has brought in officials from the EPA to help it craft new environmental legislation and has put a premium on developing stricter regulations -- though the central government's ability to enforce its decisions at the local level could cause some problems. In general, Lubick says the Chinese government has become much more practical about environmental protection and has taken several simple, though momentous, steps toward resolving many long-standing issues.
More importantly, the Chinese people and local governments are now asking that the central government do more to protect the nation's fragile environment. And who can ignore that kind of pressure?
Via ::Environmental Science & Technology: Will the Dragon Stay Green? China After the Beijing Olympics (news website)
Greening China
::Building a Green China
::China's Green Revolution: How Far Will it (Not) Go?
::Rebuilding Green in the Wake of Disaster
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China is also making massive investments in public transit and high-speed rail that should put us to shame. We are so far behind and getting further behind everyday. Seems like many like to focus on there increased car use as this somehow justifies our continued wasteful habits over here. The reality is that they will never drive anywhere near as much as we do.
It is time we stop wasting money on highways and instead make massive investments in rail and public transit before we fall even further behind.
It is good to see the Chinese taking these measures. I read a few years ago that some cities in China have Environmental Committees, which will actually close factories down for a few days if the local environment gets too bad.
I think this is one of the few advantages of being a communist country. If we tried to do this in the West, we would have huge corporations suing the government for loss of earnings and for giving competitors in other parts of the country an unfair advantage.
It is good to see the Chinese taking these measures. I read a few years ago that some cities in China have Environmental Committees, which will actually close factories down for a few days if the local environment gets too bad.
I think this is one of the few advantages of being a communist country. If we tried to do this in the West, we would have huge corporations suing the government for loss of earnings and for giving competitors in other parts of the country an unfair advantage.
I agree with the two comments above. So much of China's pollution comes from the manufacture of goods for the West, and things like cars (which the Chinese are using more increasingly, but for purposes FAR more practical than the average American), but we should be looking more into ways that WE can change. And worrying about China as well, but still...
China's central government regulations about the environment do indeed seem quite good, better than the US. But as hinted in the post, enforcement falls mainly to local officials. The local officials, however, are chosen/elected primarily on their ability to grow the economy, rather than on meeting national environmental goals. As such, most of the provisions go unenforced. I think this is or might now gradually be changing, and if it doesn't the eventual lack of fresh water and clean air would bring a swift end to China's rising prosperity.
the olympics will be over soon and they're only doing it to save face. whether or not the changes ripple through their society depends on the reaction and persistence of their people.
the olympics will be over soon and they're only doing it to save face. whether or not the changes ripple through their society depends on the reaction and persistence of their people.
They will continue their environmental tilt, perhaps even to a greater degree. Unfortunately, this will probably be seen as the dirtiest Olympics ever. The pollution in Beijing will become an issue and if an event must be canceled or moved indoors, watch out! The media at home will play that up big time.