China's Air Pollution: an international problem
A World Health Organization (WHO) report estimates that diseases triggered by indoor and outdoor air pollution kill 656,000 Chinese citizens each year. Heart, strokes and several types of cancer are also on the rise. Children are especially susceptible to air pollution. The number of children with acute respiratory infection, asthma, and pneumonia symptoms is growing.
I recently heard one of Chinas excuses on environmental initiative on CBS, “As long as the U.S. does not move forward, how do you expect a poor country like China to move forward.�
China’s pollution has spread internationally to its eastward Asian neighbors and countries in the western hemisphere, especially Canada and the United States. The satellite picture below emphasizes the haze within the region. Researchers in California have seen a steady increase of primary pollutants, mainly from coal combustion, that have drifted across an ocean. I believe there is great potential for international collaboration. The environmental and health costs affecting neighboring countries will tend to surpass the costs of China cutting its pollution.
China has attempted to solve their air pollution problem by issuing a set of five year plans. These five year plans provide a framework by setting quantitative time bound goals in order to improve their pollution problem. Even though these five year plans have been set, doesn’t mean that they are being obtained. The Chinese government has identified that many of the plans had inadequate enforcement in order to comply with the plans. Some of the other five year plans have been identified as unrealistic with the continuing industrial growth.
China has been unsuccessful in trying to control the pollution problem. In order for them to increase the environmental compliance rates China needs to change some things. First and foremost they need to raise awareness and give incentives for good environmental behavior. The environment laws also have to be consistent, as of now there are still discrepancies and gaps in their regulations. China also needs to devote more funding to the State Environmental Protection Agency in order for them to have the resources they need in order to carry out their tasks effectively.
Over the past few decades China has put economic development ahead of environmental stewardship. Pollution prevention is costly and would lower the effective growth rate of the country. China does not believe they can afford to take extensive measures to control air pollution if that slows down their growth out of poverty. If other nations do not approve of China’s environmental polices, what lies ahead? Would neighboring nations make treaties of economic retaliation? Or would local governments take initiative and cooperate to solve the problem?
Comments
I wonder if the economic benefit of not treating pollution is as great as you imply. If you look at the failed states of the former USSR, environmental degradation was one of the main problems holding back their economies. Some of it was due to inefficient resource use, some due to central control scheme that did not recognize differences due to geography.
Recent meta studies in the US that have attempted to prove that environmental controls cost jobs and reduce growth rates have instead shown the opposite - it creates jobs and increases the growth of the economy.
'Environmental protection, the economy, and jobs: National and
regional analyses'
Roger H. Bezdeka, Robert M. Wendlinga, Paula DiPernab 2007, Journal of Environmental Management
Posted by: Steve Sternberg | March 4, 2008 4:08 PM
The US has a large and growing industry centered around the idea of pollution control. A quick search yielded hundreds of results for companies that make pollution control equipment. Surely this large and diverse industry is helping the American economy with its continued research, additional business to material supplier’s subcontractors utilities, and that vast number of jobs it provides.
Posted by: John Elliot Kallemeyn | March 7, 2008 9:35 AM
I understand that controlling pollution emissions is costly. However, China uses the excuse that they can't afford to control the pollution if they want to continue to grow economically. However, what happens when they are more economically sound and still don't wan to spend the money to fix the pollution? And, if they keep going at the rate they are going in terms of industrial growth, I think Steve said something like a new power plant goes up in China once a month or so, will there even be people there to deal with the consequences? Steve said today in class that if the level of ground ozone allowed by regulations was lowered, it would help people with asthma and respiratory health issues. Why don't the Chinese want to see that the benefits out way the cost?
Posted by: Carla Petrich | March 7, 2008 5:39 PM