China's dilemma between pursuing high economic growth and keeping theenvironment clean

中国一直都在持续的进步自己国民的生活素质。可是，对于国家发展有直接影响的是：国家的经济发展。只有追求更高的经济增长率，国家才能更好的发展。可是，中国的发展难免会涉及到它的环境素质。例如不同的发电会给环境造成不同的影响：化石燃料的发电会造成热污染，空气污染而且还会排放出二氧化碳。所以中国虽想保持自己国家的环境清洁，但同时又想发展自己的国家，好提升国民的生活素质。不管是发展中的国家还是发达国家都想同时达到那两样，可是却很难。若国家不研发出一种不会造成污染的发电方法，它是不会同时达到保持环境清洁与发展自己的国家的。

Done by: Lei Jianing(11)

China's dilemma between pursuing higher economic growth and escalating pollution due to the industrialisation.

• Result of pursuing economic growth

o   China's economy is booming

§  The evidence of China's economic growth is everywhere - in construction, infrastructure, property, retail and large scale manufacturing. China's economy seems certain to maintain its average growth rate of 8.5% p.a since 1978, despite the dire predictions of late last year, and 2009 will surely be remembered as the year in which China "de-coupled" from the US. To use a well worn analogy: the train has most certainly left the station - either get on it or get out of the way! 

o   The Chinese Government is making all the right moves to ensure confidence, stability and national pride in the country's achievements

§  The timing, size and impact of last year's US$586 billion stimulus package has delivered an immediate return to the economy but the greatest benefits have been delivered in so many other ways, including: 

Ø  The upgrade in infrastructure in the first tier cities, notably Shanghai and Beijing, which are now as impressive as any city in the world. 

Ø  The investment in the second tier cities such as Chongqing (population 20m) is large, significant and impressive. 

Ø  The English language is widely spoken at all levels of society, particularly amongst the younger generations. 

Ø  The quality of service in shops, hotels, restaurants and even in the markets is now at an international level. Many regular travellers to China (myself included) used to complain that, whilst the "hardware" (i.e. hotels, airplanes, shops, roads) was often world class, the "software" (i.e. service, language, skills, training, attitude) was often lacking. This is now changing very rapidly. 

o   China is moving up the value chain

§  China is looking to upgrade the quality of its exports by moving into higher value manufacturing capabilities. The collapse of low value exports to the developed world has forced the whole country to accelerate its move down this path. 

“ The evidence of China's economic growth is everywhere - in construction, infrastructure, property, retail and large scale manufacturing. ”

• Pollution caused due to industrialization

o   Air pollution

§  Thick haze blown off the Eastern coast of China, over Bo Hai Bay and Yellow Sea. The haze might result from urban and industrial pollution.

§  Zhong Nanshan, the president of the China Medical Association, in 2012 warned that air pollution could become the biggest health threat. Lung cancer and cardiovascular disease were increasing because of factory and vehicle air pollution and tobacco smoking. Lung cancer was two to three times more common in cities than in the countryside despite similar rates of tobacco smoking. Zhong stated that while transparency had increased in recent years much more information was needed and called for detailed epidemiological research. He questioned official data stating that air pollution was decreasing. Until recently the governmental air quality index did not include ozone and PM2.5 despite being the most dangerous to human health.

§  Measurements in January 2013 showed levels of air pollution, as measured by the density of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres in size, was literally off the chart – higher than the maximum 755 μg the US Embassy's equipment can measure. Smog from mainland China has reached as far as California.

§  Sulfur dioxide emissions increased until 2006 after which they began to decline. This has been accompanied by improvements on several related variables such as the frequency of acid rains and satellite measurements of aerosol optical depth. This is likely mainly due to adoption of sulfur reducing technology by power plants.

§  Large scale use of formaldehyde in construction and furniture also contribute to indoor air pollution

     o   River exploitation and deforestation 

§  In 2008, China began an era of infrastructure and real estate construction campaign. Rivers are often exploited for soil and rock. To do this, trees and grassland along a given river is cleared, then the riverbed is deepened by a few dozen meters. The river is usually littered with numerous small deep lakes and sand/rock heaps. The ground water level can easily be reduced by 5 meters in nearby villages. Excavators and crushers work all day and night kicking up dust and making noise pollution a problem. Factories may dump their chemical emissions into river, or inject it into the groundwater. This practice is so widespread that many rivers in northern China are dry, with many rivers in southern China being polluted to the point of toxicity. The complete ruin of rivers and forests in many parts of China underscores the current severe pollution. Youth in China are beginning to show their resentment towards mistreatment of the environment, accompanied by an exodus of wealthy Chinese. It is unknown whether the latter is caused by environmental problems on a large scale. 

  

o   Electronic waste

§  In 2011, China produced 2.3 million tons of electronic waste, second largest in the world. The annual amount is expected to increase as the Chinese economy grows. Large amounts of electronic waste are imported from overseas, as well. Disassembly and processing of electronic waste can create jobs and recycle valuable materials but also harm humans and the environment by releasing pollutants. Legislation banning importation and requiring proper disposal of indigenous waste as well as providing for governmental subsides for proper disposal has recently been introduced but has been criticized as insufficient and susceptible to fraud. There have been local successes, such as in the city of Tianjin where 38,000 tonnes were disposed of properly in 2010, but much electronic waste is improperly handed.

§  Guiyu may have one of the world's largest electronic waste sites. The electronic waste in Guiyu and recycling operations have created many jobs but also many health and environmental problems.

Conclusion: Even though China has achieved a lot and was able to pursue higher economic growth, China still needs to take note about the environment since quite a lot of pollution has been happening already. It is important for China to develop economically as a country but it is also of equal importance for them to take care of the environment.  

REFERNCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_in_China

http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/working-smarter/growth/china-s-economic-growth-seven-lessons

Done By: Owi Ming How (30)