Issues Environmental issues in China

1 issues

1.1 water resources
1.2 deforestation
1.3 coastal reclamation
1.4 land pollution
1.5 climate change
1.6 pollution
1.7 population
1.8 energy efficiency
1.9 animal welfare
1.10 natural disasters

issues
water resources

the water resources of china affected both severe water quantity shortages , severe water quality pollution. increasing population , rapid economic growth lax environmental oversight have increased water demand , pollution. china has responded measures such rapidly building out water infrastructure , increased regulation exploring number of further technological solutions. water usage coal-fired power stations drying-up northern china.

according chinese government in 2014 59.6% of groundwater sites poor or extremely poor quality.

deforestation

although china s forest cover 20% country has of largest expanses of forested land in world, making top target forest preservation efforts. in 2001, united nations environment programme (unep) listed china among top 15 countries closed forest, i.e., virgin, old growth forest or naturally regrown woods. 12% of china s land area, or more 111 million hectares, closed forest. however, unep estimates 36% of china s closed forests facing pressure high population densities, making preservation efforts important. in 2011, conservation international listed forests of south-west sichuan 1 of world s ten threatened forest regions.

according chinese government website, central government invested more 40 billion yuan between 1998 , 2001 on protection of vegetation, farm subsidies , conversion of farmland forest. between 1999 , 2002, china converted 7.7 million hectares of farmland forest.

coastal reclamation

china s marine environment, including yellow sea , south china sea, considered among degraded marine areas on earth. loss of natural coastal habitats due land reclamation has resulted in destruction of more 65% of tidal wetlands around china s yellow sea coastline in approximately 50 years. rapid coastal development agriculture, aquaculture , industrial development considered primary drivers of coastal destruction in region.

land pollution

desertification remains serious problem, consuming area greater area used farmland. although desertification has been curbed in areas, still expanding @ rate of more 67 km² every year. 90% of china s desertification occurs in west of country. approximately 30% of china s surface area desert. china s rapid industrialization cause area drastically increase. gobi desert in north expands 950 square miles (2,500 km) per year. vast plains in northern china used regularly flooded yellow river. however, overgrazing , expansion of agricultural land cause area increase. in 2009, estimated on 200 high-altitude lakes in zoigê marsh, provides 30% of yellow river s water, had dried up.

in 2001, china initiated green wall of china project. project create 2,800-mile (4,500 km) green belt hold encroaching desert. first phase of project, restore 9 million acres (36,000 km²) of forest, completed 2010 @ estimated cost of $8 billion. chinese government believes that, 2050, can restore desert land forest. project possibly largest ecological project in history. has been criticized on various grounds such other methods being more effective.

in july 2015, council on foreign relations director of asia studies elizabeth economy writing in diplomat listed soil contamination poor stepchild of chinese environmental movement, , questioned whether or not recent measures ministry of environmental protection adequate in combating problem. in 2004 book river runs black, wrote, china s spectacular economic growth on past 2 decades has dramatically depleted country s natural resources , produced skyrocketing rates of pollution. environmental degradation has contributed significant public health problems, mass migration, economic loss, , social unrest.

climate change

the position of chinese government on climate change contentious. china world s current largest emitter of carbon dioxide although not cumulative largest. china has ratified kyoto protocol, non-annex country not required limit greenhouse gas emissions under terms of agreement.

pollution


global carbon dioxide emissions country.

various forms of pollution have increased china have industrialized has caused widespread environmental , health problems. china has responded increasing environmental regulations , build-up of pollutant treatment infrastructure have caused improvements on variables. of 2013 beijing, lies in topographic bowl, has significant industry, , heats coal, subject air inversions resulting in extremely high levels of pollution in winter months.

in response increasingly problematic air pollution problem, chinese government announced five-year, us$277 billion plan address issue. northern china receive particular attention, government aims reduce air emissions 25 percent 2017, compared 2012 levels, in areas pollution serious. according report published greenpeace , peking university’s school of public health in december 2012, coal industry responsible highest levels of air pollution (19 percent), followed vehicle emissions (6 percent). in january 2013, fine airborne particulates pose largest health risks, rose high 993 micrograms per cubic meter in beijing, compared world health organization guidelines of no more 25. world bank estimates 16 of world s most-polluted cities located in china.

coastal pollution widespread, leading declines in habitat quality , increasing harmful algal blooms. largest algal bloom recorded in history occurred in china around southern yellow sea in 2008, , observed space.

rising affluence indirect cause of pollution. in particular, car ownership has skyrocketed. in 2014, china added record 17 million new cars road , car ownership reached 154 million.

population

china has world s largest population population growth slow in part due one-child policy.

energy efficiency

according 2007 article, during 1980 2000 period energy efficiency improved greatly. however, in 1997, due fears of recession, tax incentives , state financing introduced rapid industrialization. may have contributed rapid development of energy inefficient heavy industry. chinese steel factories used one-fifth more energy per ton international average. cement needed 45 percent more power, , ethylene needed 70 percent more average. chinese buildings had thermal insulation , used twice energy heat , cool in europe , united states in similar climates. 95% of new buildings did not meet china s own energy efficiency regulations.

a 2011 report project facilitated world resources institute stated 11th five-year plan (2005 2010), in response worsening energy intensity in 2002-2005 period, set goal of 20% improvement of energy intensity. report stated goal achieved or achieved. next five-year plan set goal of improving energy intensity 16%.

animal welfare

a 2005-2006 survey prof. peter j. li found many farming methods european union trying reduce or eliminate commonplace in china, including gestation crates, battery cages, foie gras, weaning of cows, , clipping of ears/beaks/tails. livestock in china may transported on long distances, , there no humane-slaughter requirements.

china farms 10,000 asiatic black bears bile production—an industry worth $1.6 billion per year. bears permanently kept in cages, , bile extracted cuts in stomachs. jackie chan , yao ming have publicly opposed bear farming. in 2012, on 70 chinese celebrities took part in petition against ipo application fujian guizhentang pharmaceutical co. due company s selling of bear-bile medicines.

china biggest fur-producing nation. fur animals skinned alive, , others may beaten death sticks.

according prof. peter j. li, few chinese zoos improving welfare practices, many remain outdated , have poor conditions, use live feeding, , employ animals performances. safari parks may feed live sheep , poultry lions spectacle crowds.

china has no animal-welfare laws.

in 2006, zhou ping of national people s congress introduced first nationwide animal-protection law in china, didn t move forward. in september 2009, first comprehensive animal protection law of people s republic of china introduced, hasn t made progress.

natural disasters

according jared diamond, 6 main categories of environmental problems of china are: air pollution, water problems, soil problems, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss , mega projects. explain china noted frequency, number, extent, , damage of natural disasters . natural disasters closely related human environmental impacts , especially: dust storms, landslides, droughts , floods.