China and the environment

Question 1

What are current environmental challenges

Answer 1

1. Increased energy consumption, increases air pollution and concentration of hazardous particles is 40x what is deemed safe.
2. Coal - China accounts for 50% of the global consumption.
3. Increased cars being sold due to increase in urbanisation, environmental pressures.
4. Water depletion and water pollution - China has 20% of the world’s population but only 7% of the water resources.
5. Desertification - soil erosion. Tree planning program but effectiveness has been questioned.

Question 2

What are the costs of environmental challenges

Answer 2

1. Threat to economic growth - Cost of pollution estimated at 3.5% of GDP.
2. Damage to health - air pollution contributes to 1.2 million premature deaths a year. Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Acid rain.

Question 3

What are the internal costs

Answer 3

Protests within China. Social media has helped citizens to understand the health impacts. The issue of environment is now worrying China’s top leadership which will leads to strengthening of environmental laws and regulations.

Question 4

What is being done to overcome these challenges and costs

Answer 4

1. 5-year plan (2021-2025) - shift investment from coal to green technology.
2. Aims to become the global leader in low carbon technology.
3. 18% reduction target for CO2 intensity and a 13.5% reduction target for energy intensity. CO2 steadily decreasing after peak, estimated in 2030.
4. CO2 emissions cap introduced as an idea, but not put into action as of yet due to uncertainty.