Named Case Study: China – an emerging superpower

Question 1

Rapid economic growth in China has been achieved at high environmental costs:

Answer 1

 China is going through industrial revolution in
a compressed timeframe resulting in it being
the largest contributor to C02 emissions
 16 of the top 20 most air-polluted cities
 2003 – air pollution blamed for 400,000
deaths
 30% of China suffers from acid rain due to
emissions from coal-fired power stations
 C02 emissions in 2006 more than 6.2 billion
tonnes (increase of 9%)
 70% of China’s rivers and lakes are polluted
 Beijing’s pollution levels are 3x higher than
safe WHO levels

Question 2

Rapid economic growth in China has been achieved at high social costs:

Answer 2

 Rural population still in poverty
 20% of population live on less than $1 a day
 Child labour used in some factories
 Housing in some parts of Beijing were
demolished to make way for Olympic facilities
(300,000 evicted)
 During the Olympics the authorities banned
non-residents from being in the city e.g.
beggars, mental illness
 1/12th of people rely on the polluted Yangtze
river for drinking water