80 per cent of electricity and 70 per cent of the country’s total energy are produced from the burning of coal. Approximately 6 million tonnes of coal are burned each day in China. It is estimated that by 2030 there will be 400 million cars on Chinese roads.


An improving standard of living in China’s eastern cities has led to an increase in car ownership. With millions more cars being bought each year, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of sulphur dioxide and other harmful gases being released into the atmosphere.


Effects


Public health is being badly affected by air pollution, with cancer caused by absorbing harmful chemicals now the number one cause of death in China. Many children have died or become seriously ill as a result of lead poisoning.


China is now the number one producer of carbon emissions in the world, having overtaken the United States. As well as air pollution impacting on urban areas, an increase in acid rain as a result of increased sulphur has damaged forestry and agricultural land in rural areas.


Solutions


Te most obvious solution to the increasing levels of air pollution in China is the banning of coal-powered industrial and electricity plants. Beijing has banned new coal-powered plants from being built in parts of the city where sulphur levels are already high.


Te government has mapped out a new five-year plan in which it has listed a number of ambitious objectives to be achieved by 2020. Te government has ordered over 15,000 factories to publicly report figures on air emissions each year.


10,500 139,000 Cerebrovascular disease 283,000 195,000 605,000


Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Ischemic heart disease


Lower respiratory infections


Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers


The air quality in Chinese cities has become so poor that tourist companies are now offering ‘fresh air tours’ in which they drive people to unpolluted areas so that they can have lunch in the fresh air.


Only 1 per cent of China’s 560 million city dwellers breathe air considered safe by European Union standards.


Te government has committed to have 20 per cent of its power produced from renewable sources by 2030 and has invested over $90 billion in cutting carbon emissions.


In 2016 China overtook the US as the number one producer of wind energy in the world. China has invested over $100 billion in developing renewable energy technologies.


While China deserves credit for its move towards environmentally friendly energy production, it has a long way to go.


: Fig. 6.20 Deaths caused by air pollution in China


ACTIVE LEARNING


1. What are the main causes of environmental pollution in urban areas?


2. What factors have caused air pollution in China?


3. What measures has China taken to improve air quality?


URBAN PROBLEMS 171


Elective 5: Human CHAPTER 6


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