NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY OF: CHINA HARI SRINIVAS ROOM: I-312 / International Environmental Policy

Major Problems China is Facing Energy use Food Production Water Pollution, shortages. Coal Pollution Air Pollution

Environmental Reality No country in history has emerged as a major industrial power without environmental damage It was the case for the U.S., European countries, Japan and other developed countries (water, air, and land pollution).

So what? So, what’s the ‘big deal’ if China is now doing the same?  Scale - pollution is affecting millions of people. (Population size)  Very rapid Economic growth  Globalization and brand name - Everyone is watching  Global problems (i.e., global warming)

Environmental Consequences Chinas environmental problems are among the most severe of any major country and are getting worse: Air pollution Land Degradation  Cropland losses  Desertification  Disappearing wetlands  Grassland degradation  Soil erosion  Overgrazing  Salinization Water pollution and shortage  Freshwater  Groundwater depletion  Oceans Loss of biodiversity – increase in invasive species

Deforestation China’s natural forests have been declining over the last 50 years. Deserts are forming quickly due to this 1949: area forested area was about 14.4 million hectares. Today it is only 0.7 Mha Despite a logging ban passed in 1999, the damage has already been done Result: China suffers from very severe soil erosion and flooding

Increase in goats, sheep and cattle Increasing desertification, the Gobi desert expanded by 52,400 km 2 from 1994 to Winter storms create enormous dust storms affecting Korea and Japan Increasing desertification, the Gobi desert expanded by 52,400 km 2 from 1994 to Winter storms create enormous dust storms affecting Korea and Japan

Water Shortage 300 cities out of Chinas 617 cities suffer from shortage, halting industrial production. 2/3 from groundwater mining – salt water intrusion in coastal areas and subsidence in some cities World’s worst cessation of river flows. Yellow river stopped flowing during 20 of the years Number of days without flow increased from 90 days a year in 1980 to 230 days in 1997

Water Pollution Due to China’s population being over one billion, their water supply is slowly disappearing. Their water is also being contaminated by the industrial growth with benzene which causes cancer. For example, on November 24, 2005, there was an explosion at a chemical plant in northeastern China. It spilled 100 tons of benzene in the Songhua River. Due to this, the city of Harbin was forced to shut its water supply to 3.8 million people for a week.

Air Pollution 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in China. In Nov 2010, China published a report that said 1/3 of 113 cities had failed to meet the national air standards According to the government, 1/5 of China’s urban population breathe heavily polluted air

Air Pollution: Beijing According to China’s air quality scale, any pollution rating above 300 means the air is unsafe to breathe. (Under these conditions, people should stay indoors with an air purifier and remain as motionless as possible!) In January alone, there were 19 days when the index in Beijing surpassed that 300 threshold The highest reading was 866 – same as living in a smoking lounge

Impacts: Air Pollution  Nearly 30% of respiratory disease in China is attributed to air pollution.  500 major cities in China exceed safe air quality levels.  Acid rain affects more than 30% of the country.  Over 75% of China’s SO 2 pollution, acid rain, and CO 2 emissions come from coal combustion.

Coal and Energy Consumption Coal is the number one source of air pollution in China China gets 80% of its electricity and 70% of its total power from coal Around 6 million tons of coal is burned everyday to power factories, heat homes, cook meals

Environmental Degradation The distribution of environmental degradation is the result of a long history economic development programs and political repression Distribution of Acid Rain 2002

Lack of Industrial Controls Great economic development during the 1980s led to increased pollution. Demand has risen over time in China and industries have met this with increased output. They have not added any controls to the air released from smokestacks, though. By 2020, China’s carbon dioxide emissions will surpass the U.S., and the United States and China “would contribute more to global warming than all other nations combined.” Statistics in this slide are from China Revs Up 2004 unless otherwise labeled.

Development Targets By 2020:  Quadruple 2000 GDP (4 x $1.08 trillion)  Double energy consumption (which, without care, could easily be tripled)  Increase per capita GDP from $850 in 2000 to $3000 (real $2000) in 2020  Attain “Three Transcendences”:  1. Sustainable development  2. Peaceful rise as a great power  3. Be governed by the rule of law; create a harmonious socialist society By 2010:  Reduce energy intensity by 20% below 2005 levels  Reduce absolute emissions by 10% below 2005 levels  The country has already fallen seriously behind in meeting these targets

Ministry of Environmental Protection The Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, formerly the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), is a cabinet-level ministry in the executive branch of the Chinese Government. It is responsible for implementing environmental policies, as well as the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.

Ministry of Environmental Protection National Peoples Congress, State Council NDRC (formerly SDPC) SEPA SETC (disbanded in 2003) (State Industrial Bureaus) (Provincial Industrial Bureaus and ETCs) Provincial Development Commissions Local Development Commissions Provincial EPBs Local EPBs (Local Industrial Bureaus and ETCs)

Causes of Environmental Problems Energy Environment Economy China’s environmental problems are grim. While neighbors feel the impacts, China itself suffers the most from its pollution. To solve the problems, need to understand the causes. A look at the “3Es” – energy, economy, and environment – offers insights.

China 3Es: Interests and Trends Economic Development:  Economic Growth, Industrial Modernization, Market Development Environment:  Improve Water and Air Quality, Reduce Waste; SO 2 (not CO 2 ) of Main Concern Energy:  Improve Efficiency and Reduce Pollution; Rely on Coal; Expand Electricity, Natural Gas, Renewables

Why?? The Future? China has many environmental issues, severely affecting its environment as well as human health. Rapid industrialization as well as lax environmental oversight have contributed to the problems. Economic Growth Environmental Problems

Environmental Policy: The Future? Increased problems related to the environment means that China will have to “reverse” its policy focus – by looking at the economic aspects of environment Economic Growth Environmental Problems

Economic Policies Environmental “Protection”? Economic policies Environmental Policies Environmental policies Right now, economic policies and environmental policies are in “conflict” Environmental issues need to be made a part of economic growth and development policies

Use the same causes of environmental problems to find solutions for the future: 1. Globalization and market forces 2. Lifestyle changes Globalization Lifestyle Changes

Integrated Environmental Management Policies Policy Focus Industrial Policies Urbanization Policies Policy Focus

Contact me … Prof. Hari Srinivas Room: I-312 Tel: Class website: