The struggle for sustainability in rural china
Introduction
China is a developed a country that faces environmental problems related to economic growth. The country focuses on economic sustainability, which makes it vulnerable to environmental pollution that is perceived differently among western nations. Some nations believe that china supports economic growth with less regards on the environmental pollution. On the other hand, it is also assumed that Chinese government emphasizes economic growth and the citizens have a choice to ensure environmental sustainability (Tilt, 12). This paper addresses the two assumptions and provides significant measures that will avert environmental pollution in china.
China is not different from other developing nations that reinforce economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainability. China’s gross industrial output increased speedily from 1998 to 2004, and it is still indicating an upward sensational trend that seems not to decline. China depends heavily on coal; the dirtiest energy pollutant that it owns contributes substantially to the environmental pressure, which it faces (Tilt, 7). The centralized government system that runs short of democracies has led to the scarcity of environmental activists that play a critical role in informing legislators about environmental effects.
China’s stress on economic development is indicated by the water shortages and water pollution. The government has failed to address these issues because of centralized efforts in ensuring economic sustainability. Industries in china are the main causalities of water pollution and water shortages among its citizens (Tilt, 23). Studies affirm that approximately one-third of china’s population has inadequate access to clean drinking water due industrial pollution. Additionally, it estimated that 70% of china’s water sources such as lakes and rivers have been polluted with an approximation of 200 hundred million tons of sewerage and wastes from industries. Such effects are true revelations of how china is deeply buried in emphasizing economic growth at the expense of ensuring environment sustainability.
Population and development are other environmental challenges that china faces due to emphasis on economic growth. Currently, china has a population of approximately 1.3 billion people. The rate of development and economic success imply that urbanization, consumerism, and pollution are also rising at the same rate (Tilt, 50). The Chinese government considers economic development ignoring the related implications such as pollution, which directly emanate from the effects of population. The government has failed to establish necessary measures to control the rising environmental pollution because of the population increasing.
The Chinese people are trying to avert the environmental problems to have environmental sustainability, but the powerful and centralized Chinese government supports economic development in favor of environmental pollution (Tilt, 23). The government has received an approximation of 6000 cases of environmental-allied complaints, a 30% escalation figure annually. The centralized government is well aware of the implications of the environmental pollution and its impacts on the central authority but focuses on economic sustainability rather than environmental sustainability. Additionally, the media have reported 50 thousand environmental disagreements in 2005 and that the public has held multiple demonstrations within the last decade. Personal rights associated to prosperity and openness spurred the demonstrations. The Xiamen protest against the construction of a chemical factory fueled by the related impacts that were liable to ecotourism industry overwhelmingly indicated the Chinese citizen’s efforts to curb environmental degradation. The government seems to be an impediment to ensuring environmental preservation.
China’s environmental agency is not efficient watchdog because of the perverse environmental pollution (Tilt, 56). According to a study, various government bodies have encountered divergence in opinions that results from the inadequate coordination and relatively poor description of public roles. China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) bears the full responsibility of protecting the environment, but has failed to offer the expectations. Formerly, the ministry was recognized as State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), but the change to a national ministry indicates that environmental control in Chinese Cabinet is relatively weak due to shifted attention on economic development (Tilt, 23).
The average Chinese citizen cares for the environment, but the government has failed in performing its duties. An average Chinese, considers the environment to be more significant than economic growth, which is opposite to the popular perception regarding china and environmental pollution. This was empirically evidenced in Futian where the poor were committed in fighting against environmental degradation (Tilt, 60). The multiple protests and filing of complaints by the Chinese people is enough evidence to support the Chinese’s care for the environment. The Chinese people acknowledge that everyone including the government, NGO’s, and Corporations has a duty on preventing environmental pollution. The care for environment in an average citizen is portrayed by their willingness to shift from practices that degrade the environment to environmental friendly activities. Notably, the concerns that the Chinese have on the environment has generated climate change awareness despite being faced by environmental issues like air, water and other forms pollutions.
The Chinese people have the capability of inhibiting environmental pollution. This can be evidenced from the increase in proportion of clean energy. Chinese urban centers have undergone some improvements regarding environmental conservation. Majority of the people in Beijing, Tianjin, and Chongqing have shifted from using coal, dirtiest environmental pollutant, to gas and kitchen stoves. Moreover, gas consumption is expected to continue climbing, and coal usage has dropped. This has helped in reducing air pollution because the cities that experienced the shifts have registered an ambient air quality (Tilt, 53). Such initiatives by the Chinese people apparently indicate that the Chinese can play a significant role in reducing pollution.
Regular attempts committed to treating industrial pollution clearly show the country’s capability in averting environmental pollution (Tilt, 23). Several old manufacturing plants allied to immense air pollution were terminated because of the modification in industrial structure. The Chinese through the government have reinforced the closure of non-compliant industries in the bordering region of Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Shaanxi. Roughly, 1.4 Yuan has been used to furnish the compliant industries through dust removal and collection to reduce air pollution. The stopping of non-compliant industries has considerably improved the air quality, which reveals the role the country can play in stopping environmental degradation.
In conclusion, china has been stressing on economic development with less regard to environmental issues. The western countries developed two perceptions about china and environmental pollution. The focus china has on economic development impacts negatively on the environment. Some of the environmental effects discussed by the paper include water shortages and water pollution. The centralized government system, characterized by minimal democracy is an obstacle to environmental sustainability despite the Chinese people showing their capability in the fight against environmental degradation. China has the capability to prevent pollution as evidenced in their achievement towards reducing environmental degradation. The shift from usage of coal as a source of energy to gas is a significant step revealing the country’s step in preventing pollution.
Works cited
Tilt, Bryan. The struggle for sustainability in rural China: environmental values and civil society. New York: Columbia University Press, 2010.
Is this the question you were looking for? If so, place your order here to get started!
