Environmental crisis in China is one of the biggest challenges for the country. There are many environmental problems, but I think that the most serious one is pollution. As China is the largest source in the world of carbon emissions, the air quality in many cities is far below international health standards (Xu, Eleanour 1). It grows every year, threating the health of Chinese.
Since China’s great industrializing, the problem has been developing in a drastic way. It is caused by a big amount of factories, exhausted fumes and smoking (Lallanilla, Marc 1). Beijing, where an extensive network of coal-burning power plants is situated, is known as one of the most polluted cities in China. Fossil fuels emitted to atmosphere make its carbon levels more and more dangerous. China’s emissions grow on 7 per cent annually, which is much faster than the rest of the world (Triple Pundit 1). Moreover, such Chinese cities as Linfen and Lanzhou are in the list of the most polluted places in the world. In 2014, there was a record of 17 million new cars, which made a great contribution to others matters of the problem.
Air pollution causes a major harm to people’s health. Every day, pollution kills 4,000 people in China. In general, it is 17 per cent of all deaths every year (Triple Pundit 1). Chinese are at high risk of bronchitis, asthma and hay fever. Smokes and dusts cause tuberculosis, and they may develop ulcers of skin and dermatitis (Preserve Articles 1). Air pollution also puts people at risk of the developing of lung cancer. Furthermore, air pollutants can harm vegetables and even buildings, as they create acidic compounds (Eschooltoday 1). Such pollutants sometimes combine with drops of water, which make clouds. This way acid rain forms. When it falls over some area, it can kill plants and harm wildlife, let alone the population of that area (Eschooltoday 1). In addition, plants and crops affected by air pollutants are frequently used as forage fodder for cattle, causing them to suffer from fluorosis or other dental diseases (Preserve Articles 1)
The problem is rather national, as China is the only country, where air pollution has reached such a breaking point. Despite the fact that it also has an influence on other countries in Eastern Asia, China still at the highest risk of many harmful consequences of pollution.
In my opinion, the problem is getting worse, as industrial institutions and factories still produce a huge amount of fossil fuels, and the level of pollution is not decreasing. Many deaths and diseased were caused by air pollution, and average people suffer a lot from the smog over the cities. Chinese cities are on the list of the most polluted cities and there has not been some great progress so far.
It is vital to introduce a policy, which would provide a proper solution to the problem. Of course, due to the great extent of the problem, it would take much time to reduce pollution levels. Still, some steps should be taken in order to prevent further pollution. The first pollution “red alert” has recently been issued in Beijing. Schools and factories were temporary closed, and some cars were ordered off the road (BBC News 1). This is already a sign of progress. In recent years, Chinese government has taken some measures aimed at improving the environmental situation in the country (Xu, Eleanour 1). It has required factories and enterprises to report the amounts of air emissions publicly. $275 billion were pledged to clean up the air until 2019 (Xu, Eleanour 1). In 2014, China stated that it would reduce the amount of carbon emissions and introduce the usage of renewable resources (Xu, Eleanour 1) Nowadays, China invests a lot in renewables, being predicted to combat the US as the leading of the production of wind energy (Xu, Eleanour 1). In general, China’s crisis is believed to be improving due to the totally different attitude to the problem.
Works cited
Lallanilla, Marc. “China's Top 6 Environmental Concerns”. livescience.com. Web. 15 Mar. 2013.
Triple Pundit. “Air Pollution in China is Killing More Than a Million People a Year”. triplepundit.com. Web. 20 Aug. 2015.
Eschooltoday. “What are the effects of air pollution?” eschooltoday.com. Web. N.d.
Preserve Articles. “What are the harmful Effects of Air Pollution?” preservearticles.com. Web. N.d.
BBC News. “What is China doing to tackle its air pollution?” bbc.com. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
Xu, Beina and Eleanour, Albert. “China's Environmental Crisis”. cfr.org. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.
