Air pollution is a complex problem that affects most countries worldwide. However, the contributions to it are not distributed equally. Few countries are responsible for the majority of global emissions. China is a leader among them, influencing the global environmental situation and fuelling climate change. What are the reasons behind it? Let’s dig into China’s political and economic situation in order to understand its role in the global air pollution problem and why is there so much air pollution in China.
Table of Contents
- China air pollution – Is it on a path to clean energy?
- Air pollution in China – how bad is it?
- Why is there so much air pollution in China?
- Air pollution problem in China – Is the situation changing?
China air pollution – Is it on a path to clean energy?
For over a decade, China has been the world’s largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases. Regardless of some pro-ecological alternatives and investments in alternative energy sources, the country’s emissions keep growing, contrary to the worldwide trends. That seems to be the most worrying part. The other main global polluters, for instance, the US, have been successfully pursuing the reduction of greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions. That’s not the case with China, which continues to fulfill its growing demand for energy with fossil fuels.
Air pollution in China – how bad is it?
When you take a look at the air quality map, you may notice that the air pollution in China doesn’t put it in the lead of the most polluted countries in the world. The average annual China air pollution is lower than those of Bangladesh, Pakistan, or India. The reason might be simple: in these countries, a big part of particulate matter comes from agricultural burning, which is not a big problem in China. Nevertheless, the country’s air quality is still low. The urban areas are obviously the most affected. For decades, Beijing was the biggest source of air pollution in China, but that has been changing in recent years. The air quality fluctuates depending on the weather conditions and other factors. However, there are some Chinese cities that notoriously climb the air pollution charts – Wuhan, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, among others. They’re all densely populated metropolises that struggle with smog on a daily basis.
Why is there so much air pollution in China?
There are few reasons why China’s contributions to air pollutions are so high.
- Population Size – Despite a declining birth rate and the end of the one-child policy, China remains the most populous country, with over 1.4 billion people, leading to massive energy demands.
- Dependence on Fossil Fuels – China is rich in coal and other fossil fuels and continues to exploit these resources, despite investing in renewable energy like solar power. This reliance results in high greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions.
- Global Trade Role – China is the world’s leading exporter of refined petroleum and petroleum gas, supplying industries worldwide. These energy-intensive industries contribute significantly to industrial emissions.
Air pollution problem in China – Is the situation changing?
All these emissions could be cut – at least partially – by switching to green energy. There is no doubt that China has the tools to become a renewable energy leader on a global scale. And, in recent years, it has indeed taken few significant steps towards the green transformation. Building giant solar farms and fully sustainable cities are some initiatives worth mentioning. Some changes financed by the World Bank have already resulted in a noticeable drop in coal consumption. If this clean-energy-oriented politics continue in the nearest future, we can hope that the global efforts to stop climate change will be in vain. Without China – the major greenhouse gas emittent – it will be difficult to achieve. Read also: 5 Things You Can Do to Improve Air Quality in Your City
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50298972
https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2020/06/21/china-fighting-air-pollution-and-climate-change-through-clean-energy-financing
https://ge.usembassy.gov/chinas-air-pollution-harms-its-citizens-and-the-world/