There are many different reasons why globalization has been detrimental to air pollution in China. Small-scale rural factories are among the major polluters, and there is increased spending on public health. These factors all combine to make the country’s air quality worse. Fortunately, China is making strides to combat air pollution. Trade liberalization and increased public health spending are two of the most effective ways to reduce the problems.
Impact of globalization on air pollution in china
Air pollution in China is a growing problem, with three out of four city dwellers living below the air quality standard. Acid rain, a major cause of poor air quality in the 1990s, is now affecting only one-tenth of the country. The increasing output of industrial waste gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide is a contributing factor. In 2002, China ranked first in the world in SO2 emissions, and in 2004 it was third in the populated areas.
According to a study published in 2011, the effects of coal consumption in western countries were linked to 108,600 premature deaths in China. Of this number, ten percent came from pollution imported from the US and seventeen percent came from Europe. Those numbers do not include the costs associated with chronic illness caused by air pollution. The study also shows that China is paying a huge price for this dirty air, with some estimates putting the total at more than 4,000 premature deaths a day. Meanwhile, the social unrest in recent years has been attributed to pollution, with complaints amplified by social media.
The rapid growth of the Chinese population has increased the local demand for more vehicles, as has the need for more exports. Despite the growing number of vehicles, air pollution in China is a significant problem. In order to address this problem, China has taken new steps and introduced laws to limit the damage caused by globalization. But, as a major consumer of coal, China has been importing coal from its neighbors.
Small-scale rural factories are major polluters
China has been a large emitter of carbon since 2006, accounting for 28 percent of the world’s total emissions. The country is also investing heavily in renewable energy, acquitting $127 billion in 2017 alone – 45 percent of the world’s total. China has signed the Paris Agreement, which commits to reducing its carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 to 2020. In 2017, China reached this milestone, and similar requirements will be imposed in other sectors as well.
Environmental problems in China are limiting its GDP growth. According to some estimates, the lack of water in China costs the country $36 billion in lost industrial output annually, and acid rain causes health effects worth $13 billion a year. Currently, China is suffering from an epidemic of asthma and other respiratory problems – two diseases caused by air pollution. But with no immediate solutions in sight, environmental problems could derail China’s economic development.
Chinese firms have developed ways to circumvent environmental regulations, and foreign companies should stay away from such risky practices. Multinationals must consider both the incentives and power distribution in China’s political system. If their corporate strategy does not take environmental protection into account, it could become a nightmare. They must also be prepared for the risk of political instability and intellectual property rights violations. Nonetheless, multinationals must not let this deter them from investing in environmental protection in China.
Trade liberalization
There are several studies on the relationship between trade policy uncertainty and air pollution in China. Some have found that trade policy uncertainty reduces the growth of PM2.5 concentrations in Chinese cities. Others have found that the effect is greater for SO2 than CO2 emissions. While the results of these studies are mixed, one study suggests that trade policy uncertainty may have a positive impact on air pollution in China. This study uses data from two-hundred and sixty-six Chinese prefecture-level cities.
The relationship between trade liberalization and environmental quality has long been a subject of debate. While there is little evidence that trade does not impact the environment, many studies show that trade can improve the environment. China’s increased trade has led to increases in domestic air pollution in several areas, including greenhouse gases, SOX and NOX, as well as NH3, which causes PM2.5 pollution. While this is generally good news for the environment, there are still concerns over pollution-causing practices and their impact on the local environment.
Fortunately, most of China’s major export industries do not contribute to air pollution. In fact, as the export bundle evolves, the proportion of cleaner sectors increases. In 1995, textiles and apparel constituted the largest share of exports. By 2005, office and computing machinery and communications equipment had the fastest-growing share. Both sectors are cleaner than textiles and apparel. In addition, they are among the most popular manufacturing sectors in the world.
There is no clear evidence that trade liberalization causes air pollution in China. Evidence on this issue is mixed and depends on the time period, countries studied, and pollutants considered. Some of the most relevant studies on the relationship between trade and environmental pollution are Dean (2001) and Copeland and Taylor (2004). These studies rely on time-series data on air pollution in China and SEPA. The study’s results are useful for corroboration of trends, but the methodology used to calculate them is flawed.
Increased spending on public health
As the world increasingly turns to global health initiatives, China’s commitment to health has grown, particularly in Africa. The African Union (AU) has consistently included health cooperation as a key theme in their frameworks, while China has also made commitments to provide health assistance in Africa. Similar evolutions have been observed in the south-south fora as well. In addition, China’s increasing commitment to global health initiatives has resulted in the creation of several governmental and non-government health programs in the region.
The number of deaths caused by environmental pollution in China has increased by 13% per year since 2010. According to the WHO, Chinese city dwellers have blood lead levels that are double the dangerous level, endangering children’s mental development. Furthermore, exposure to air pollution during early childhood increases the risk of respiratory diseases. Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and early childhood can lead to low infant weight and increased morbidity.
Universities have also played an important role in China’s domestic health reforms. They have partnered with local governments to develop innovative health solutions, evaluated their impact, and provided expert advice to government departments. In response to this growing engagement with global health, universities in China have established centres for research on global health. The GHSP has supported research on China’s large-scale programs, reviewed China’s experience, and published findings for an international audience.
In addition to the environmental impact, China’s rapid industrialization has caused an environmental crisis that threatens the health of its 1.4 billion people and the global fight against climate change. As the world’s largest source of greenhouse gases in recent years, China suffers from extreme air pollution and water scarcity. Its carbon-intensive industries are also responsible for soil contamination and water shortages. These problems will only get worse in the coming decades.
Population growth
The rapid urbanization of China’s large population poses a significant challenge for its environmental management. While ambient PM2*5 concentrations in the whole population are well below the WHO Air Quality Guideline, 81% of the population lives in regions with concentrations that exceed WHO Interim Target 1. Therefore, an adaptation of a sustainable urban planning strategy is of paramount importance to the Chinese government. Here are some key issues to be addressed.
Developing countries like China have been grappling with the challenge of air pollution, and they have been slow to respond. The government has relied on command-and-control methods to curb pollution. But these have been costly, and China is entering the next phase of the “war on pollution.” In this new era, effective pollution reduction measures must be cost-effective while simultaneously reducing costs. China can achieve both goals with market-based approaches to air pollution control.
Rapid economic growth has resulted in serious air pollution problems in China. Despite many measures to combat pollution, these problems are largely based on a combination of factors, such as topography and weather patterns. In Beijing, for example, coal-burning industries to the south and east have caused the region to experience elevated levels of air pollution. The high concentrations of coal-burning industries are carried into the city by the wind and trapped by mountains to the north and west.
The study also finds a relationship between air pollution and mortality rates. The study found that the age-standardised death rate in China was the highest in Xinjiang and Hebei and the lowest in Shanghai and Beijing. However, the overall death rate remained high because of population growth and aging, even as the exposure and mortality rate decreased. This suggests that air pollution has a direct impact on the health of China’s population.
