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dead one.
Despite recent state recognition of the dire state of affairs and subsequent efforts to
curb pollution in the PRC, the outlook hasnt looked promising for the next 10 to 15
years and thats from Chinas own minister for environmental protection, Chen
Jining. Yet amidst all the doom and gloom, a sliver of good news has managed to
penetrate the smog.
Chinas air is getting significantly better.
From China Dialogue:
Hao Jiming, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an
expert on atmospheric pollution, said the improvement is down to
tough law enforcement and anti-pollution policies taking effect.
Energy use is becoming cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable, he
added. Coal consumption, which fell in 2014, has become an important
indicator of success in dealing with air pollution.
According to Greenpeace, during the first half of this year, air quality has improved in
a majority of Chinese cities. PM2 (particulate matter) levels fell by an average of 16%
compared to the same period last year. While levels are still far above the World
Health Organizations recommended 10 micrograms per cubic meter, in a country
where air quality often become hazardous, this is good news.
Chinas decidedly less stringent goal of 35 micrograms per cubic meter was only
achieved by five of the 31 provinces ranked by Greenpeace East Asia.
Its the economy, stupid
While Greenpeaces headline credits the policies of the Chinese state, a piece in
the Wall Street Journal claims that the governments war on pollution has also been
aided by an economic slowdown, albeit one that is partially the result of state policies:
To accomplish its goals, economists have said the government must let
economic growthwhich has already slowed to 7%sag further in a
transition that will see workers laid off but more money spent on
environmental controls and better-quality manufacturing. []
Interviews with executives, local officials and pollution experts show the
government taking a multipronged approach, squeezing out small-time
industrial producers that contribute to smog and overcapacity while
tightening inspections of big producers and forcing them to upgrade
equipment.