China. China - geography The worlds largest population 1/5 of the worlds total population Complex environment worlds largest and highest mountain plateau.

China

China - geography

China - geography

The worlds largest population1/5 of the worlds total population

Complex environmentworlds largest and highest mountain plateau

Two of the worlds longest rivers

Many lakes

Long coastline and continental shelf

The worlds largest population1/5 of the worlds total population

Complex environmentworlds largest and highest mountain plateau

Two of the worlds longest rivers

Many lakes

Long coastline and continental shelf

Ecosystem range from glaciers, deserts, grassland, wetlands, tropical rainforest

Ecosystem range from glaciers, deserts, grassland, wetlands, tropical rainforest

Demographic and resource pressures

Demographic and resource pressures

• Population growth 2-3% pa from 1950-70s, has slowed down to 0.7% since the one child policy

However:• Household numbers grows 3 times faster.• Household size have decreased from 4.5 to 3.5

people in 15 years. Estimated to be 2.2 by 2030

• Added another 8 mio. Households in 2000• Per household floor area tripled in 30 years• Urbanization incr. from 13% to 39%

from 1952-2003.

• Population growth 2-3% pa from 1950-70s, has slowed down to 0.7% since the one child policy

However:• Household numbers grows 3 times faster.• Household size have decreased from 4.5 to 3.5

people in 15 years. Estimated to be 2.2 by 2030

• Added another 8 mio. Households in 2000• Per household floor area tripled in 30 years• Urbanization incr. from 13% to 39%

from 1952-2003.

Population distributionPopulation distribution

Density highest in south east 94% of population lives on 43% of the land

Density highest in south east 94% of population lives on 43% of the land

China’s EconomyChina’s Economy• Fastest growing economy

10% paLargest producer of steel, television sets and aquaculture

• Largest consumption of coal, fertilizer, pesticides and tobacco

• Near the top in production of electricity, cars, chemical textiles

• 2003 production of steel, cement, chemical fiber and color TV incr. by 7, 13, 42, and 17214 times respectively

• Fastest growing economy 10% paLargest producer of steel, television sets and aquaculture

• Largest consumption of coal, fertilizer, pesticides and tobacco

• Near the top in production of electricity, cars, chemical textiles

• 2003 production of steel, cement, chemical fiber and color TV incr. by 7, 13, 42, and 17214 times respectively

China’s EconomyChina’s

Economy • Consumption of meat, milk and egg increased 4, 4 and 8 fold respectively from 1978 to 2002.

• Number of vehicles increased 6 fold from 1980 to 1994

• The traditional Township-Village Enterprises (TVE) very energy inefficient and based on coal

• Foreign investment in new industries better but double edged

• Consumption of meat, milk and egg increased 4, 4 and 8 fold respectively from 1978 to 2002.

• Number of vehicles increased 6 fold from 1980 to 1994

• The traditional Township-Village Enterprises (TVE) very energy inefficient and based on coal

• Foreign investment in new industries better but double edged

Driven by foreign

investment

Driven by foreign

investment

China’s PolicyChina’s Policy• Believed that humans could and should

conquer nature and that only capitalist countries suffered from environmental damage

• This changed in 1972 when China attended the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment

• Environmental protection a basic national principle in 1983

• Strategy to achieve sustainability in 1994• 2003 Sustainable development and harmony

between man and nature• Rhetoric or reality – economy still main driver

• Believed that humans could and should conquer nature and that only capitalist countries suffered from environmental damage

• This changed in 1972 when China attended the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment

• Environmental protection a basic national principle in 1983

• Strategy to achieve sustainability in 1994• 2003 Sustainable development and harmony

between man and nature• Rhetoric or reality – economy still main driver

In summaryIn summary

• Population and household growth +• Escalating production and

consumption of natural resources +• Increased emission of air and water

pollutant +• Increased affluence +• Considerable pressure on the natural

resource base and environment +

• Population and household growth +• Escalating production and

consumption of natural resources +• Increased emission of air and water

pollutant +• Increased affluence +• Considerable pressure on the natural

resource base and environment +

Environmental ConsequencesEnvironmental Consequences

• Chinas environmental problems are among the most severe of any major country and are getting worse:

• Air pollution• Land Degradation• Cropland losses• Desertification• Disappearing

wetlands

• Chinas environmental problems are among the most severe of any major country and are getting worse:

• Air pollution• Land Degradation• Cropland losses• Desertification• Disappearing

wetlands

• Grassland degradation• Soil erosion• Overgrazing• Salinization

• Water pollution and shortage• Freshwater • Groundwater depletion• Oceans

• Loss of biodiversity – increase in invasive species

• Grassland degradation• Soil erosion• Overgrazing• Salinization

• Water pollution and shortage• Freshwater • Groundwater depletion• Oceans

• Loss of biodiversity – increase in invasive species

Health ConsequencesHealth Consequences

Air pollutionAir pollution • Most severe env. health problem

• 3 out of 4 city dwellers live below Chinas air-quality standards

• Acid rain fell on a quarter of cities for more than 60% of rainy days

• High mortality rate from lung disease,

• High rate of lung cancer because of smoking

• Most severe env. health problem

• 3 out of 4 city dwellers live below Chinas air-quality standards

• Acid rain fell on a quarter of cities for more than 60% of rainy days

• High mortality rate from lung disease,

• High rate of lung cancer because of smoking

Iron, steel and chemical factories spew sot, fly ash and sulfur dioxide into the air

Pollutant trapped in the valley and within the walls of the city. 2 million people live Taiyuan – Shansi Province

Iron, steel and chemical factories spew sot, fly ash and sulfur dioxide into the air

Pollutant trapped in the valley and within the walls of the city. 2 million people live Taiyuan – Shansi Province

CO2 emission - ChinaCO2 emission - China• Indoor air pollution.

Women in Xuan Wei in Yunnan province has the highest lung cancer rate among Chinese women. From the burning of unclean coals in the homes without ventilation

• Improving as industries achieve emission standards – change from coal to gas

• Indoor air pollution. Women in Xuan Wei in Yunnan province has the highest lung cancer rate among Chinese women. From the burning of unclean coals in the homes without ventilation

• Improving as industries achieve emission standards – change from coal to gas

Social equity on CO2 emission

Social equity on CO2 emission

• CO2 emission, largely a by-product of energy production and use

• Low and middle income countries have seen a relatively much higher increase in CO2 emission

• CO2 emission, largely a by-product of energy production and use

• Low and middle income countries have seen a relatively much higher increase in CO2 emission

Water pollutionWater pollution

• •

Arsenic contaminated water

Arsenic contaminated water Skeletal fluorosisSkeletal fluorosis

• Second most severe env. health problem

• Sewage, agricultural and industrial waste contaminates water supplies and cause many deceases

• Much surface and groundwater is declared heavily polluted by heavy metals incl. lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and fluorides.

• China’s per capita water availability only ¼ of world average - shortage

• Second most severe env. health problem

• Sewage, agricultural and industrial waste contaminates water supplies and cause many deceases

• Much surface and groundwater is declared heavily polluted by heavy metals incl. lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and fluorides.

• China’s per capita water availability only ¼ of world average - shortage

Water PollutionWater Pollution• More than 700 mio people consume

drinking water contaminated with levels of animal and human excreta that exceed maximum permissible levels by as much as 86% in rural areas and 28% in urban areas

• By 1996 only 5% of industrial and 17% of domestic waste received any treatment before being discharged in rivers, lakes, oceans etc. However these percentages are increasing

• Also dramatic increase in fresh water aquaculture

• More than 700 mio people consume drinking water contaminated with levels of animal and human excreta that exceed maximum permissible levels by as much as 86% in rural areas and 28% in urban areas

• By 1996 only 5% of industrial and 17% of domestic waste received any treatment before being discharged in rivers, lakes, oceans etc. However these percentages are increasing

• Also dramatic increase in fresh water aquaculture

Cancer mortality from water pollution - TVE

Cancer mortality from water pollution - TVE

• Increase in cancer mortality over time in control area, polluted and most polluted townships

• Show that increased pollution results in increased mortality

• steady increase in cancer mortality over time in polluted areas

• Increase in cancer mortality over time in control area, polluted and most polluted townships

• Show that increased pollution results in increased mortality

• steady increase in cancer mortality over time in polluted areas

Liver and stomach cancer deaths doubled since the 1970s. China hasHighest liver cancer dead rate in theworld

Liver and stomach cancer deaths doubled since the 1970s. China hasHighest liver cancer dead rate in theworld

Cancer death and anemia from sewage storage -

Urbanization

Cancer death and anemia from sewage storage -

Urbanization

Deceases investigated:

• Cancer• Liver cancer• Esophageal cancer• Anemia InControl areaPolluted area (along

the canal)Most polluted area

(near the lake)

Deceases investigated:

• Cancer• Liver cancer• Esophageal cancer• Anemia InControl areaPolluted area (along

the canal)Most polluted area

(near the lake)

Baoding City disposed 250,000 tons of sewage per day into lake via a Canal

Baoding City disposed 250,000 tons of sewage per day into lake via a Canal

Cancer mortality and birth defects – changes to

agriculture

Cancer mortality and birth defects – changes to

agricultureImpact of new practice of using industrial wastewater for irrigation70 km long canal build in 1960, daily received 400,000 m3 of untreated wastewater from coalmines and petrochemical, power and chemical plants – increasing cancer mortality and birth defect

Impact of new practice of using industrial wastewater for irrigation70 km long canal build in 1960, daily received 400,000 m3 of untreated wastewater from coalmines and petrochemical, power and chemical plants – increasing cancer mortality and birth defect

Ocean pollutionOcean pollution

Production of aquaculture freshwater fish has increased

steeply

Production of aquaculture freshwater fish has increased

steeply

Water ShortageWater Shortage• Unevenly distributed North only 1/3 of

South• 100 cities suffer from severe shortages,

halting industrial production. 300 cities out of Chinas 617 Cities suffer from shortage

• 2/3 from groundwater mining – salt water intrusion in coastal areas and subsidence in some cities

• World’s worst cessation of river flows. Yellow river stopped flowing during 20 of the years 1972-1997

• Number of days without flow up from 90 in 1980 to 230 in 1997

• Unevenly distributed North only 1/3 of South

• 100 cities suffer from severe shortages, halting industrial production. 300 cities out of Chinas 617 Cities suffer from shortage

• 2/3 from groundwater mining – salt water intrusion in coastal areas and subsidence in some cities

• World’s worst cessation of river flows. Yellow river stopped flowing during 20 of the years 1972-1997

• Number of days without flow up from 90 in 1980 to 230 in 1997

Water shortageWater shortageCompetition rural urban intensifying:

Residential use incr. from 31 to 134 bil.

tons from 1995 to 2003 while industrial use Incr. from 52 to 269

bil.tonFarmers can not compete economically1000 ton of water in agriculture = $200 while in industry it = $14,000 of profit.Virtual water?

Competition rural urban intensifying:

Residential use incr. from 31 to 134 bil.

tons from 1995 to 2003 while industrial use Incr. from 52 to 269

bil.tonFarmers can not compete economically1000 ton of water in agriculture = $200 while in industry it = $14,000 of profit.Virtual water?

The farmer holds a small irrigator used to lift water out of a canal using small buckets

The farmer holds a small irrigator used to lift water out of a canal using small buckets

The Yangtze Basin – Three Gorges

dam

The Yangtze Basin – Three Gorges

dam

• The worlds largest water project –

• one of the worlds largest hydropower projects

• Average annual run –off 451 bil. ton

• Significant social and env. impact

• May silt up in 50 years

• Will move water to northern China

• The worlds largest water project –

• one of the worlds largest hydropower projects

• Average annual run –off 451 bil. ton

• Significant social and env. impact

• May silt up in 50 years

• Will move water to northern China

Three Gorges DamThree Gorges Dam

• Figure 1• Figure 1

The Three Gorges Dam will move water from south to the north

The Three Gorges Dam will move water from south to the north

Soil erosion affects 19% of land

Soil erosion affects 19% of land

As a result of human activity, such as• Deforestation for agriculture and logging• Destruction of vegetation (grassland)• Cultivation on steep slopes• Drying out of wetlands for agriculture and city

develop Consequences• Deposition of sediment in the river bed causing

more frequent flooding leading to the deposition of coarse sediment particles and secondary alkalization

• In one area more than doubling the area of eroded land from the 1960s to 80s

As a result of human activity, such as• Deforestation for agriculture and logging• Destruction of vegetation (grassland)• Cultivation on steep slopes• Drying out of wetlands for agriculture and city

develop Consequences• Deposition of sediment in the river bed causing

more frequent flooding leading to the deposition of coarse sediment particles and secondary alkalization

• In one area more than doubling the area of eroded land from the 1960s to 80s

Over grazing- increase in number of goat, sheep and

cattle

Over grazing- increase in number of goat, sheep and

cattleIncreasing desertification, the Gobi desert expanded by 52,400 km2 from 1994 to 1999Winter storms create enormous dust storms affecting Korea and Japan

Increasing desertification, the Gobi desert expanded by 52,400 km2 from 1994 to 1999Winter storms create enormous dust storms affecting Korea and Japan

Terraces for Rice Growing

Arable land mainly in the eastArable land mainly in the east

Arable land where most development takes place

Arable land where most development takes place

Severity of Human Induced Soil Degradation

Severity of Human Induced Soil Degradation

The destruction of agricultural land poses a big problem

for China’s food security

The destruction of agricultural land poses a big problem

for China’s food security

Consequences for China’s people

Consequences for China’s people

• Socio-economic losses• $72 mil per year is spend to control just one weed

imported from Brazil for pig forage• $250 mil in annual loss arising from factory

closure due to shortage of water just in one city• Sand storm damage app $540 mil/year• Acid rain damage to crop and forest $730 mil/year• $6 bil cost of green wall to protect Beijing• $7 bil/year losses due to desertification• $7 bil/year due to losses from other alien species• $27 bil loss due to flood in 1998• $54 bil/year losses due to water and air pollution

• Socio-economic losses• $72 mil per year is spend to control just one weed

imported from Brazil for pig forage• $250 mil in annual loss arising from factory

closure due to shortage of water just in one city• Sand storm damage app $540 mil/year• Acid rain damage to crop and forest $730 mil/year• $6 bil cost of green wall to protect Beijing• $7 bil/year losses due to desertification• $7 bil/year due to losses from other alien species• $27 bil loss due to flood in 1998• $54 bil/year losses due to water and air pollution

Consequences for China’s people

Consequences for China’s people

• Health cost• 1996 to 2001 spending on public health incr.

by 80%• App 300,000 death/year due to air pollution• Lead blood level in cities twice the level

considered to be dangerous• Natural disasters• AD300 to 1949 dust storms once every 31

years. Since 1990 almost one every year – soil erosion

• Drought damage about 160,000 km2 of cropland every year – double the area in 1950s

• Increasing flood frequency

• Health cost• 1996 to 2001 spending on public health incr.

by 80%• App 300,000 death/year due to air pollution• Lead blood level in cities twice the level

considered to be dangerous• Natural disasters• AD300 to 1949 dust storms once every 31

years. Since 1990 almost one every year – soil erosion

• Drought damage about 160,000 km2 of cropland every year – double the area in 1950s

• Increasing flood frequency

China in the global villageChina in the global village• The shear size of China’s population, its landmass

and economy guarantee that its environmental problems will spread to the rest of the world

• Beneficial and harmful imports• China importing natural gas and oil– reduces

environmental damage from the use of coal• Countries transferring pollution-intensive industries to

China – using technology often prohibited in the exporting country

• China paid to accept toxic trash from developed countries (increased from 1 mio to 11 mio t/p.a. 1990-1997)

• Exports causing damage at home• Products go abroad but pollution stays at home

• The shear size of China’s population, its landmass and economy guarantee that its environmental problems will spread to the rest of the world

• Beneficial and harmful imports• China importing natural gas and oil– reduces

environmental damage from the use of coal• Countries transferring pollution-intensive industries to

China – using technology often prohibited in the exporting country

• China paid to accept toxic trash from developed countries (increased from 1 mio to 11 mio t/p.a. 1990-1997)

• Exports causing damage at home• Products go abroad but pollution stays at home

China in the global villageChina in the global village

• Invasive spices exported (chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, Asian long-horned beetle)

• Exports air pollution into the atmosphere

• Exports deforestation. China’s import of wood has increased 6 fold; mainly from Malaysia, Papa New Guinea and Brazil

• Invasive spices exported (chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, Asian long-horned beetle)

• Exports air pollution into the atmosphere

• Exports deforestation. China’s import of wood has increased 6 fold; mainly from Malaysia, Papa New Guinea and Brazil

Chinas problem – A global issue

Chinas problem – A global issue

• China largest contributor of • Sulfur oxides• Chorofluorocarbons• Ozone depleting substances and• Carbon dioxides

• China largest contributor of • Sulfur oxides• Chorofluorocarbons• Ozone depleting substances and• Carbon dioxides

Chinas problem – A global issue

Chinas problem – A global issue

• Dust and aerial pollutants already impact neighboring countries

• Leading importer of tropical rainforest timber – a driving force behind tropical deforestation

• What will happen if China achieves 1st world standard of living with 1st world environmental impact per capita

• Dust and aerial pollutants already impact neighboring countries

• Leading importer of tropical rainforest timber – a driving force behind tropical deforestation

• What will happen if China achieves 1st world standard of living with 1st world environmental impact per capita

Are their any hope?Are their any hope?• Increasingly participating in international treaties• Introducing better farming practices and some

traditional environmentally friendly technologies• Becoming less energy intensive• WTO/Olympic caused China to pay more

attention to air pollution• Phased out leaded petrol in little more than a

year (took Europe and N.A. decades)• 1998 ban on logging and National Forest

Conservation program• Grain-to-Green program in 2000, by 2010

130,000 km2 of cropland will be converted. One of the biggest conservation programs in the world

• Increasingly participating in international treaties• Introducing better farming practices and some

traditional environmentally friendly technologies• Becoming less energy intensive• WTO/Olympic caused China to pay more

attention to air pollution• Phased out leaded petrol in little more than a

year (took Europe and N.A. decades)• 1998 ban on logging and National Forest

Conservation program• Grain-to-Green program in 2000, by 2010

130,000 km2 of cropland will be converted. One of the biggest conservation programs in the world

1. Destruction or losses of natural resources: natural habitats wild food sources biological diversity soil2. Ceiling of natural resources: energy freshwater photosynthetic capacity

3. Harmful things that we produce or move around: toxic chemicals alien species atmospheric gases4. Population issues: population is growing per-capita impact