Who Pollutes The Most? China's Pollution Problem

China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with a significant portion of its emissions coming from coal-burning power plants. In 2019, China emitted 27% of the world's greenhouse gases, more than the entire developed world combined. The country has a considerable lead in mercury air pollution and is the largest source of marine debris and the worst perpetrator of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. China's pollution has had severe health impacts on its citizens, with air pollution being a significant cause of premature deaths. Despite these challenges, China has made efforts to reduce pollution, such as implementing measures to constrain coal consumption and investing in electric cars and afforestation.

China's high levels of air pollution

One of the primary contributors to China's air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal. Coal-fired power plants are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, with China running more than half of the world's coal plants. The country's heavy reliance on coal has resulted in it being the largest emitter of methane from coal mines, producing over 14% of global methane emissions. China's emissions of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are also significant, with waste treatment accounting for 7.06% of its total greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.

In addition to greenhouse gases, China also faces issues with other forms of air pollution. Lead poisoning has been described as one of the most common paediatric health problems in the country, with one-third of Chinese children suffering from elevated serum lead levels. Metal smelters and the battery industry have been identified as major contributors to lead pollution. Furthermore, China leads the world in mercury air pollution, both from its own coal-burning plants and those it finances and operates in other countries.

The Chinese government has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and has implemented various measures to address air pollution. Beijing, for instance, has made significant strides in improving air quality, with PM2.5 levels dropping to a record low in August 2019. China has also invested heavily in reducing air pollution, with its Academy for Environmental Planning pledging $277 billion towards this effort in 2013. The country has further committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2060, with a peak no later than 2030.

Despite these efforts, China's air pollution remains a pressing issue. The overall pollution levels dropped by 10% between 2017 and 2018, but they rose again by early 2021. China's NDC rating, which reflects its commitment to reducing emissions, has been deemed "highly insufficient" by the Climate Action Tracker. Additionally, China has faced criticism for its lack of transparency regarding air quality data, with the US Embassy in Beijing revealing that the city's air quality was worse than the Chinese government had publicly admitted.

China's coal power reliance

China has been actively pursuing an energy transition towards cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy for several years. However, China is heavily reliant on coal power, which has traditionally been the dominant source of energy in the country. Coal power makes up about 70% of emissions in China, and the country is currently running 1,058 coal plants, which is more than half of the world's capacity. China emitted 27% of the world's greenhouse gases in 2019, more than all developed nations combined.

China's dependence on coal not only provides employment and economic output but also generates export revenues and consumption. Over 3.21 million people in China depend directly on coal-related jobs, and coal-dependent regions often have specialized "mono-industry" areas closely tied to the coal value chain. This high reliance on coal means that the closure or repurposing of coal mines and power plants could have significant economic and social consequences.

The Chinese government has set targets to cap coal consumption and reduce its share in the country's energy mix. They have promoted the use of cleaner coal technologies such as ultra-supercritical and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants. China has also been exploring new technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen fuel cells to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels. While China's energy transition has made progress, challenges remain. The country's power grid infrastructure needs upgrading to better integrate renewable energy sources, and there is a need for continued investment in research and development of new technologies.

Despite China's efforts to reduce coal consumption and emissions, there has been a recent flurry of approvals for new coal-fired plants, raising doubts about the country's commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. China's energy security plans and the economic incentives of coal revenues and jobs have driven the construction of new coal power plants. However, China has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, and it remains to be seen whether they will approve new coal plants after 2025.

Lead poisoning in Chinese children

China's air pollution has been described as a significant health threat, with an estimated 300,000 people dying annually from ambient air pollution. Lead poisoning, in particular, is a prevalent issue among Chinese children, with one-third of them suffering from elevated serum lead levels. This problem is attributed to various factors, including industrial activities, traffic, e-waste, and the use of leaded gasoline.

To address this issue, the Chinese government has implemented measures such as shutting down home factories, screening local residents' BLLs, and monitoring the environment. However, there is a perceived lack of adequate control over exposure sources, and policy strategies are needed to further reduce lead exposure. These strategies can include legislation, regulation, public notification, and product labeling to improve consumer awareness.

The prevention of lead poisoning in children involves risk assessment, parental health education, and further research by public health providers. Public health nurses play a crucial role in this regard. High-level lead poisoning can have severe health consequences, including anemia, multi-organ damage, seizures, coma, and even death. Chronic low-level lead poisoning can also impact cognitive, psychological, and neurobehavioral development, as well as physical health, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.

While China has made efforts to reduce overall pollution, with a significant decrease between 2017 and 2018, lead poisoning in children remains a critical concern. The country's large population and reliance on coal power contribute to its high emissions, and it has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2060.

China's plastic waste

China is the world's largest producer and exporter of single-use plastics and virgin plastics (plastics made without any recycled materials). The country is also home to about a third of the world's companies operating single-use plastic production facilities. In 2019, Sinopec, a state-owned oil and gas firm, was the third-largest single-use plastic waste producer, churning out about 5.3 million tonnes of plastics. China's annual plastic waste production is about 60 million tonnes, of which only about 30% is recycled.

Recognising the environmental risks and low economic benefits of importing plastic waste, China implemented a ban on solid waste imports in 2017, which came into effect on 1 January 2018. The ban prohibited 24 types of solid waste, including eight types of post-consumer plastic scrap. This abrupt ban significantly reduced global plastic waste trade flow and prompted changes in waste treatment systems worldwide. Before the ban, China's annual imports of plastic waste reached 8.88 million tons, with 70.6% either buried or mismanaged, leading to severe environmental problems.

China has also taken steps to address its domestic plastic waste problem. In 2008, a ban on free plastic bags in supermarkets and shops was enacted, reducing plastic bag usage by more than two-thirds. Additionally, China has targeted the production and use of ultra-thin plastic bags, with some success. However, plastic pollution remains a critical issue in China, and the country is the largest source of mismanaged plastic waste and the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution.

China's emissions of HFC-23

China's emissions have been a cause for concern for many years, with the country emitting more greenhouse gases than the entire developed world combined. China emitted 27% of the world's greenhouse gases in 2019, with the US in second place at 11%.

China's reliance on coal power is a significant contributor to its high emissions, with the country running 1,058 coal plants, which is more than half of the world's capacity. In addition to coal, China's agricultural sector is a significant source of pollution, generating more waste than factories. Lead poisoning is also a prevalent issue, with one-third of Chinese children suffering from elevated serum lead levels due to pollution from metal smelters and the battery industry.

In recent years, China has taken steps to reduce its emissions, with overall pollution falling by 10% between 2017 and 2018. Beijing has also seen improvements, with the lowest PM2.5 on record in August 2019. China has invested significant sums in efforts to reduce air pollution, including a $277 billion pledge in 2013 to combat urban air pollution.

China has also made efforts to address its emissions of HFC-23, a highly potent greenhouse gas that is a byproduct of producing HCFC-22, which is used to make Teflon. In 2021, China signed the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, a binding international agreement to curb HFC-23 emissions. China's ratification of the Kigali Amendment was a significant step as the country was responsible for producing two-thirds of the world's HCFC-22. Through a U.N. program in the 2000s and a Chinese subsidy program from 2015 to 2019, HCFC-22 producers in China installed incinerators to destroy HFC-23. By 2021, 17 out of 19 active HCFC-22 producers had installed incinerators, which can destroy 99.9% of waste HFC-23 at a low cost.

However, China's HFC-23 emissions remain a concern. A study published in 2023 found that 40% of HFC-23 emissions came from eastern China, suggesting that the country may be violating the Kigali Amendment. Elevated concentrations of HFC-23 were detected at remote monitoring sites worldwide, including South Korea's Jeju Island, even after China was supposed to have ceased emitting HFC-23 under the agreement. While China's HFC-23 emissions were reported at relatively low levels in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, emissions ticked up slightly from 2021 to 2023. The lack of specific emissions standards or penalties for non-compliance in China may contribute to the ongoing issue.

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