Brian Barton
China's pollution problem has been a growing concern since the Industrial Revolution. The country's rapid economic growth has been powered largely by coal, a cheap but highly polluting source of energy, which has resulted in immense environmental degradation. China's air pollution problem is so severe that it threatens not only the health of its citizens but also the global economy and global health. In recent years, China has made notable progress in reducing pollution, with levels down by 41%-42% compared to 2013. However, the country still has a long way to go to meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Start of pollution | Mid-to-late 1990s |
| Cause of pollution | Population growth, industrial output, urbanization, motorization, coal consumption, economic growth |
| Pollutants | Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, PM2.5, PM10, mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium, zinc |
| Impact | 350,000–400,000 premature deaths due to air pollution, 300,000 deaths due to poor indoor air quality, 60,000 deaths due to poor water quality, adverse health effects on human metabolism, loss of cultivable land, loss of food grain |
| Action taken | Banning electronic waste imports, limiting the number of cars on roads, banning new coal plants, cutting emissions, reducing industrial activity, increasing forest cover |
| Results | 41-42% decrease in pollution levels between 2013 and 2021, 2 years increase in average life expectancy |
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What You'll Learn
The impact of pollution on health
China's pollution problem has been a growing concern since the country's rapid economic growth and industrialisation, particularly since the 1980s. The impact of this pollution on public health has been significant and wide-ranging.
Air pollution in China is estimated to cause around 2 million deaths per year, with ambient air pollution causing over 1 million of those deaths. The high levels of air pollution in Chinese cities are responsible for 350,000-400,000 premature deaths, and a further 300,000 people die due to poor indoor air quality. The health effects of air pollution are varied, with long-term exposure to pollutants causing respiratory diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The impact of air pollution is particularly severe in developing countries, and China's rapid economic growth has increased the emission of harmful pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and small particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). These fine particles are the main cause of premature deaths in China, with approximately 1 million people dying annually from their effects.
The problem of water pollution in China has also contributed to adverse health outcomes. Poor water quality causes an estimated 60,000 premature deaths each year. Additionally, 38,610 square miles of China's cultivated land have been polluted, with contaminated water used for irrigation, leading to food contamination. An estimated 6 million tonnes of food grain are contaminated by heavy metals every year, causing adverse health effects on human metabolism.
Soil pollution is another pressing issue, threatening food safety and sustainable agriculture. Solid waste has covered or destroyed 2 million square miles of land, and the presence of heavy metals in the soil has further detrimental effects on human health.
The Chinese government has acknowledged the severity of the pollution problem and has implemented various measures to combat it. Since 2014, China has been fighting a "War against Pollution", and significant progress has been made. Pollution levels have decreased by 41% compared to 2013, and the average Chinese citizen can expect to live 2 years longer as a result of these improvements. However, there is still much work to be done, as the current pollution levels still exceed the World Health Organization's guidelines.
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Environmental degradation
China's rapid economic growth has lifted millions of people out of poverty, but it has also resulted in immense environmental degradation. The country's economic growth has historically been powered by fossil fuels, particularly coal, which has caused serious air pollution issues. In 1990, 76.2% of all energy consumed in China was generated by coal, and although this figure has decreased over time, coal still accounted for 57.7% of energy consumption in 2019. As a result, China is the world's leading annual emitter of greenhouse gases and mercury.
The environmental degradation in China has severe domestic and international repercussions, threatening the global economy and global health. According to a 2018 report by Greenpeace and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, air pollution led to economic costs of up to 6.6% of China's GDP. The health risks associated with long-term exposure to pollutants include respiratory diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is estimated that up to 760,000 people die prematurely each year in China due to air and water pollution, with 350,000–400,000 of those deaths attributed to high levels of air pollution in Chinese cities.
In addition to air pollution, China also faces significant soil pollution issues. The immense population growth in the People's Republic of China since the 1980s has resulted in increased soil pollution, threatening the environment, food safety, and sustainable agriculture. An estimated 6 million tonnes of food grain are contaminated by heavy metals each year, causing direct losses. The presence of heavy metals in the soil, including mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium, and zinc, has adverse effects on human metabolism.
China has also faced issues with water pollution, with many of the country's waterways contaminated by industrial discharges and unfit for direct human use. In recent years, China has made some improvements in environmental protection, with pollution levels decreasing since the country announced a "war against pollution" in 2014. These efforts have resulted in a 41-42% reduction in pollution levels compared to 2013, and the average Chinese citizen can now expect to live 2 years longer. However, despite these improvements, China's particulate pollution levels still exceed the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines, and the country continues to face significant environmental challenges.
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Economic costs
China's environmental crisis, the result of decades of rapid industrialization, has resulted in immense levels of environmental degradation. This degradation has come at a significant economic cost to the country.
Air pollution, water scarcity, and soil contamination remain threats to the health and livelihoods of China's people, increasing dissatisfaction with the government. According to a 2018 report by Greenpeace and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, air pollution led to economic costs as high as 6.5% of China's GDP. Another study from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the same year estimated a loss of RMB 267 billion ($38 billion) in revenue annually due to early deaths and lost food production as a result of air pollution. This figure amounts to about 0.7% of national GDP.
In addition to the direct economic costs, pollution also has indirect costs, such as lost productivity due to factory shutdowns on days with poor air quality. Sick days and hospital visits further impact the economy. The environmental crisis has also resulted in a significant public health crisis, with an estimated 1.1 million premature deaths in China annually due to air pollution. Water pollution has also led to an estimated 60,000 deaths in China each year.
China has made some efforts to address these issues, with the government declaring a war on pollution in 2014 and implementing policies to curb emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The country has also invested in low-carbon technologies and renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. However, China's economic development has been heavily reliant on coal, a cheap but highly polluting source of energy, and it continues to finance coal-fired power plants abroad. The challenge of balancing environmental protection with economic growth remains a difficult one for the country.
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Government initiatives
China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has a long history of environmental degradation. In recent years, the Chinese government has implemented various initiatives to tackle the country's air pollution crisis.
In 2013, after record-high air pollution in northern China in 2012 and 2013, the State Council issued an "Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution". This plan aimed to reduce PM2.5 levels by over 10% from 2012 to 2017, with a particular focus on Beijing, where the goal was to reduce PM2.5 by 25% in the same period. The plan involved reducing coal consumption, closing polluting mills, factories, and smelters, and transitioning to eco-friendly energy sources.
The Chinese government has also improved its air quality monitoring systems. Between 2012 and 2020, the number of federal monitoring stations across China nearly tripled from 661 to 1,800, in addition to thousands of locally-funded stations. To further enhance data collection, the government launched a pilot project in Cangzhou City, utilising mobile instruments fitted to taxis to gather real-time air quality data and identify pollution hotspots.
To address financing challenges for renewable energy projects, the Chinese government has partnered with international organisations and financial institutions. The World Bank, for example, has provided loans and grants to support China's air pollution control programs, while also working with Chinese banks like Huaxia Bank to mainstream green finance and provide financing for enterprises to reduce carbon emissions and invest in clean energy.
In 2020, President Xi Jinping pledged that China would peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. To support this goal, Shanghai has committed to reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by 14% compared to 2020 levels and increasing non-fossil energy to 20% of total energy consumption by 2025.
While China has made progress in reducing air pollution, particularly in its large cities, the overall level of air pollution remains a serious health concern, with over 1 million deaths attributed to poor outdoor air quality each year.
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International impact
China's environmental crisis, caused by decades of rapid industrialisation, has had a significant impact on the world. As the world's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, China's carbon-intensive industries have contributed to environmental degradation, including water scarcity and soil contamination. This degradation not only threatens the health and livelihoods of China's 1.4 billion people but also the global fight against climate change.
China's air pollution has international repercussions, with measurable amounts of Chinese pollution being transported via the atmosphere to other countries, including the United States. Traces of smog from mainland China have even reached California. China's emissions of short-lived air pollutants, such as SO2 and NOx, have been linked to increased transboundary air pollution, impacting the global atmospheric environment.
The impact of China's pollution on international relations has also been noted. For example, China's Operation Green Fence program in 2013, which aimed to limit imports of contaminated waste and recyclables, had a negative impact on western waste exporters. This policy caused a ripple effect in the global recyclables market, leading to pile-ups of lower-quality recyclables in Western countries, which were then displaced to other countries, mainly in Southeast Asia.
China's pollution crisis has also led to increased scrutiny and pressure from the international community. Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), often working with foreign counterparts, have pushed the Chinese government to address pollution issues and increase transparency. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing began monitoring the city's air quality in 2008 and publicly disclosed the data, prompting China to strengthen its standards for monitoring air quality. Now, U.S. embassies and consulates are monitoring air pollution in over 70 cities worldwide and providing real-time data through the ZephAir mobile application.
Additionally, China's inability to curb pollution has been cited as a potential threat to its international standing and government legitimacy. Experts warn that the Chinese Communist Party's continued destruction of the environment endangers the global economy and global health, with the worst impact felt by its own citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
China has been polluted for decades, with the problem worsening since the 1980s due to rapid economic growth, industrialization, and population increase.
The primary sources of pollution in China are coal-fired power plants, coal-powered industries (such as steel production), vehicle emissions, and household coal burning.
Since declaring a war against pollution in 2014, China has made significant progress in reducing pollution levels. Measures include limiting vehicle numbers, banning new coal plants in polluted areas, cutting emissions, and reducing high-polluting industrial activities. These efforts have resulted in a 41%-42% decrease in pollution levels between 2013 and 2021.
