Coal may be the biggest culprit. China has tens of thousands of small mines that pay scant attention to environmental concerns or safety. Such neglect helps keep cost down, making coal the preferred source of energy. Coal-based electricity generation costs a fraction of alternative energy sources.

In most of the country, enforcement of environmental regulations is lax. The State Environmental Protection Administration, which oversees the environment nationally, is woefully understaffed, with a workforce of just 300 in Beijing and only 100 more for the rest of the country. What's more, even where waste-treatment gear is installed, some Chinese companies opt to pay fines rather than operate expensive equipment.

Numbers:
6 of the world's 10 most polluted cities are in China.
Acid rain falls on 1/3 of the mainland.
80% of China's sewage flows untreated into its waterways.
Contaminated water kills more than 30,000 children annually.
Pollution costs China more than $54 billion a year.

 

The good news is that plenty of companies selling green technology are sensing an opportunity in China. Chinese enterprises are buying everything from scrubbers for coal-fired power plants to alternative power sources such as wind turbines and methane gas from decomposing solid waste. China will invest $61 billion in city wastewater treatment facilities between now and 2010. Scrubber sales could reach $1 billion a year. Some 400 non-Chinese companies now sell pollution-control equipment in the country.

 

1) Will China ever be able to control and decrease its pollution?

2) What's the problem with burning coal?

3) What other energy sources could China use?

4) Instead of tapping new sources, one could use energy more efficient. Is China using its energy sources efficient? What could be improved?

5) Ask your teacher for NZZ Format's video about recycling waste. Watch the video and write a short summary.

Source: BusinessWeek, August 22-29, 2005