The adaptive challenge of the air pollution in China
The adaptive challenge of the air pollution in China
Globalization is defined as the process of conducting financial cooperation globally and enhancing international investment markets (Jeffery, 2002). It improves the communication across the countries and encourages close collaborations as well. China implemented reform and opening-up policies in 1978, which has brought ground-breaking changes in economics, politics and cultures (Garnaut et al., 2018). China has been exposed to a range of opportunities of economic cooperation and exchanges with other countries that facilitate the development of the country, particularly in its economic enhancement.
A number of multinational corporations, for example, Samsung, Sharp, Volkswagen, etc., have set up manufacturing factories in China due to the lower labor cost (Gad, 2022). The establishment of the factories has provided a lot of job opportunities for the local people and, to a large extent, facilitated the fast development of the local cities and the increase of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, in order to obtain more profits, these factories neglected the protection of local environment in the manufacturing process. They did not apply the same effective methods in their home counties to filter pollutants in China. The long-time emission of chemicals into the river and air has already started polluting the local and surrounding environment, especially the air pollution.
To date, the air pollution in China has become more and more serious. Smog has been a common phenomenon across major cities in China, such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, etc., particularly in winter. It is mainly caused by the emission from heavy pollutant factories, such as auto (Volkswagen) and electronics (Samsung and Sharp) manufacturing industries. These world factories rely on coal, consume millions of tons of raw steel every year that send off similar tons of chemicals and pollutants into the air (Zhou, 2016). Such practice has greatly polluted the air surrounded and definitely impacted other cities due to the flow of the air. Also, auto emission is another important contribution to smog. With the increase of the living standard, more and more Chinese people afford to buy cars. The increasing number of cars is certain to add pollutant to the air. Smog has impacted peoples health and daily routines already. Children and old people are the most vulnerable groups to be influenced by the smog.
Compared to the United States and European countries, China does not have detailed and strict environmental laws to discipline the practice of individuals and corporations (Zhou, 2016). This is the reason why the world factories take the advantage of the local policies, which has caused massive environmental problems. The burning of coal or oil for the manufacturing purpose generates large amount of minuscule particles that has slowly changed environmental patterns and deteriorated the air.
PM2.5, which is atmospheric particulate matter having a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (Bliss Air, 2023), has been employed to supervise the air quality in China. Due to minute size, PM2.5 can easily get into the lungs through the nose and throat and may even into peoples circulatory system (Bliss Air, 2023). The long-time exposure to the air with heavy PM2.5 leads to the serious lung diseases and even the lung cancer. The statistics of PM2.5 can be examined by using the advanced technologies. Currently, Chinese Government releases the statistics of PM2.5 via different Medias every day and advises peoples activities as well. For example, schools and institutions are advised to stop outdoor activities once the thickness of PM2.5 has reached a certain statistics. When PM2.5 has reached to the serious polluting level, all schools are advised to close. Students are suggested to stay inside. This has increased peoples awareness of air pollution, particularly the seriousness of smog and PM2.5, and may minimize the impacts of air pollution to people. Additionally, a range of air filter equipment has been designed by using the current technologies to purify the air. A number of air filter machines have been installed in schools, institutions and office buildings to purify the air and provide clean air for people.
A more complete and strict revised environmental law, which is incorporated into the Constitution, has come into effect in 2016 (Zhou, 2016). This law provides details to discipline firms and individuals in the manufacturing practice. It also offers more power to the Chinese authorities to punish those firms and individuals not obeying the law and keeping polluting the environment. However, the conduct of the law is not easy as predicted. Some corporations and individuals still keep sending off pollutants to the surroundings as the profits they could earn are far more beyond the fines. More serious punishment or fines should be applied to these firms and individuals.
At the same time, some local policies restrict the running of cars, for example, Beijing and Shanghai. Old models of cars with high pollutant emission are forced to be discarded. New models of cars, particularly those consume electricity and have zero emission, are introduced to people. Auto industries, for example, Volkswagen and Audi, are encouraged to utilize new technologies to develop new models cars with low pollutant emission. In addition, in order to reduce the pollutant emission at the current stage, cars are restricted to run within certain areas and timeframes on specific dates in accordance with the registered numbers. This is an effective method to reduce the air pollution in major cities in China.
It is advised by Bingqing Hu, a scientist at Chinese Research academy of Environmental Sciences, that restructuring industries could be the most effective way to battle pollution (Zhou, 2016). It is important for the Chinese Government to consider the industrial structures when introducing world factories of multinational corporations as some of them might become polluting sectors. Some local governments in China have realized this and put it into practice, which in turn, has achieved satisfying results.
In conclusion, Globalization has enhanced the rapid economic development in China but the setup of world factories has caused serious air pollution in major cities in China. To date, the revised environmental law and local policies as well as the Government guidance advice have facilitated the resolution of the challenge. A more strict law could be generated to discipline the performance individuals and firms. Also, more pollution control technologies could be applied in practice.
References
Bliss Air. (2023). What is PM2.5 and why you should care. https://blissair.com/what-is-pm-2-5.htm
Gad, S. (2022, May 22). Investing in China. Investopedia. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/invest_china.aspGarnaut, R., Song, L, & Fang, C. (2018). Chinas 40 years of reform and development: 1978-2018. Australian National University Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv5cgbnk
Jeffery S. (2002, October 31). What is globalization? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/oct/31/globalisation.simonjefferyZhou, V. (2016, September 8). Climate change in East Asia caused by Chinas air pollution, study reveals ... because its making goods for the West. South China Morning Post. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2017595/climate-change-east-asia-caused-chinas-air-pollution
