A comprehensive study of how China is tackling the multiple
issues of environmental pollution brought about in part by its
rapid economic growth, and assessing its prospects for ultimate
success, has just been published in Beijing by a state publishing
house.
The Greening of China is written by two British experts
who have spent many years studying China's social, industrial and
economic development: Geoffrey Murray, who has worked in Asia as a
journalist and author for over 40 years, including the past 14 in
China, and Professor Ian Cook, who teaches human geography at a
university in Liverpool and has been a frequent visitor to China
for the past two decades.
The two men had previously written a detailed, but more academic
study on China's environmental issues published in Britain in
2002.
China Intercontinental Press, publishing arm of the State
Council Information Office, then suggested that they produce an
entirely new book written in much simpler terms that could be read
and enjoyed by a more general type of reader.
In their preface, the authors state that both books recognize
that China is "tackling a wide range of serious environmental
problems within the context of her rapid industrialization,
urbanization, transition to a market economy and growing
consumerism" that will have great impact not only on the lives of
its own vast population but also on those of its neighbors -- for
pollution is a readily exportable product that is no respecter of
international boundaries.
The book is broken up into six sections. The first considers the
roots of China's environmental concerns, dealing with the country's
physical geography, the historical developments that led to certain
ecological degradation, and then a brief examination of the
modernization process since the founding of the PRC.
The following four sections then go on to consider air pollution
(with separate chapters on industrial pollution, the use of coal
and its alternatives as an energy source, and the rising threat
from traffic congestion in major cities), water-related issues
(pollution of waterways, sharing limited water resources around the
country through ambitious diversion schemes and the Three Gorges
Dam), consumerism and waste disposal, and efforts to recover land
lost to desert or other causes.
In the final section, the two authors then consider the future
through two alternative scenarios, one bleak and one
optimistic.
The Chinese government, they note, is committed to creating a
clean environment, but this will require very heavy investment for
a prolonged period.
At the same time, no amount of money can achieve ultimate
success, unless the vast population of the country is equally
committed to good environmental practices, which means educating
everyone that it is individual actions that lie at the root of any
environmental disaster; grassroots activism also needs to be
encouraged.
They also suggest that the environment has to be factored into
every economic planning decision. Thus, for example, local
government leaders who achieve or surpass economic growth targets
would only be rewarded (with higher pay or a promotion, for
example) if they did so without any proven damage to the
environment.
?
An environmental impact assessment, the authors also suggest,
should be part of every new construction project, and they cite the
example of the current Qinghai-Tibet Railway project as a fine
example of how a sensitive environment has been carefully protected
at all stages of construction.
The Greening of China is written in very
straightforward, non-technical language that it is thought to
appeal to a wider audience than just the environmental specialist.
The authors include many small boxes where they provide a variety
of case histories and background data to supplement the main
text.
Unlike an academic work, there are no direct references for any
of the information provided, but at the end of each chapter the
authors provide a brief section on 'sources and resources' in which
they mention some key potential sources for any reader wishing to
research the subject further.??
"We see this book as a primer for the general reader who has a
deep interest in China and in all aspects of its development," said
Geoffrey Murray. "We approached the book in a positive way, wishing
to give China credit for the work that has been done in recent
years on reversing environmental degradation, while also revealing
some negative points and stressing where we think more work needs
to be done.
"Hopefully this will help promote debate and get more people
involved so that China will have a bright future, where the ills of
deforestation, soil erosion, water and air pollution and the like
are effectively controlled by the concerted efforts of
everyone.
"That's one reason why we chose an essentially optimistic title
for the book."
The book, which is published in English, French and Chinese
versions, also contains 16 pages of photographs.
[The Greening of China by Geoffrey Murray and Ian Cook,
China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, English version Rmb69. ISBN
7-5085-0586-7]
(China.org.cn January 13, 2005)
