What is Chinas environmental position?

Question

I'm just recalling after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was discovered that the environment was ignored in favor of manufacturing, mining, energy pursuits, etc. With China's explosive growth as well as increasing position in the world economy, do we know whether they take any environmental precautions? Is there any conservation? I recall reading about a hydro-power project (seven gorges? three gorges?) where a dam was built which relocated over a million people. The flooded towns- were they cleaned up prior to being submerged? Does anyone (or CAN anyone) monitor the environment there?

Answer 1

China sign the Kyoto Protocol that is an international treaty signed by European countries and many others on 16th March 1998 to protect environment. USA did not sign it, arguing that the protocol would have a negative impact in their economy, i.e., this country doesn´t care about environment.

Kyoto protocol, projected 2010 target status The protocol intends to reduce the emissions into the atmosphere of pollutant gases, like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, in 5,2% until 2012. The countries must approve their reduction plans and put them into force to decrease their levels between 2008 and 2012. This reduction should happen in different economic fields and the countries must help each other in some measures, such as in restructuring the energy and transport sectors, as well as promoting the use of renewable energies.

Answer 2

Environmental conditions in China are poor and getting worse. Its energy demands are expanding exponentially, and the only way for it to keep up is fossil fuel energy production. As a result, they are building thousands of coal fire power plants and negotiating oil deals around the world.

There are some conservation efforts, but these efforts are limited by severe population pressures--you can't conserve a lot of land when you've got more than a billion mouths to feed.

Lots of groups, including the PRC, monitor environmental conditions, but there isn't a lot anyone can do. This isn't even really the Chinese govt's fault. Chinese people have the right to enjoy the same quality of life as anyone else. The problem is that there are so many of them in a concentrated area that it produces massive amounts of pollution.

Answer 3

China doesn't care about the environment, especially if doing so would get in the way of their economic growth.

And anyone can monitor the situation there -- but nobody can force them to change what they're doing.

They (just that one country) makes up almost 20% of the world's population -- not a lot anyone can do about their actions.

Answer 4

They have none. Their position is, do whatever is necessary to outproduce the west. That means, employ children, dump toxic waste in the water supply, and use as much coal as possible.