The environmental situation in China has become especially aggravated in recent years. It is due to the rapid pace of economic development with a predominance of the extensive type of development, when attention is paid to the rate of increase in production capacity and nature is viewed as a source of free resources. The crisis is exacerbated by a huge population and low per capita resource endowments. This situation gives rise to several significant environmental problems, including air pollution, land degradation, deforestation, and poor water quality.
China’s most significant environmental issues are polluted air and water. Jiang (2018) notes that China is one of the main culprits of global warming on the planet, as about 80% of China’s thermal power plants run on coal, the most environmentally harmful fuel in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Thus, it negatively affects the climate of both China and the planet as a whole. Jiang (2018) affirms that reducing water supplies and deteriorating water quality is another serious environmental problem in China, where 75% of rivers and lakes and 90% of groundwater are heavily polluted. In many cities, groundwater is contaminated with phenols, cyanide, mercury, and arsenic compounds, leading to irreversible consequences for the climate.
An equally urgent problem is the growing trend of desertification. According to Jiang (2018), land degradation is associated with the expansion of livestock production and the use of insecticides and fungicides in crop production. Moreover, China is characterized by rapid depletion of natural forests and poor quality of artificial forest plantations, which have severe climatic consequences. Therefore, air pollution, land degradation, deforestation, and poor water quality influence climate change, so people should pay attention to these problems.
Despite the measures taken by the Chinese government to combat climate change in recent years, the quality of the environment is still below the global average in all essential parameters. Measures such as switching to alternative energy sources, increased liability for environmental pollution, stricter penalties for violations of environmental legislation, and increased tariffs for the use of water and electricity may become the main potential solutions to China’s climate change. Jiang (2018) states that much will depend on the strength and vitality of the ecological and democratic movements in this country in the coming years. Each resident should realize his involvement in the problem and begin to take measures to solve it. Thus, only by taking comprehensive steps will China mitigate the adverse effects on the climate.
Reference
Jiang, S. (2018). Challenges towards ecological sustainability in China: An interdisciplinary perspective. Springer International Publishing.