Pollution Of Chin China - 1081 Words

Pollution in China China has the record for the fastest developing country in the history of the world, the country has a thriving economy with an annual growth of 8-9%. China also has a population of over a billion people. The demand for energy in China is constant, to meet this demand China consumes nearly as much coal as the rest of the world combined. In 2011 China burned 3.8 million tons of coal and, that number grows every year. The need for energy comes with a price, the burning of coal releases pollutants into the air, water, and soil. Pollution in China has affected millions of lives, caused political headache, and diseased the environment. China needs to change their ways before the country heads into a downward spiral. China’s†¦show more content†¦Even after environmental laws were put in place, local governments have been difficult to monitor, and rarely uphold environmental standards. The extent of China’s pollution problems have built up over the years, now the depth of the problem has reached its peak. China’s energy consumption has spiked 130% from 2000 to 2010, because of this boost China has become the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Less than 1% of China’s 500 largest cities meet the WHO’s (World Health Organization) air quality standards. Between 350,000 and 500,000 people die prematurely each year as a result of outdoor air pollution in China. Air pollution isn’t the only dilemma, water in China has been polluted also. Nearly half of all rivers in the country are unsafe for human contact. In the North 300 to 500 million people lack access to piped water, and the piped water may not be safe either. 90% of underground water in cities and 70% of china’s rivers and lakes are now polluted. On top of that there is a water crisis also, that has turned China’s arable land into desert. Life expectancy in the north has decreased by 5.5 years, and children as young as 8 years old are developing lung cancer, and other health complications including respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases. Pollution in China not only affects the people it