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Those are useful steps, but China’s air pollution problems go far beyond automobile emissions. To really make a difference they have to go after heavy industry and coal.
We need to look at Chinese as a developing country before apply western standard to its environment issues.
150(?) years ago, London's pollution was so bad that thousand of people, and cattle died from the pollutants. And if you look at inflation adjusted GDP per capita, China has almost exactly the same number as London at that time.
Easy to say "why not shut down those heavy industries". What should the workers do, go back to the farmland to make $1 a day? You can't turn back time and ask people to go back to utter poverty. China is transitional, and there is considerable pain associated with it.
If China doesn't grow and develop, well, look at what western countries did to it during 1840-1940s.
London pollution problems were 60 years ago, not only 150 years ago.
Also I agree with what you are saying about Paris being different than the whole nation and that you can get addicted to using the car. But I think you will be surprised how many Parisians own a car.
Chinese people are not the only ones who can get addicted to using cars.
But I think you will be surprised how many Parisians own a car.
Owning a car is quite different from driving your car when unnecessarily (somewhere 2km away, or 5 subway stops away as I mentioned).
The thing is, Beijing can't afford everyone driving a car. It has over 20M people, and it simply won't be possible. It shouldn't want to be another Sao Paulo where helicopters are used as taxi. I am afraid the city is already on the wrong path.
^ We have days that are like that in Guangzhou. On a clear day, I can see quite far. On a bad day, I can't see the neon-lit Canton Tower from my balcony, and I'm 2km away.
Conversely, on a bad smog day in LA, I could still see Downtown Los Angeles from my roof in Beverly Hills, which is about 10 miles/16km away... and people endlessly rip on LA about its smog.
All told, I haven't noticed it effecting me in any way since I've been here. It's certainly not good, nor is it healthy, but it's not like I've hacked a lung up in the last month and a half.
All told, I haven't noticed it effecting me in any way since I've been here. It's certainly not good, nor is it healthy, but it's not like I've hacked a lung up in the last month and a half.
The question is what is the long term effect of being exposed to all that pollution on a daily basis rather than the short term effect which for many people is not that significant.
It's a catastrophe. There is simply no urban area in China now that is not heavily polluted. And most rural areas as well. The country is an ecological basket case. The common people have no choice but to bear it. Everyone that has the means sets up an escape route; this usually takes the form of sending the kids abroad for education where they invariably end up getting green cards or the local equivalent. Mom goes with to take care of them and dad stays behind in China to keep making money.
I wonder several thing about them.
What measures are they taking to use alternative resources ,wave ,wind and solar?
They produce the stuff there but do they use it?
Seems that the poor can't afford much to do on their own but scratch from day to day.
Social pressures might be one reason, but it has to be more than that.
Being comunist I would assume that most are ignorant of options much less access to the internet. there are a few but those are the exception I think.
They can be brutal, to those stepping out of cultural norms.
The way governments lie to their people about want is and isn't safe is appalling, and I would bet that the Fukushima steam from the plant, is washing past china every day and no one is saying a word.
Look at the average weather maps for your self.
Personally I don't think their government cares, much like our own . Population reduction is a world effort if you didn't know it.
But then I could be completely wrong.
I wonder several thing about them.
What measures are they taking to use alternative resources ,wave ,wind and solar?
They produce the stuff there but do they use it?
Seems that the poor can't afford much to do on their own but scratch from day to day.
Social pressures might be one reason, but it has to be more than that.
Being comunist I would assume that most are ignorant of options much less access to the internet. there are a few but those are the exception I think.
They can be brutal, to those stepping out of cultural norms.
The way governments lie to their people about want is and isn't safe is appalling, and I would bet that the Fukushima steam from the plant, is washing past china every day and no one is saying a word.
Look at the average weather maps for your self.
Personally I don't think their government cares, much like our own . Population reduction is a world effort if you didn't know it. But then I could be completely wrong.
Yes, you are (almost) completely wrong.
China is developing renewable energy very aggressively. The government is not stupid and is doing what they can. Most of the world's new nuclear plants happen in China. The Three Gorges hydro project is the largest in human history. CHina is by far the world's largest solar panel and wind energ producer as well. Unfortunately changes take time and it still heavily relies on coal.
People are not ignorant. Chinese today travel around the world. China has 600 million interenet users and penetration rate is is about 45%. Almost all urban population (about half of its total) have access to computer and the internet. The young generation is cities use smart phones, ipads just like Americans do.
What did the government lie to their people about what is not isn't safe that is so "appalling"? You sound like a brainwashed CNN watcher. The Chinese government does lie to its people, just American government does.
The government cares about its people, probably more than American governments do. Per capita GDP increased 20 times in the past 25 years. I dont know where else can make this happen.
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