Environmental concerns in China: problems, policies, and global implications

International Social Science Review, Spring-Summer, 2006 by Xiaofan Li

The emphasis on economic advancement in its reforms make it difficult for China to improve its environmental health. Economic growth will increase China's need for energy and natural resources, causing further damage to its environment. Yet, such economic growth and environmental protection interests are not necessarily mutually exclusive; a developed economy could be used to finance advances in science and technology and thus facilitate the implementation of environmental protection policies. China's government, however, fails to see this linkage. This is evident in its refusal to sign the agreement on emissions restrictions at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change held in 1997, in Kyoto, Japan. China claimed that this agreement would retard its economic growth. (37) As the Chinese delegate argued, "Poverty eradication and economy development are still the overriding priorities of China." He added that "it is not possible for the Chinese government to undertake the obligation of reducing greenhouse gases until the economy develops." (38) This echoes Ghandi's declaration that "poverty is the greatest polluter." (39)

In light of its vast territory and traditional economic structure, it is unlikely that China will adopt strategies that promote "clean industries" to minimize environmental damage. (40) It is estimated that China will maintain its focus on heavy industries, such as petrochemicals, steel, construction materials, power generation, and coal mining, which employ technology that is more wasteful in energy and resources. (41) If so, it is not realistic to expect China to adopt modern technology to resolve conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection in favor of the latter. (42)

Despite the fact that China had over 89,000 enterprises involved in promoting environmental protection (see Tables 1 and 2), these agencies need the help of foreign investment to be effective, from both a technological and managerial standpoint, in safeguarding China's environment. (45) The Forum of Economic Development and Environmental Protection, held in Beijing in August 2005, represents a significant step in that direction. (46) Moreover, foreign-invested businesses operating in China can provide a model for environmental control for China's enterprises by requiring ISO 14000 Certification (47) from their local suppliers. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, will soon demand that its suppliers assume greater environmental and social responsibilities. Since eighty percent of Wal-Mart's suppliers are located in China, this policy will have a significant impact on thousands of manufactures in China. The new policies include selling clothing made from organically grown cotton, removing thousands of tons of pesticides from factories, and enforcing the same health standards in Chinese factories that apply in the United States. (48)

China's Environmental Policies and Regulations

In spite of the progress made in the recent years, the quality of China's environmental protection legislation is hardly sufficient to safeguard its environment. Since environmental laws are subject to the interests of local authorities and bureaucrats, China's courts have had little success enforcing these statutes. (49) Faced with serious environmental problems, China's top officials now realize that economic development cannot be achieved at the expense of resource conservation and pollution control. As a consequence, environmental protection has become a greater priority in national policymaking.