China is quickly becoming one of the most affluent countries in the world; however, its rise to power has a hefty global price tag. Case point: not long ago, millions of Chinese traveled by bicycle everywhere; today they are buying cars. Every industrial nation in history has arrived at the top of their game not without considerable environmental impact. China, however, has surpassed them all. The velocity and the sheer expanse of their industrial contamination is impressive. The Chinese public is reeling with the repercussions. Scandal after scandal has rocked the nation. People are actually dying of air pollution.
The 2008 Olympics saw China scrambling for some deus ex machine answer—a fantastic panacea to quickly clear their hazy gray skies. There have been some remarkable attempts at cleaner, more sustainable practices. Witness, for example, the Olympic Water Cube. The National Aquatics Center or Water Cube, was built green to the hilt. The structure was outfitted with a membranous outer covering that looks like your typical bubble bath. These ‘bubbles’ absorb solar heat, reducing the building’s energy consumption by 30%. They are lit up by LED lighting and store excess warm air, which can be circulated through the cube when needed. More importantly, the cube is built to last.
The Olympics at least gave Beijing officials pause to contemplate the future of their nation. While fast and furious growth does have its financial benefits, with the public placated by prosperity, the overall outcome looks bleak. Contaminated drinking water and air have led to public protests. Estimates put acid rain levels at nearly 30%. China will soon surpass the US in carbon emissions.
So is there any hope? Will the Olympic dreams be met? Currently China burns over 7 million tons of coal annually. However, there are plans in place to replace this low grade coal with cleaner burning liquid coal by 2013. China’s companies such as Yiling are leading the way with solar energy projects. The country’s more than 26 million cars contribute to nearly 80% of the pollution. Here, too the Chinese should look to solar. Market oriented incentives to reduce pollution need to be put in place. China needs to wean itself from its fossil fuel addiction.
The case is all too familiar. But, can we expect China to realize that change needs happen before the trend is irreversible? Let’s hope that they will not follow our footsteps and start caring about the environment after the damage is done. Change is possible. An old Chinese proverb states, ‘When you have only two dollars left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a rose with the other,’ we should all take heed.
