Air Pollution in China - Research Paper Example

Air Pollution in China Introduction The economic activities of production and consumption carried out in the Peoples Republic of China require the use of energy, and the use of energy affects the environment in the form of pollution which may be air pollution and emission of greenhouse gases, which cause global warming that affects all states in the international system. The Peoples Republic of China which is the fastest growing economy in the world and only number two to the United States in terms of economic power also experiences the highest incidences of detrimental effects caused by air pollution. The rising emissions in China cause the increased pollution of the air within the country and internationally as compared to the reduced pollution registered in other countries such as Japan, United States and Europe. A myriad of reports have indicated that most Chinese citizens die due to respiratory problems caused by highly polluted air that contains sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. The combustion of fossil fuels to power the rapidly increasing industries and automobiles is the prime source of the outdoor air pollutants, while the burning of coal within homes produces the indoor air pollution. This air pollution has been found to trigger or at times worsen the respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and conditions amongst all age groups especially the children and the elderly. As China continues to experience phenomenal growth in its economy which is majorly driven by the industries setting base in China, so does the pollution also grow and the attendant effects. This has come at a greater cost due to the environmental degradation in China in the form of pollution with the most prominent being the air pollution experienced in many Chinese cities and their citizens such as in Beijing and Guangzhou as well as abroad. There have been numerous studies that have shown that the appalling quality of air within the Chinese cities and even the countryside have led to the occurrence of over a million deaths as from the year 2010 alone. This paper discusses the significance of the air pollution in China, its major causes and severity as well as actions that are being undertaken to control it if any. The significance of this study is due to the fact that China being the most populous nation in the world with about 1.3 billion citizens uses the most energy overall that leads to pollution even to the international environment. The air quality in China has got serious ramifications on international relations, the world economy and how its domestic policies affect the political union of nations in the international arena. Amongst the major results of air pollution in the world include acid rain, ozone depletion, global warming and ultimately climate change which have become serious matters that transcend domestic boundaries. China is highly reliant on energy derived from coal to power its industries and the burning of this coal releases carbon emissions in the atmosphere that leads to detrimental effects on the quality of the air. The acid rain on the other hand leads to the destruction of the agricultural land and crops which has got adverse effects to the largely agrarian rural Chinese population. This means that the quality of air in China has got serious ramifications both for the economic well-being of the nation and the world at large as well as the health of citizens within the global arena. This paper will seek to exploit the problem of air pollution in China and how it affects the international relations of states in the international arena. Air Pollution in China as a Global Issue China has found it difficult to cope with the competing need for economic growth and environmental sustainability and before long it is expected to outshine the United States as the most accountable country for cross-border pollution issues of global shares. The pollution of air by China can have serious consequences in the environment of other nations within the international arena (United Nations, 93). The severe pollution experienced by China has made it barely suitable for human life as the smog that constantly covers the country and the surrounding nations in the international community makes it to hazardous levels. This has brought about some form of complains against China and other countries within the international arena. An example is the threats of boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by some countries who felt that the quality of air would be detrimental to its citizens and that China must do something to control the environment. Also, the health concerns raised by these nations include mortality, morbidity due to diseases of the heart and the changes in the respiratory and other clinical symptoms that affect the human body in one way or the other (Chen, Hong, and Kan, 3). The above results show that exposure to outdoor air pollution in China is a serious health hazard calling for the need to reduce pollution and the monitoring of air quality by all nations within the international arena in order to reign in on the international pollution It is a natural fact that the air does not usually respect national boundaries and the pollution that occurs within China can easily spread to the neighboring nations even those in the international arena and cause environmental or economic crisis in another. The fact that the problem originates from China, solving it may become a serious matter of international relations and diplomacy leaving the affected countries with little options for recourse according to the international relations theory. The cross-border pollution emanating from China causes environmental problem to Japan and South Korea which has led to a serious international uproar roping in other global nations such as the United States to try to find out a means of solving this international problem. In Japan, the ice trees found on the slopes of Mount Zao are affected by the pollution emanating from Shanxi province of China putting at risk the tourism industry that is one of the economic pillars of the region (Montlake). This has also been experienced by the schools on the southern parts of Japan and South Korea who have been forced to at times suspend their classes due to the toxic smog that comes from China. This led to the meeting of the environment ministers of the affected countries that is China, Japan and South Korea who argued that there should be a framework or treaty on cross-border air pollution especially on air emanating from China. Due to the global nature of the air pollution by China, it has been involved in international talks to negotiate a new treaty to replace pollution of the air in order to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Despite these efforts, the problem of cross-border pollution by China is likely to get out of hand if not checked by nations in the international systems of nations and the application of international laws. For instance, the emission of nitrogen-oxide which is a greenhouse gas causes the smog experienced in the cities and this requires political leadership in order to put a cap on the continued pollution of the air by China. The liberalists assume that the states in the international arena are embedded in a society that is slowly transforming composed of individuals, social groups and officials with varying degree of assets, ideals and influences on the policy of the state and each state including has a control over its territory including the environment. The realists argue that the environment in this cases the Chinese environment and the nations in the international union of nations are affected by the activities of a particular nation. The environment is therefore relevant in the understanding of security of nations in so far as it influences the geopolitical issues that have a bearing on the stability and relative power of states. The air pollution by China grants a key security matter as the effects associated with it affect the geopolitical factors that contribute the relative power of the states and the distribution of power in the international system. This may be due to the fact that the myriad and multidimensional ways in which the environment and the air affect human civilization and the difficulty of mapping out the reasons why environment may lead to complains or conflicts by nations. Despite the argument by realists that states leverage on the resources that are within their territories to their advantage, the air pollution that is experienced in China require that all state sin the international arena work towards having the best environment. The realists therefore believe that the environmental policy making including the implementation on matters that concern air pollution must revolve around its economic principles (Kornberg and John, 24). Under the constructionist perspective, the concern is the goals, fears, threats and identities as well as other elements of perceived reality which have an influence on the states and non-actors within the international system. Therefore an increased pollution as experienced in China is likely to be viewed with much concern in Japan, a traditional antagonist of China than in North Korea which is concerned an ally. This means that perceptions at work play a big role in shaping the international outcomes and therefore the constructivists do not see the pollution of air by China as a problem in the international system. The argument is that the social norms will change and shape the policy of China with relation to pollution rather than security which is argued by the realists. China’s international responsibility and compliance to the environmental laws therefore makes it one of the key issues a talks aimed at arriving at international treaty to control cross-border pollution. Though China is not considered a main player in the centre of global economic power, it continues to play a major role in that the pollution from its territory affects many other nations in the world. The reluctance by China to control its air pollution or its ambivalence stems from the fact that it feels that it feels the world is not equitable, and is controlled by the Western leaderships and their designs (Mushkat, 512). International Framework for Reducing Air Pollution International relations theory are always hinged on the fact that the policies are enacted based on the policies of liberal institutionalism that ensures that the structures and institutions put in place stress peaceful behavior among nations and matters on pollution are not an exception. China has experienced massive pollution of the air and the problem cannot be ignored as it puts at risk the health of the citizens that will affect the economy of China and the world at large. The countries that neighbor China have reached pollution levels that exceed the recommended limits of air quality as set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and there must be efforts to reduce the pollution. The solutions to the pollution of air in China require action by the government through the establishment of clear and strict air quality standards through policies that curb the continued emission of material that pollutes the air. There is also need to bring in the international community through policies that are aimed at China playing a leading but global role in reducing air pollution which absolutely affects all other nations. The government can do so by making complete air quality information available to its public as well as the international agencies concerned with the control and regulation of matters of air pollution such as the United Nations. There is also need for policy changes through the establishment of legally binding and regional coordinated plans aimed at reaching national air quality standards through well set timelines as practiced in Europe and North America. The People’s Republic of China just like any other nation within the international system has a role to play in the tackling of air pollution and maintaining the high standards of air quality. There is need for environmental and air monitoring by all the nations concerned especially China which is the largest pollutant of the air in the universe. If China cleans its environment of the air pollution, it will go a bigger deal in helping other nations within the global arena and reduction of the effects associated with trans-boundary air pollution. As a means of future control of the effects of trans-boundary air pollution, future cooperation can be established especially between China and Japan in form of technology, shared knowledge and experience. China may also establish a bilateral or multilateral framework with targets for reducing emissions that pollute the environment. This calls for a review of the domestic voluntary emission reduction targets and the launching of a joint fund for energy resource development which must be negotiated in a comprehensive policy package that addresses the concerns of each individual nation. Conclusion From the foregoing argument, it can be proven that the air pollution often experienced knows no boundaries as the pollution travels around the globe and remain in the air thus polluting it. The realization that the air can travel thousands of miles from where it is produced in this case China has led to a further discussion on whether the international law and relations theory can adequately address the problem of cross-border pollution. Urbanization is the key to the growth of the China’s economic development and is hinged on consumption of energy which causes pollution of the air within its borders and also internationally. Through the burning of tones of coal for its industries and power plants as well as the combustion of oil from the vehicles, China remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gases that majorly pollute the environment internationally. This air pollution in China affects the temperature rise in the atmosphere that leads to global warming and further cause climate change experienced in many parts of the world. Although the air pollution in China is so severe, it can copy the examples of United States and the United Kingdom which have enacted programs for the reduction of pollution in their cities though the processes take considerably longer timelines. For example it can adopt the Britain’s Clean Air Act of 1956 that created smokeless zones in towns and cities that led to clean energy use and reduced reliance on coal as a source of energy. Alternatively, it may adopt the United States for of cap-and-trade program for pollutants that greatly reduced emission of coal in the atmosphere for pollution. This transition may take decades to realize but the most urgent measure is for China to find alternative sources of energy other than coal which is the major pollutant of air. As the People’s Republic of China moves to tighten the regulations to clear the its air from pollution characterized by smog, it should also weigh on the industrial consequences as these actions might slow down its industrial growth. For example, the government may reconsider the policy of alternative-day driving that had been imposed by the some cities which applied on days that the smog was heavy albeit with a little improvements. It may also offer incentives to owners of motor vehicles to reduce the use of their cars within the cities as they develop other forms of clean energy. All these efforts can only come to fruition when China collaborates with all nations in the international arena in order that the effects of air pollution do not affect the activities and lives in other nations. Works Cited Chen, Bingheng, Hong, Chuanjie, and Kan, Haidong. "Exposures and Health Outcomes from Outdoor Air Pollutants in China." Toxicology. 198 (2004): 1-3. Print. Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution 2007: Interim Report of the Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution Acting Within the Framework of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. New York: United Nations, 2007. Internet resource. Kaiman, Jonathan. ‘Pollution making Beijing hazardous place to live, says Chinese report’. The Guardian. 13 February 2014. Web. February 21, 2014 Kornberg, Judith F, and John R. Faust. China in World Politics: Policies, Processes, Prospects. Boulder, Colo: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2004. Print. Montlake, Simon. ‘China's 'Crazy-Bad' Air Pollution Deters Tourists And Traders’, Forbes. August 13, 2013. Web. February 21, 2014 Mushkat Roda. " Compliance with International Environmental Regimes: Chinese Lessons." William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. 34 (2010): 493-542. Read More