Is high economic growth main reason for pollution in china?

China is one of the fastest developing economies in the world in the recent years. Its growth rate is unseen in history, however the negative consequences of such a growth are also unseen. The main polluting branch is heavy industry which developed quickly but without considering the environment, for example coal in which China relies for two thirds of its energy consumption. This has caused air pollution to rise to levels far beyond European standards, 141 micro grams of PM10 per cubic meter of air as opposed to 40.China is the largest source of sulfur dioxide globally. Another important issue is water resources and pollution. The North of the country is scarce in water while the South is flood-prone. But scarcity hasn't brought about a sense of conservation, as Chinese industry spends up to 10 times more water per unit of production. Another issue is the building of houses without thermal isolation, asking for more energy that is provided by the construction of new power plants. In building these plants the Chinese government uses older technology that pollutes more but is cheaper. Moreover the danger and tolls that this pollution takes on human life is a forbidden topic.
 
Top