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The East Is Grey
Article

The East Is Grey

China and the Environment

The Economist
The Economist, 2013
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Eye Opening
  • Overview

Recommendation

Over the past few decades, China has emerged as a formidable and growing economic powerhouse. But rampant air and water pollution are unfortunate by-products of increased industrialization and consumerism. Greater uses of alternative energy and stricter government regulations are taking hold, albeit slowly, but China’s – as well as the rest of the world’s – ecological future remains uncertain. getAbstract recommends this revealing report to business executives, policy makers and environmentalists with an eye on China’s growing threat to the global environment.

Take-Aways

  • In Beijing and other areas of China with rampant air pollution, concerns about an “airpocalypse” are helping bring much-needed environmental reforms.
  • The country is also suffering from other environmental stresses, including contaminated farm soil, scarce water and dwindling wildlife habitats.
  • On a global scale, China now accounts for close to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, up from 10% in 1990, and it is responsible for two-thirds of the growth in worldwide carbon dioxide emissions since the turn of the 21st century.

About the Author

The Economist is a weekly news magazine published by The Economist Group.

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