Global Environmental Politics Winter Quarter 2010 The “China Card”

1. Global Environmental Politics Winter Quarter 2010 The “China Card”

2. China and the EnvironmentAn Overview

3. Air Pollution • In 2007, China surpassed the US as the world’s largest contributor of carbon dioxide • Coal accounts for 2/3 of China’s total energy; coal use responsible for large amounts of carbon dioxide/ sulphur dioxide in air. • 14,000 new cars driven in China each year- China’s cities are choking on exhaust fumes. Average lifespan of traffic policeman in Beijing: 40! • Evidence of China’s Air Pollution spreading around the world (Video and NASA article)

4. Typical Urban “Bad Air Day”

5. Water Woes • More than 75% of river water flowing through China’s cities is considered unsuitable for drinking or fishing. • 30% of all river water in China is unfit for use in agriculture or industry. • 700 million people drink water contaminated with animal and human waste • More than 1/2 of Chinese cities face water shortages • WWF says China is world’s largest polluter of the Pacific Ocean- heavy metals, raw sewage.

6. River Water Quality in Beijing

7. Land degradation & desertification • Deforestation, overgrazing, water diversion, irresponsible agriculture • Since 1949, 1/5 of China’s agricultural land has been lost to soil erosion and development. • ¼ of China is now covered by desert • Gobi Desert spreading at 1,900 square miles annually. - swallowing up Beijing! • Estimated 400 million Chinese suffering; tens of millions of environmental refugees. • China And Deforestation around the World

8. The Desert Beijing

9. Pollution-Related Health Problems • A World Health Organization survey reported that 16 of the 20 worst polluted cities in the world are in China (China Economic Review, May 2006) • Only 1 percent of the country's 560 million city dwellers breathe air considered safe by the European Union • Respiratory and heart disease related to air pollution are leading cause of death in China. A study by the World Bank reported that outdoor air pollution was causing 350,000 to 400,000 premature deaths a year, while indoor pollution was contributing to an additional 300,000 premature deaths • Nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water • 190 million people sick from contaminated drinking water

10. China and Food Security • Must feed 22% of world’s population with only 7% of its arable land and 6% of its water resources (both of which are declining at a frightening rate) • Beijing looking into farming abroad in Africa and South America • Already importing rice, grains, and meat

11. Social Unrest In 2006 there were 60,000 documented environmentally-related protests in China! This presents a problem for “the Harmonious Socialist Society”

12. Indicators that China is beginning to value environmental protection Creation of environmental protection institutions • State Environmental Protection Agency • Environmental Protection Bureaus- at each level of government • Environmental protection legislation: • 20 laws; 40 regulations, 500 standards, 600 documents; 1,000 locally-established environmental regulations Joining international environmental regimes- especially if they don’t infringe on sovereignty too much… Rise of ENGOs- since 1990, some 230,000 have sprung up; potentially hundreds of thousands more. But not without difficulty! Environmental Education Programs Active Alternative Energy Sector Seeking out the expertise and resources of international groups

13. Environmental Slogans

15. China’s Environmental Challenges • A political culture of prioritizing economic development over environmental protection • Lack of awareness among state officials and citizens • Getting the population under control • Breakneck urbanization • Weakness of state capacity to enforce environmental protection policies

16. Why does the Chinese state have difficulty implementing environmental policies? • China’s not as centralized as it used to be.Devolution of admin responsibility to regional and sub-regional governments • Regional inequality and unfunded mandates • The structureof the Chinese government • As usual, political boundaries do not coincide with bio-regions- and lack of coordination between political units. • Incentive structures favor economic development • E.g. “state corporatism”- the close relationship between local governments and local industries:

17. “There are documented cases of a local Environmental Protection Agency imposing a fine on a large local enterprise and then passing along the amount collected to local government coffers; the government then provided tax breaks to the enterprise roughly in proportion to the amount of the fine that had been levied. In this way, the EPA met its responsibilities by imposing the fine and the government met its responsibilities by maintaining the financial health of an important source of local jobs and income. Only the environment lost out in this scenario.” -Ken Lieberthal Chinese Environment Series #1

18. Deciphering China’s Role in Global Environmental Politics The China Threat • A Superpower: big player in geopolitics • A growing competitor for resources • A polluting goliath • A Wild Card-- not transparent, often unpredictable, a “bully” China as Lean, Mean, Green Machine • Green/ Clean Tech leader • Population Control • Green Olympics China as Developing Country • Economic growth above all else • Is the government really master of its house?

19. Questions for Class Discussion: How were these various frames used in the readings for today? -- “I was there” piece from Grist -- After Copenhagen DC’s Article -- NASA findings& Air Pollution reaching US video -- China and Green Tech video

20. China and Climate Accords(Or why China “bombed” Kyoto and Copenhagen) • China pre-set own, internal goals for GHG reduction- not as strict as those demanded by international community • Protecting economic growth • Sees developed countries (esp. US) as responsible for most GHG emissions to date- demands they shoulder majority of reductions. • Holding out for funding and green tech from developed countries (1% of GDP!?)