Is all that pollution in China fixable?

[Regret My New Name]

It just seems so much more massive over there than anywhere else. Even with a 100% reverse of action(not going to happen, of course), isn't so much damaged beyond repair?

[CrispyQ]

1. Did you see the photos that were posted a month or so ago?

It was very disturbing. They're building their economy at the cost of their ecosystem. Once again, short term gains outweigh long term vision.

Here's the site that was posted on DU: http://www.chinahush.com/2009/10/21/amazing-pictures-pollution-in-china/

Another disturbing photo album: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2007/jul/18/china.pollution?picture=330216033

[izquierdista]

2. Yes

Watch the following video for natural processes that can fix pollution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY

The problem is that these processes have not been well studied and utilized.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Yes, of course.

That's what the U.S. looked like forty or fifty years ago.

This happens when countries industrialize. The pollution shoots through the roof as they build factories everywhere, then as they become aware of the pollution they start cleaning it up. That's a named phenomenon, although the name escapes me at the moment.

[Regret My New Name]

4. To the same extent though?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Pretty much.

China's a much bigger country, of course. But relatively speaking it's not much different.

[Xithras]

10. Yes. There are photos of the U.S. that looked like that.

And the legacy of those days are still around in the hundreds of superfund sites that still dot the country. But the ongoing pollution has ended, and nature has already flushed the worst of the surface pollution. Nature can't do it all, but it can certainly remove a lot of the most visible pollution in only a few decades.

[Warpy]

5. It's going to take a long time

because the most economical way to heat and cook one's food in China is with blocks of compressed coal dust, one of which can last up to a week in a coal heater/cooker. While China is still putting new coal fired electrical plants on line at a record pace, they're also pouring money into alternative, renewable energy sources. The problem is really household energy needs, now satisfied with the filthiest fuel source out there.

Added to that are the corporations that set up in China knowing there were no environmental regulations to trouble them. That is also changing since China has been losing arable land and potable water. It's just changing very slowly as China is reluctant to kill the goose that has been laying their golden eggs.

Mother Earth has shown a remarkable resilience. Manmade pollution is really nothing compared to the massive insults to the environment from, say, extreme vulcanism. Nothing is completely beyond repair if one takes the long view.

However, in terms of the next few human generations, the loss of arable land is going to cost China dearly.

[timeforpeace]

6. No. The planet cannot adjust, or heal. It's too late.

[Deja Q]

9. Oh, I see. You're too lazy to try.

(Why are you such a defeatist?!)

[cowcommander]

8. Not with 1.1 billion people, that's for sure

China is screwed in the long run, unfortunately their leaders are very short-sighted on this.

[Zynx]

11. China's short run prospects, generally speaking, are better than their long run proespects.

The 10% growth rates with apparent financial stability are not going to last forever. They have massive political and environmental problems emerging.

[Greyhound]

12. Sure it is, we did it/are doing it.

But it is antithetical to the dominant model of plunder capitalism.

[pampango]

13. We pollute almost as much as China. Per capita we are way worse. Their citizens, not

their government, know that pollution is their greatest challenge. I think it is fixable, but you could say the same about most countries and not many are doing enough or even what they have already agreed to do.

It's kind of like OPEC countries cheating on their production quotas. With pollution each country seems to believe that it is better for all if every one cuts back in unison, but are afraid that others will not cut back as much a they do and will have an economic advantage as a result.