Production and consumption of these industrial and agricultural products leads to air, water and land pollution and other forms of environmental damage. As the second-largest producer and consumer of pesticides, China accounts for 14% of the world total and has become a net exporter. It is the largest consumer of fertilizer and accounts for 90% of the global increase in fertilizer use since 1981. From 1978 to 2003 its production of steel, cement, chemical fibre and colour TVs increased by 7, 13, 42 and 17,214 times, respectively ( Supplementary Fig. It is the world's largest producer of steel, cement, aquacultured food and television sets, and is the second-largest producer of electricity and chemical textiles. It ranks third in total gross domestic product (GDP) and has the highest growth rate, of three times the world average, of our 15 comparison countries ( Table 1). China's economy is big, and growing fast ( Fig. Although China's per capita environmental impact is still far below that of developed countries ( Table 1), the proportionate increase in total human impact on the world's environments will be enormous if China's per capita impacts catch up with such countries.Įconomy. A factor exacerbating many environmental problems in China is that, as a ‘world factory’, China exports products but consumes natural resources and leaves pollutants behind. China accounts for 15% of the world fish catch and 33% of global fish and seafood consumption 3, 4. China is already the largest contributor of sulphur oxides and chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere 1 its dust and aerial pollutants are transported eastwards to neighbouring countries and even North America and it is one of the two leading importers of tropical rainforest timber 2, making it a driving force behind tropical deforestation. China's environmental problems are also spilling over into other countries, while other countries affect China's environment through globalization, pollution and resource exploitation.
0 kommentar(er)
