bridging focus 2: china’s economic development and pollution...

1. Revision of Junior Secondary Liberal Studies Knowledge ...........26 1.1 Related Terms ............................................................................................................. 26

1.2 Concept Checkpoint ................................................................................................... 27

1.3 Let’s Review ................................................................................................................. 29

2. Key Points of Senior Secondary Liberal Studies ...........................33 2.1 Issue of Exploration: Does China’s economic development bring a high

level of pollution? .................................................................. 34

Step 1: Selection of enquiry areas and/or theme ............................................ 34

Step 2: Collection of data .................................................................................... 34

Step 3: Organization of data collected .............................................................. 36

Step 4: Analysis of data collected ...................................................................... 36

Enquiring focus 1: What model of economic development has China adopted since the implementation of reform and opening-up? .......................................................................... 36

Enquiring focus 2: What pollution problems has China’s economic development brought to the environment? .......................... 39

Step 5: Evaluation of different viewpoints, drawing a conclusion ................... 41

Step 6: Presentation of results and production of the product ........................ 41

2.2 Extended Exploration: What should China do to tackle her pollution problems? ............................................................................ 42

Bridging focus 2: China’s economic development and pollution problems

1. Revision of Junior Secondary Liberal Studies KnowledgeSenior Secondary Liberal Studies is closely related to our lives. Apart from the information you

have obtained outside school, you have also acquired knowledge relevant to the theme ‘environmental conservation in China’ during junior secondary school. This theme may include topics such as environmental pollution, ecological damage and conflicts between environment conservation and economic development. This section aims to help you revise the knowledge you have acquired on China’s environmental conservation during junior secondary school. The following are definitions and concepts related to the theme to assist you in revising what you have learned:

Environmental pollution

Environmental pollution refers to hazards caused by humans to the environment by introducing into it certain substances in amount beyond the capacity of natural purification. Harmful follow-up effects are also regarded as pollution even if harm is not immediately seen. For example, carbon dioxide is harmless in itself, and is needed by plants to carry out photosynthesis. But too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps solar energy and gives rise to the greenhouse effect.

Ecological balance

Ecological balance refers to relative stability of the input and output of energy and materials between producers, consumers, decomposers and the abiotic environment in the ecosystem during a considerable period of time. In case of external interference beyond the ecological system’s capacity of spontaneous adjustment, ecological imbalance, also known as ‘ecological disruption’, occurs.

Water pollution

Water pollution refers to the introduction into a water body of any substance which alters the chemical, physical, biological or radioactive properties of the water in such a way as to affect its effective use, endanger human health, damage the ecosystem or be deleterious to water quality.

Air pollution

Air pollution refers to the pollution caused by the emission of gases and suspended particulates in solid or liquid form to the atmosphere. Inhalation of the polluted air is hazardous to human health.

Desertification

Desertification is a kind of ecological damage. It occurs because the growing population’s greater demand for water resources, trees, and agricultural and livestock products reduces the vegetation covering the earth’s surface. Unprotected soil is removed by winds or water, leaving the land arid and barren.

1.1 Related Terms

走向世界的中國珠三角地區的發展

Theme 1: China’s reform and opening-up, Modern China (Book 1 & Book 2)

中國當前的議題



26 Bridging Materials

a. Air pollution in China

During the early period of reform and opening-up, industrial and commercial modernization was actively carried out for a quick economic takeoff. What followed, however, were severe environmental pollution, with air pollution being the most notable of all. Air pollution is mainly caused by particulate matters, and greenhouse gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. These substances come from the emissions of coal-burning power plants, factories and motor cars. Excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere give rise to the ‘greenhouse effect’ and thus global warming. In addition, excessive sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere combines with water vapour and converts into sulfuric acid or nitric acid. It falls to the ground and erodes soil surface and metal surface. Acid rain mostly occurs in the southern regions of China. Signs show that it is spreading to other regions.

b. Water resources problems in China

Water resources problems in China mainly manifest in the following two aspects:

(1) Uneven distribution of water resources: Structurally, China’s water resources are characterized by floods in the south and flow interruptions in the north. River flooding mostly occurs in the Changjiang Basin (長江盆地) in eastern China. Heavy rainfall in the southern region and deforestation lead to a huge loss of water and soil. Flow interruptions and droughts mostly occur in the western and northern regions. They are relatively severe in regions along Huanghe ( 黃河 ). This has to do with less rainfall, huge water consumption for agricultural irrigation and the poor management of flood control reservoirs in the north.

(2) Water pollution: Sewage can mainly be classified into domestic sewage, industrial sewage and agricultural sewage. It causes severe pollution to river basins, lakes, groundwater and offshore water. Not only does water pollution affect water quality and thus lowers the availability of potable water, but it also causes ecological problems such as red tides ( 赤潮 ) and blue algae ( 藍藻 ) that threaten aquatic organisms.

1.2 Concept Checkpoint



Flow interruption of Huanghe in China. Silts at the river bed are revealed.

27Modern China

c. Desertification in China

Desertification is one of the more serious ecological problems in the world, and China is one of the countries that are severely threatened by widely scattered and extensive desertified land. Desertification in China mainly occurs in the northern provinces such as Inner Mongolia, Ningxia ( 寧夏 ), Gansu ( 甘肅 ) and Xinjiang ( 新彊 ). The causes are shown in the flow chart below:

Improper use of water resources

Over-grazing

Global warming

Greater evaporation and less rainfall

Dried-up river course

Deforestation

Over-cultivation

A growing population

Soil rem

oved by w

inds and water

Less vegetation

Unprotected soil

Desertification

d. The problem of ecological imbalance in China

Due to long-term irrational exploitation of natural resources, such as deforestation, damaging forests to open up wasteland and over-use of water resources, resources are consumed at a rate faster than their renewability. The result is a series of ecological backlash in the form of abnormal phenomena such as warmer climate, desertification, acid rain and a decline of biodiversity. In particular, biodiversity in the ecosystem, species system and genetic system is severely threatened. Wildlife population continues to fall, while harmful foreign species also cause damages to China’s ecology, resulting in an annual economic loss of more than RMB 50 billion.

e. Environmental sustainability in China

Sustainable development is ‘development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ (Our Common Future, 1987) Building a resource-saving and environmentally-friendly society is the main direction for environmental sustainability in China. This is to eliminate environmental pollution and ecological damage during economic development and construction. The State Council promulgated the National Eleventh Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection in November 2007 as the guideline. It lays down the key tasks in environmental conservation in the next five years for an all-round prevention of environmental and ecological damages.



Theme 1: China’s reform and opening-up, Modern China (Book 1 & Book 2)

For more information on

deserti f ication, refer to

desert i f icat ion.gov.cn :

http://www.desertification.

gov.cn/.

For more information on

China’s environmental

sustainable development,

refer to the website of

China Environment and

Sustainable Development

Reference and Research

C e n t e r : h t t p : / / w w w.

chinaeol.net/zlzx/


(a) Which types of environmental pollution in China do the four illustrations above depict respectively?

1: 2:

3: 4:

(b) Referring to the above question, how are the different types of pollution in China today related to her economic development?

a. Environmental pollution in China

Consider the illustrations below and answer the questions.

1.3 Let’s Review

21

43

29Modern China

b. Flow interruptions in China

Consider the following blog entry and answer the questions.

Ka Ming’s blog 2009/8/5Hi everyone! I’m back. My ten-day trip to the northern China is really unforgettable. It was

breathtaking to see with my own eyes spots of historical significance: the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu, the Tombs of the Xixia Kingdom in Ningxia and the Tomb of Zhaojun in Inner Mongolia.

To my surprise, however, what disappointed me most is the Huanghe, with its 5,000 years of culture and history has nurtured tens and thousands of Chinese people. One day, we visited the Huanghe Basin in Ningxia for an imposing view of the surging river. It was an extraordinarily hot day. Most of the water in our bodies seemed to be evaporated by the dry weather of the northern region. After a long walk though the hills, we reached the estuary of the river. As we looked around for the Huanghe, the tour guide pointed at a piece of shallow wetland below the cliff and said, ‘That’s it.’ Gosh! How disappointing! Li Bai said, ‘Don’t you see the water of the Huanghe descend from the sky, with swift stream pouring down the sea it never returns!” I’d say, ‘You don’t see where the water of the Huanghe has gone. It has evaporated and never returned!’

(a) According to the above information, what was the state of the Huanghe when Ka Ming saw it?

(b) What are the reasons for the phenomenon you have identified in (a)? Explain by considering both natural factors and human factors.

Natural factors

Human factors

(c) Apart from the above-mentioned problems, what other problems does China face in terms of her water resources? Identify two of them.


c. Desertification and acid rain

Consider the map below and answer the questions.

(a) Which region in the map suffers from desertification the most seriously?

(b) Which region suffers from acid rain the most seriously?

(c) What is the relationship between the causes of desertification and acid rain in China and human economic activities? Explain.

Desertification:

Acid rain:

31Modern China

(d) According to your knowledge, suggest one effective method for the prevention of desertification and acid rain.

Ecological problems Preventive method

Desertification

Acid rain

d. Key environmental protection work in China

Consider the following information and answer the questions.

Beginning in the 21st century, China has been strengthening environmental conservation while developing her economy intensively. Effects are gradually showing.

In recent years, more than 80,000 high-polluting enterprises have been closed down in China. According to the 2008 Report on the State of Environment in China, 79% of all enterprises complied with the standard of sulfur dioxide emission; the rate for provinces and cities such as Tianjin, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong was 90%.

But some people still consider pollution in China serious. According to the statistics of Greenpeace, a quarter of China’s people are still drinking polluted water, and one-third of them are breathing polluted air. China may surpass the US in 2010 as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. China is also the world’s largest importer and consumer of logs and tropical timber. People query how many more earths China needs to consume to deal with her rapid development.

(Source: Adapted from various mainland newspapers)

Effects are showing in China’s environmental conservationA1 Mainland Daily News 1 June 2009

(a) Consider the following statements according to the above information. Put a ✓ in the box if the statement is correct, and an 7 if it is not.

(i) Environmental conservation has been gaining the concern of the Chinese government since the last decade.

(ii) In 2008, 10% of the enterprises in China failed to comply with the objective in sulfur dioxide emission.

(iii) China tops the world in greenhouse gas emission in 2009.

(iv) There is room for improvement in China’s environmental conservation.

(b) The information ends with the sentence ‘how many more earths China needs to consume to deal with her rapid development’. How do you interpret this query?


2. Key Points of Senior Secondary Liberal StudiesTheme 1 ‘China’s reform and opening-up’ of module 1 ‘Modern China’ in

the Senior Secondary Liberal Studies Curriculum aims to explore the impact of reform and opening-up on China’s overall development and her people’s lives. The following mind map shows the eight angles to help you explore the theme:

Theme 1: China’s reform and opening-up, Modern

China

China’s reform and opening-up

Background and highlights of China’s reform and opening-up

Indicators in the economy, military strength, science and technology, resources, governance, diplomacy and social development level

Quantifiable and non-quantifiable criteria

Changes in different dimensions of the country’s national strength under reform and opening-up

Measuring China’s overall national strength

Social policies that serve different targets

Building of the legal system

Institutionalization of more democratic practices

The Central People’s Government’s policies in response to reform and opening-up

Legislation and policies with respect to international standards

Effects on China’s overall development with regard to the ratification and implementation of international treaties

Effects on China’s overall development with regard to the bilateral and multilateral ties with major countries and regions

China's overall development with regard to its roles and influences in regional affairs

Dimensions of governance

China’s role and participation in intergovernmental and non-intergovernmental international organizations and conferences

Diplomacy and governance after reform and opening-up

Rural reform

The development of township and village enterprises

The issue of sannong

Urbanization

City reforms

The issue of peasant-workers

The reform of state-owned enterprises

The role of enterprises of the non-public sector

China’s accession to the WTO

Indicators of living standards

Different living standards and ways of life

The responses of the Central People’s Government

Responses from individuals with different backgrounds

Responses from different groups and organizations

The impact of reform and opening-up on people’s living standards and ways of life

National development: direction and goals

Formulation and implementation of policies, laws and regulationsGovernment intervention and market mechanismContribution and limits of science and technology

Paradigm shift in groups and the general public, and in their participation

A country heading towards sustainable development

Environmental and cultural conservation after reform and opening-up

Challenges brought by reform and opening-up to environmental and cultural conservation

Opportunities brought about by reform and opening-up for environmental and cultural conservation

Diplomacy after reform and opening-up

The impact of reform and opening-up

33Modern China

Step 1 : Selection of enquiry areas and/or theme

China’s economy took off swiftly since reform and opening-up was implemented, and people’s living standards have improved generally. A series of environmental problems, however, also came along. This section will use ‘Did China’s economic development bring a high level of pollution?’ as an issue of exploration, and will guide you to explore the impact of China’s economic development on the environment.

Step 2 : Collection of data

When we explore an issue, we need to collect relevant data. The following data are related to China’s economic development and environmental pollution. Study them carefully in order to understand the details of the issues.

Important events in China’s economic development since the introduction of reform and opening-up

2.1 Issue of Exploration: Does China’s economic development bring a high level of pollution?

The key terms for th is

issue of exploration are

‘economic development’ a n d ‘ h i g h l e v e l o f p o l l u t i o n ’ . N o o t h e r environmental problems

should be ment ioned.

Students should clarify the

relationship between the

two key terms and collect

relevant data.

1978

At the Third Plenum of the 11th CPC Congress held in December 1978, it was decided that reform and

opening-up should be launched. The primary tasks were to increase productivity and solve the problems

related to people’s livelihoods.

1980Four Special Economic Zones (SEZs), namely Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen, were set up as test

points for opening up to the outside world.

1982The Central Government released an official document No. 1 that states that the ‘contract system’ conforms

to the socialist economy. This was followed by the step-by-step introduction of the system.

1984The focus of economic reforms expanded from rural to urban areas. A series of measures, including the reform

of state-owned enterprises and urbanization were carried out.

1991Industrial policies were laid down in the Eight Five-year Plan. The machinery, electronics, communication,

computer, petrochemical, automobile and construction industries were under key development.

1992The 14th CPC Congress passed the introduction of a socialist market economy. A market system applicable to

the entire country was to be established.

1997

The per capita net income of rural households increased from RMB 134 in 1987 to RMB 2,090 in 1997, nearly

a fifteen-fold increase. The per capita disposable income of urban households increased from RMB 316 to RMB

5,160, nearly a sixteen-fold increase. Problems related to people’s livelihoods were mostly solved.

1999West Development was brought up in the Tenth Five-year Plan. Strategies for economic development were

extended from the southeastern region to the northwestern region and a number of important projects were started.

2001China officially acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and further opened up. Foreign trade and

investments increased correspondingly.

2007Since reform and opening-up began, China’s GDP has been increasing rapidly at an annual average growth

rate of 9%. In 2007, her total GDP exceeded US$3,200 billion, ranking fourth in the world.


Pollution in China in 2007

According to the 2007 Report on the State of Environment in China, the state of pollution in China in 2007 was as follows:

Water bodies: The water quality of the mainstream of Huanghe is fairly good, but its tributaries were severely polluted in general. The water quality of the Changjiang is good on the whole, though some of its tributaries were moderately or severely polluted. Eutrophication in lakes was still serious.

Air: Urban air quality was good in the whole country, but pollution in some cities remained relatively severe. 2.4% of the cities met Grade I national standard, 58.1% met Grade II standard, and 36.1% met Grade III standard, with 3.4% below the Grade III standard.

Solid wastes: 1,757,670,000 tonnes of industrial solid wastes was generated throughout the country, a 16.0% rise compared with the previous year.

(Source: 2007 Report on the State of Environment in China)

China’s laws on the prevention and control of pollution

China’s laws on the prevention and control of pollution cover aspects including water, ocean, atmosphere, solid wastes, noise, and radioactive, toxic and harmful substances and chemicals. The following laws have been amended:

• TheLawonProtectionoftheOceanEnvironment(Promulgatedin1982andamendedin2000)

• LawonthePreventionandControlofWaterPollution (Promulgated in1984andamended in1996)

• LawonthePreventionandControlofAirPollution(Promulgatedin1987andamendedin1995and 2000)

• LawonthePreventionandControlofEnvironmentalPollutionbySolidWastes(Promulgatedin1995 and amended in 2004)

• LawonthePreventionandControlofPollutionbyEnvironmentalNoise(Promulgatedin1996)

Apart from the above data, you can also collect more data related to China’s economic development and environmental pollution from the Internet and the library. The following are some reference books and websites:

Reference Books:

• 曲格平著：《夢想與期待：中國環境保護的過去與未來》，北京：中國環境科學出版社， 2000 年。• 朱坦主編：《中國環境與可持續發展》，北京：科學出版社， 2007 年。

Reference Websites:

• 中國環境狀況公報 http://big5.china.com.cn/environment/2009-02/02/content_17211688.htm

• Greenpeace http://www.greenpeace.org/china/en/

35Modern China

Step 3 : Organization of data collected

After collecting data, students can begin to classify the data and organize them systematically. For example, you may classify the data into ‘economic development’, ‘pollution problems’ and ‘government policies’ to facilitate analysis.

After organizing the data, students can write down the key words or concepts related to this issue by drawing a mind map so as to carry out a thorough analysis in the next step. For example:

Step 4 : Analysis of data collected

Afterwards, students can carry out an analysis using the mind map above and the data colleted in order to learn about the facts, explain a certain phenomenon or dissect a certain question. We can set out certain enquiring focuses for an in-depth analysis and identify the messages contained in different data. Students can explore from the following two enquiring focuses to develop data analysis skills.

Enquiring focus 1: What model of economic development has China adopted since the implementation of reform and opening-up?

China has introduced a series of policies for economic reforms after launching reform and opening-up. Many scholars described them as an ‘extensive’ model of economic development. The following data and issue of exploration will give students an understanding of the relationship between this model of economic development and China’s environmental problems. Consider the following data and answer the questions:

‘Economic development’

and ‘pollution problems’

have a causal relationship.

Students need to identify

what items of economic

development gave rise

to what types of pollution

problem.


Online economic encyclopaedia

‘Extensive growth’ refers to an economic growth model which boosts the quantity or value of output by putting in more factors of production, such as capital, human resources and material resources, due to relatively low production skills. It is generally featured with high input, high consumption, heavy pollution, low output, low benefits, greater concern for the extent and rate of economic growth, as well as the negligence of quality and structure and the carrying capacities of resources and the environment.

This kind of model is mostly found in developing countries. Because of a lack of skills and knowledge and an eagerness for success, the phenomenon of large-scale investments, low-efficiency resources utilization and the negligence of environmental conservation often occurs.

Source 1

Source 2

C3 Features on China Daily News 10 May 2009

Are there hidden problems in the economic growth model adopted in the early stage of reform and opening-up?

A scholar has recently made a conclusive commentary on the economic development model China adopted in the early period of reform and opening-up. He suggested that hidden problems existed in spite of the economic takeoff.

The scholar said urban economic reforms in the mid-1980s were mainly carried out in the form of the ‘contract responsibility system’. This system gave rise to many short-term acts, such as extensive constructions and heavy consumption. People only aimed at meeting the output quota under the contract and disregarded the need for technological transformation and the effective use of resources. In the early stage of the reforms, for example, with limited technology, economic growth could only be achieved by expanding the scope of investment. At that time, the government was still the main investor, and regional governments at all levels strived to attract investments and projects for better performance, even though it would duplicate constructions. The results were low-efficiency resource uti l ization and disregard for the importance of a balance between economic development and environmental conservation.

Shenzhen developed rapidly in the 1980s under reform and opening-up


37Modern China

(a) According to Source 1, which of the following descriptions about ‘extensive’ economic growth are correct? Put a ✓ in the box if the description is correct, and an 7 if it is not.

Knowledge & Understanding & Identification (4 marks)

(i) It emphasizes the speed of economic development and disregards the price for it.

(ii) Low technological level gives rise to low-efficiency resource utilization.

(iii) Quality output is achieved by high input.

(iv) Resources are consumed at a rate higher than their renewability.

(b) Referring to the above question, was an ‘extensive’ model of economic development adopted during the early stage of China’s reform and opening-up? Explain.

Knowledge & Understanding & Giving Evidence (4 marks)

(c) With reference to Source 2, according to the scholar, how did the economic development model adopted at the early stage of reform and opening-up damage the environment? Suggest two

problems. Knowledge & Understanding (6 marks)


Enquiring focus 2: What pollution problems has China’s economic development brought to the environment?

Many people blame the ‘extensive’ model of economic development for causing the serious pollution problems confronting China today. What pollution problems did this kind of economic development bring to the environment? Consider the following data and answer the questions:

Source 1

C3 Commentary on China Daily News 10 May 2009

According to reports in China Economic Weekly, normal water supply from the Xiang River Basin in Hunan Province was suspended because of excessive heavy metal content in the river, which threatens the health of 40 million local people. Pollution has also greatly reduced the fish population in the river. Thousands of hectares of farms are made unfit for cultivation, whereas fish, crops and vegetables from many regions are no longer edible.

In recent years, mining, separation and refinement of non-ferrous metals (有色金屬) were important tactics for economic development in the Xiang River Basin. These activities have pushed the region’s GDP up to trillions. But the refineries and chemical workshops are mostly built along the shore of the Xiang River, which is severely polluted by heavy metals. The Xiang River incident rang the alarm to warn us that economic development should not be pursued at the expense of the environment.

(Source: News of the Communist Party of China, 2009. Downloaded from http://cpc.people.com.cn/BIG5/index.html)

‘Polluted’ GDP is not performancepoison

Source 2

A comparison of carbon dioxide emissions by world powers between 1996 and 2006 (100 million tons)

Year China USEuropean

UnionJapan

Global total

emission

1996 32.0 52.9 31.7 11.5 225.8

1998 31.1 54.8 31.6 11.2 227.8

2000 29.8 57.0 31.5 11.9 234.6

2002 34.6 56.5 32.1 12.1 242.6

2004 47.3 58.0 33.2 12.1 265.8

2006 56.8 57.5 33.3 11.2 281.6

(Source: Regional CO2 emissions from global fuel use. Downloaded from http://www.mnp.nl/en/)

39Modern China

Source 3

Volume of industrial solid wastes discharge in China between 2001 and 2007

Note: No related figure was released in 2005.

(Source: Report on the State of Environment in China, 2001 – 2007)

(a) According to Source 1, what is the commentator’s standpoint about the economic growth in Xiang

River Basin as reflected by the heading of the editorial? Why? Analysis (2 marks)

(b) According to Source 2, between 1996 and 2006, China’s carbon dioxide emission grew at a

rate, and the emissions of other major countries grew at a rate.

Analysis (2 marks)

(c) With reference to Source 3, how was the situation of industrial solid wastes discharge in China

between 2001 and 2007? Analysis (2 marks)

(d) With reference to Sources 2 and 3, the development of what do you think the data on pollution in

China are related to? Analysis (4 marks)


(e) With reference to the sources and according to your knowledge, do you think China’s rapid economic

development is an advantage or disadvantage? Explain. Critical Thinking (6 marks)

Step 5 : Evaluation of different viewpoints, drawing a conclusion

Issue of Exploration: Did China’s economic development bring a high level of pollution?

From the data analysis above, we can see the relationship between China’s economic development and her environmental problems. Afterwards, we can evaluate the different viewpoints and come to a conclusion based on our judgment. For example:

Conclusions• Economicdevelopment:An‘extensive’modelofeconomicgrowthfeaturedwithhighinput,high

consumption, heavy pollution, low output and low benefits.

• Environmentalproblems: ‘Extensive’economicgrowthbrought toChinaseverepollutionproblems, such as water pollution, air pollution and solid waste pollution. They threaten the well-being of the environment and the ecology.

Step 6 : Presentation of results and production of the product

Lastly, sum up the data collected and the above conclusion to produce a short presentation report from your views. Formats may include an essay (around 500 words), PowerPoint presentation and data set.

41Modern China

China’s rapid economic development brought about severe pollution to the environment, posing a threat to the lives of her people and their future generations. How should China face and tackle her problems squarely? We can think about the direction for exploring this issue using the following mind map:

From the above mind map, we can learn that both the Chinese government and the people have the responsibility and capacity to tackle China’s pollution problems. Consider the following data and answer the questions.

Source 1

2.2 Extended Exploration: What should China do to tackle her pollution problems?

Pollution prevention and control under the Eleventh Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection

(Source: Translated from the National Eleventh Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection, 2007)Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council.

Environmental conservation under the 11th Five-Year Guidelines (2006-2015) arms to speed up three historical transformations: The first is the transformation from focusing on economic growth and ignoring environmental protection into putting equal emphasis on both. The second is the transformation from environmental conservation lagging behind economic growth into the synchronization of the two. The third is the transformation from mainly employing administrative methods to conserve the environment into the comprehensive application of legal, economic, technical and necessary administrative methods to address environmental problems ...

We will take the prevention and control of pollution as the top priority and ensuring safe drinking water for urban and rural residents as the key task. With overall promotion and breakthrough in focal areas, we will practically address the pre-eminent environmental problems threatening public health and affecting sustainable economic and social development ...


Until late 2005, there were 2,768 environmental NGOs of various types in China, with nearly 230,000 workers in the field. Environmental NGOs in China are maturing and they have shown positive impact in undertaking the supervision of the government and enterprises on their discharge of environmental responsibilities.

In 2002, for instance, when Chongqing Municipality decided to build a 300,000-kilowatt coal-burning power station in the central district, the Chongqing Green Volunteers Union immediately held a seminar for the residents in the area to suggest that the government should stop this project, which would be carried out at the expense of Chongqing central district’s atmospheric environment. By the end of 2003, the Chongqing government stopped the project.

Unfortunately, a shortage of talent and funds has been the greatest barrier to the growth of environmental conservation bodies. They lack funds mainly because the government and enterprises do not want to be supervised, and people know very little about them. A lack of support means they face great difficulties in obtaining human and financial resources.


Civilian Daily News 6 December 2008

China’s environmental NGOs grow quickly but still walk a difficult path to environmental conservation

Source 2

(a) According to Source 1, how did the National Eleventh Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection respond to the model of economic development adopted in China? Analysis (4 marks)

(b) According to Source 2, what effects do China’s environmental NGOs have on environmental

conservation? Explain with examples. Analysis & Giving Evidence (4 marks)

43Modern China

(c) With reference to the sources and according to your knowledge, what are the opportunities and

challenges to China’s environmental conservation? Explain. Expressing Opinions & Analysis (8 marks)

Apart from the data in this book, you may also collect more data to learn more about ‘environmental conservation after reform and opening-up’. The following is for your reference:

Reference books:

• 中國環境與發展國際合作委員會等編：《中國環境與發展：世紀挑戰與戰略抉擇》，北京：中國環境科學出版社， 2007 年。

• 孫佑海著：《超越環境「風暴」：中國環境資源保護立法研究》，北京：中國法制出版社， 2008 。• 胡鞍鋼等著：《思考中國 : 挑戰中國的九大問題》，瀋陽：遼寧人民出版社， 1998 。

Reference websites:

• 中華人民共和國環境保護部 — 國家環境保護「十一五」規劃 http://www.zhb.gov.cn/plan/hjgh/sywgh/

• 中國環保網 http://www.chinaenvironment.com/

• 中華環保聯合會 http://www.acef.com.cn/


bridging focus 2: china’s economic development and pollution...

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