Transcript Slide 1

By: Romain Knowles (0561764); Iain Thew (0569113); Mark Biesta (0679739); Juliet Whittall (0563581)
IMS3/MSFM3 Sustainability Module, March 2008
Introduction
Over the past 50 years, China has experienced a rapid
transformation from a command economy to a market
orientated economy. It is now the second largest
economy in the world and with increasing foreign
investment, it is likely to become number one. However,
this development has lead to a number of problems,
socially, economically and environmentally. This prompts
the question; is China’s development sustainable?
China 1990
China 2005
GDP growth (1952-2005)
GDP (billions RMB yuan)
SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh
Group 4: The Rise of China
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
China 2050
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
The goal of building a high standard of living requires ever increasing demands on
energy supply;
• Domestic energy needs
• Growing heavy industry
• Infrastructure growth
China’s Sustainable energy
programme has set
ambitious targets for
energy efficiency improvement
by 2010 and 2020: energy
intensity of the country’s GDP
should be reduced by 20%.
These targets involve;
• A reduction on the reliance of coal by 6%
• Building the equivalent of a Three Gorges dam every two years
• Adding carbon and sulphur capture to existing fossil fuel plants
• Increasing the number of nuclear energy plants.
19
52
19
55
19
58
19
61
19
64
19
67
19
70
19
73
19
76
19
79
19
82
19
85
19
88
19
91
19
94
19
97
20
00
20
03
0
Energy Consumption
Rural to Urban Migration
Since the late 1970s, China has experienced a rapid influx of
people into the cities (see graph below). The reason for this is a
‘push and pull’ system;
• Low income in farming
• Poor provision of health insurance for rural residents
• A greater demand for services in the cities
• An improved urban food supply Rural and Urban Population
• Relaxed migration laws.
The rising urban population
has encountered many
problems including:
• A low quality of life
• Poor education
• Lack of sanitation
• High rate of poverty
• Water shortages
• Rising air pollution levels
To improve the situation, the
Chinese government has
introduced a number of policies.
More smaller cities are to be
developed, including eco-city
Dongtan, more money is being injected into education and
sexual equality is being promoted. UNICEF and SEPA are also
working to improve environmental and social welfare.
Urban Transport
China’s booming economy has
created a wealthy, urban middle
class that aspires to an affluent
westernized lifestyle. The bicycle,
the traditional mode of transport
for the middle classes is falling
out of favour and private car
ownership is on the increase,
actively encouraged by the
Chinese Government who sees
a strong automobile industry as a pillar of their economy. China has,
however, recognised the problems that are being caused by car emissions
and has passed legislation to try and limit air pollution, recently setting a new
standard for car emissions that has been enforced from March 1st this year.
Conclusion
Owing to the political emphasis
on economic development
only, China’s rapid growth has
not been sustainable, socially
or environmentally. Globally
there
is
an
increased
awareness of sustainability,
and China has made limited
progress towards a more
sustainable future. Whether it
chooses to invest more in
green technologies or ignore
the warnings is now up to
China to decide.
“the seriousness of environmental degradation in China means that the conventional Chinese path of encouraging
economic growth at the expense of the environment has to be changed” Zhang Zhongxiang
References
•Coleman, D, Azevedo, M, Colley, J, Zhu, J, Jennings, R, Holliway, R, Surnson, A and Hughes, M (2007) “China 2008 Country Review”, Country Watch
•Nehru, V, Kraay, A and Yu, X (1997) “China 2020: Development challenges in the new century”, World Bank, Washington DC
•National Bureau of Statistics: China (2008), “GDP growth 1952 – 2007”, http://www.chinability.com/GDP.htm
•Lin, J, Zhou, N, Levine, M and Fridley, D. (December 2006) “Achieving China’s Target for Energy Intensity Reduction in 2010 – An exploration of recent trends
and possible future scenarios” http://china.lbl.gov
•UN (2003) “China's Rural and Urban Population, 1950-2030” (Estimates) China-Profile http://www.china-profile.com/data/fig_urban_2.htm