Fighting the Shadow of Growth - Environmental Measures in China" - April 2003

Fighting the Shadow of Growth - Environmental Measures in China" - April 2003

In China, rapid economic growth has been accompanied by worsening air and water pollution and increasing health hazards to the population. In particular, energy consumption, mainly coal, is the main cause of air pollution, and there is concern about the environmental burden caused by PM2.5, sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). 2003 survey reported that about 400,000 people die prematurely annually due to air pollution, and environmental problems are having a major impact on people's lives. Environmental problems are having a major impact on people's lives.

In response to this situation, the Chinese government has strengthened its environmental policy and announced a plan to invest about 57 billion yuan (about 1 trillion yen) in environmental measures between 2003 and 2007. In particular, in 2003, the Environmental Impact Assessment Law was enacted, requiring all development projects to undergo environmental assessment. As a result, it is now required to assess the environmental impact of industrial and urban development in advance and take appropriate measures. In addition, as a measure against air pollution, an emissions trading system has been introduced on a trial basis in some provinces to promote emission reduction efforts by companies.

Furthermore, in urban areas, sewage treatment facilities have been developed as a measure against water pollution. In Beijing and Shanghai, in particular, advanced treatment technology has been introduced to strengthen proper treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater. In addition, a shift to natural gas and renewable energy is underway to break away from dependence on coal, and new energy policies are being implemented, especially in the coal mining areas of Inner Mongolia and Shanxi Province.

However, there are many challenges to implementing environmental policies. In some areas, compliance with environmental standards has not been thoroughly enforced, and in some cases, especially in regional cities and rural areas, appropriate monitoring systems have not been established. In addition, despite the rapid increase in investment in environmental measures, the policy of prioritizing economic growth remains strong, and some companies have pointed out problems with evading emission regulations and falsifying data.

Sources
- China Environmental Policy Situation: https://www.ipej-hokkaido.jp/ch/ch105/CH105_Cina.pdf
- Energy and Environmental Issues Behind China's Rapid Growth: https://eneken.ieej.or.jp/data/pdf/612.pdf
- Environmental Issues in China: https://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/annai/chousa/rippou_chousa/backnumber/2006pdf/20061227050.pdf