Global Warming

"As China roars, pollution reaches deadly extremes" (Kahn and Yardley, 1). China is emerging as the strongest economical power in the world. That is good, but not for the environment. The conditions in China are so bad that, "Nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water" (Kahn and Yardley, 1). This is becoming a problem for China and the rest of the world. As China rises in power, it is causing global environmental problems. It must be said that China is not the only one doing this; the United States is also at the top of the list.

Now that China is the most populated country in the world, as well as the fastest growing economy, it is facing enormous issues dealing with its polluted environment. China swore that its environment would be safe and healthier for the 2008 Olympic Games, but as of this June, they had not fulfilled their promise; instead their environment is even worse. With Beijing, one of the most polluted cities in the world, hosting the Olympics, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and other countries involved with the Games have been keeping Beijing under excruciating surveillance. [Heelan]

Because China wants to surpass the United States, a fourth of the country is now a desert, the uncontaminated water supply has decreased to 40 percent, and most of the forests have been cut down. Their desire to become the next superpower has led them to burn more than 200 million tons of coal (that is 400 billion pounds!) a year. This ongoing polluting catastrophe has led to millions of Chinese citizens having little or non-safe water to drink and dangerous exposure to daily unclean air. [Heelan]

Environmental communities worldwide have offered to aid China in hopes that the future of the country will include a safe environment. Some plans include better recycling, and farming on rooftops, so that potential farmlands will be safe enough to grow crops. [Heelan]