Pollution in China in real terms

Jonathan Kaiman, the Guardian’s correspondent in China, and Lucy Harrison, a lecturer in a university near Shanghai join me to discuss these issues. Measures that the Chinese government is taking to alleviate the problems are also discussed, as is a possible pollution tax on Chinese goods.

4 Comments on "Pollution in China in real terms"

Makati1 on Sun, 9th Mar 2014 3:59 am 



China is the US 50 years ago. And we still have the after effects. What would the US look like with 1,300 million instead of 300 million? The same.

Davy, Hermann, MO on Sun, 9th Mar 2014 1:42 pm 



Makati, China is so far over the edge in overshoot I dare compare them to any other country now or in past history. The US was a wonderful place 50 years ago. We were not in overshoot like we are now. Yet, nothing like China, come on!!. China cannot feed itself without huge import which are going to create problems for you in the Philippians. YOU, should be worried with the huge proportion of your countries GDP spent on food. China is going to suck in food exports and raise the food prices into the stratosphere. China is a death star ready to implode. This implosion risks taking the rest of the world with it in a knock on effect of systematic economic risks. China is the last of the big spenders of the global system and it will be the one to end globalism sooner than later. There is no way the earth can accommodate China’s growth for more than a few more years.

Makati1 on Mon, 10th Mar 2014 2:27 am 



Davy, the US imports 20% of it’s food and after this year, it will be a lot higher percentage. As the US keeps trying to rule the world and pay off over 50% of it’s citizens with government aid, (Food Stamps, Welfare, SSI, SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran’s Benefits, etc.) it will go broke, and then what happens to those 50%?

I think China has already realized their future better than any Westerner and is taking steps to cover it. You are aware that they have farmland in many countries, that they have investments in half of Africa, and yes, they own farmland here in the Philippines as well as many places in South and Central America and Asia. Then there are the farms and food corporations in America that they are buying with fiat dollars.

I think you need to look at your own country’s problems a little closer. Tax income is falling like hail all over the 50 states and the result is more pain and hardship for the 99%, until they pick up their 250+ million weapons and take to the streets.

Northwest Resident on Mon, 10th Mar 2014 4:03 am 



Makati, it is comical to me to observe the mental gymnastics you go through to beat the drums for China.

The Chinese have wonderful and varied history of prisoner execution methods:

http://www.chinawhisper.com/10-most-brutal-execution-methods-in-ancient-china/

When it comes to enforcing laws in China these days, the rich just pay to violate the law and get away with things regular people can’t.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/opinion/chinas-brutal-one-child-policy.html?_r=0

The Chinese brutally suppress and censor dissent.

http://www.cfr.org/china/media-censorship-china/p11515

You downplay pollution and economic corruption in China, while castigating America for the same.

Chinese buying farmland and homes in other countries is because the rich and connected Chinese know their country is going to hell and they want the hell out — but here you are singing China’s praises while casting the usual condemnations at America. What gives?