Socioeconomics

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What is causing the pollution in Asia?
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• Some say we must go on personal crusades to solve
  air pollution
• Others say advances in technology will solve the
  problem
• The problem must be stopped at the source
• So what is the Source?

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Whiskey and Gunpowder outlines top causes of
Asian air pollution. CHINA GREW TOO
FAST --After Chinese markets opened to the West,
the Chinese people began adapting to Western
lifestyles. --Over a billion Chinese
citizens --People began driving cars more often
than walking LACK OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION ON
INDUSTRY AND THE ENVIRONMENT --Legislative
shortcomings --Poorly designed policy
instruments --Unsupportive work environment for
environmental regulators --China is turning to
more capitalistic approach like in the U.S.
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NATURAL AEROSOLS --Chlorofluorocarbons which
put holes in the ozone layer --Large population
uses more man made aerosols such as
hairspray --Natural Aerosols come from volcanoes
and desert winds --Deforestation helps the
problem as well CHINESE FIXING OF GAS
PRICES --Gas caps make buying gas or fuel in
China more appealing --More gas sold and used in
China means more exhaust --More exhaust means
higher NOx WE ARE A SOURCE OF THE
PROBLEM! --We are large consumers of Chinese
products --China passed U.S. as the leading
carbon emitter --Our toys, products, even our
iPods are Chinese --We have in effect Passed
our Pollution to China!
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BIGGEST CAUSE COAL Tens of thousands of small
coal mines, the most in the world Power plants
burn cheap, high sulfur coal ---most
harmful Releases Sulfur Dioxide, and nitrogen
oxides MIT researchers say Chinas power sector
is expanding to 500 coal-fired plants a
week Accurate data is hard to find because of
corruption
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Can the Government do Anything? YES If Chinese
government would have made a more gradual turn to
the West Tougher government regulation on
factory emissions End deforestation Remove or
fine tune the Chinese gas cap Acquire accurate
data on coal-fired factories and provide
financial incentives to turn clean
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Socioeconomics
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Socioeconomics

• Defined
• In Context
• Method of Measurement

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(No Transcript)
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A China Case StudyMajor Points

• Poverty Alleviation
• Environmental Sustainability
• Education and Health Services
• Income Generation

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Social Impacts

• Usage of Electrical Household Appliances
  increased by 47
• Reduced working hours for children and increased
  classroom attendance.
• Decreased Working Hours
• Income Generation

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Environmental Impact

• Dry Cell Consumption
• Wax Candle Consumption

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Urban Air Pollution

• Can Highly Impact Citizens with a Lower
  Socioeconomic Status
• Health

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Urban Air Cont.

• Cleaning Up May Hit Pockets

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China Protecting the Environment
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National Peoples Congress

• Leading power in China
• Administrative
• Judicial
• Legislative
• Environment and Resources Protection Committee
• New and revisions to existing legislation
• State Environmental Protection Administration
• Agency that addresses environmental issues

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State Environmental Protection Administration
(SEPA)

• Policy and regulatory functions
• Enforcement and supervision
• Cross-cutting and regional issue coordination
• Environmental standards
• Environmental management and environmental impact
  assessment

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State Environmental Protection Administration
(SEPA)

• Research and development, certification and
  environmental industry
• Monitoring and information disclosure
• Global environmental issues and international
  conventions
• Nuclear safety

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SEPA and EPBs

• Environmental Protection Bureaus (EPBs)
• Administrative offices
• Provincial, city, district, county, township
  levels
• Local enforcement and compliance of environmental
  law

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Health Effects of Air Pollution
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Indoor Air Pollution

• Respiratory Illnesses
• Cancer
• Asthma
• Immune system
• Rural areas
• 60 solid form of fuel
• Biomass coal

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Biomass Fuel

• Incomplete combustion
• High sulfur content
• Neighborhood effect
• Honeycomb coal

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WHO
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Beijing Olympic Games-2008

• Measures set up prior to games
• Reduced industry and pollution
• International speculation
• U.S. EPA

Science Daily
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Examiner.com
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Policy

• Economic growth more prominent over environmental
  concerns
• Chinese government recently investigating health
  effects related to air quality
• Much behind the rest of the world

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World Bank
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If this can be done in less than one year, What
can China do permanently?
Treehugger.com
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Chinas Air Policy
Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the
Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution
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Chapter One

• Article one prevent and control atmospheric
  pollution
• Article two state council and local peoples
  governments at various levels to incorporate the
  protection of the atmospheric environment into
  their national economic and social development,
  make rational plans for the distribution of
  industrial layout, strengthen the scientific
  research on the prevention and control of
  atmospheric pollution.
• Article six national standards for atmospheric
  environment quality

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Chapter Two

• Supervision and management of the prevention and
  control of atmospheric pollution
• Article 11 new construction projects must meet
  prescribed standards
• Article 14 fees from discharges will be used for
  environmental programs

http//www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/tbw/wc.notes
/13.air.pollution/smoke.stack.pollution.jpg
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Chapter Three and Four
Beijing

• Chapter 3 COAL
• Use cleaner coal
• Develop new technologies
• Chapter 4 MOBILE SOURCES
• Emissions standards
• Develop cleaner fuels

Shanghai
http//oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/TEACHERS/A
TMOSPHERE/ChinaPollution.jpg
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Connections to Economics

• State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC)
• Higher rank than SEPA
• New institutions at local level responsible for
  economic development and trade higher rank than
  environmental agencies

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Connections to Economics

• The high-growth, resource-intensive development
  strategy China has pursued, coupled with the
  norms and institutional relationships designed to
  support this development strategy, have no doubt
  played a critical role in the deteriorating
  quality of the environment (Jahiel 757)

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Chinese Pollution Reaches US (CBS News)

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vGsjANjFlK0Mfeature
  related