Section 1: Beijing and the Games
The Environment, Beijing and the 2008 Olympic Games
In 2007, only 44% of cities met Chinese National level II air
“1/4 of the population in China drink polluted water and 1/3 of the population breath severely polluted air. About 70 % of cancer in China is related to environmental pollution.” Pan Yue - Vice-Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration China faces some of the world’s greatest environmental challenges. Some 300 cities in China face severe water shortages.10 Seventy percent of China’s rivers are polluted and 385 Chinese species are listed as endangered.11 Of greatest concern are China’s rapidly increasing greenhouse gas (GHG)
quality standards. Pollutant levels in Chinese cities often pose an enormous health risk to citizens.14 However, China produces only about one quarter of the emissions per person as the US and has set ambitious goals for energy saving and emissions reduction. In addition, despite the increasing numbers of cars in China, there were eight billion bicycles in Beijing by the end of 2006. Beijing’s bicycles will compete for road space with the estimated 3.35 million cars by the time the Games begin in 2008.15 China’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world.
emissions levels over the past ten years. China is one of the
Official Chinese government figures indicate that the China’s
world’s largest GHG emitters, with an estimated 6 200 million
economy grew at an 11.9% annual rate in 2007, the fastest
tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) released in 2006 from burning
rate of growth in more than a decade. The explosive growth
fossil fuels and cement production.12 This represents a 9%
was fueled by a huge trade surplus, booming retail sales and
increase in emissions for the same year and is primarily due
immense investments in new factories, roads, bridges, and
to the country’s reliance on coal as its main energy source.13
real estate projects.
10. Worldwatch Institute research, “State of the World” report, February 2006, http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3881. 11. Worldwatch Institute research, “State of the World” report, February 2006, http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3881. 12. Worldwatch Institute, “State of the World” report, February 2006, citing research by a Chinese research institute, http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3881. 13. Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, http://www.mnp.nl/en/dossiers/Climatechange/moreinfo/Chinanowno1inCO2emissionsUSAinsecondposition.html 14. Xinhua, “2007 China environmental report released.” http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/05/content_8317525.htm 15. Xinhua, “Vehicles in Beijing to reach 3.35 million during Olympics.” March 27, 2008. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-03/27/content_6571379.htm
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