[CND, 09/19/97] AFP and JEN reported from Hong Kong that the World Bank
mapped out strategies for China to fight the deteriorating environment from
now to the year 2020.
The status quo:
* About 178,000 city dwellers die prematurely each year because of the
outdoor air pollution;
* About 111,000 people in the countryside die each year from indoor air
pollution stemming from coal-burning furnaces and stoves;
* 52 of 135 monitored urban rivers have deteriorated to mere waste sinks and
cannot even be used for irrigation anymore;
* Damages from air and water pollution are estimated at 54 billion U.S.
dollars per year, i.e. 8% of China's GDP in 1995.
The World Bank report said that in spite of the seriousness of the problem,
China now has "an unprecedented opportunity to better its quality of life.
.. Rapid economic growth makes clearer waters and bluer skies more
attainable," because it provides funds to buy cleaner technology and to make
industries more energy-efficient. And the Bank suggested measures for
improvement:
* China will have to use about 1% of its GDP for investment in pollution
control over the coming years;
* Lead in gasoline should be phased out by the year 2000, as pledged by the
government;
* Coal which supplied 80% of the country's energy should have to be priced
100% higher than now if costs for health damage from air pollution are to
be compensated;
* Substitute natural gas for coal to tackle the suffocating air problems in
most major cities;
* The Chinese government must use market-based incentives such as prices,
taxes and penalties to encourage practices that will help improve the
devastating environment; must impose heavier taxes on air pollutants;
* Water and energy must be priced correctly to discourage waste of resources;
* China should improve policy coordination across the country by setting up
regional authorities overseeing water and air management;
* Better regulations and policy coordination are needed to control
automobile and motorcycle emissions;
* Move dirty industries out of urban areas;
* Try to increase wastewater collection and treatment from towns and cities
as well as from industries;
* Promote public transport and plan for better transport systems.
The World Bank believes that by the year 2020 if proper measures are taken
in time, the improved air and water quality would lower pollution-related
health costs by 75%, even though China will still fulfill the goal to
quadruple its output. (Greg GAO, Guochen WAN)