Green China, as well as this particular work, developed from a recognition that China was tackling a wide range of serious environmental problems within the context of her rapid industrialization, urbanization, transition to a market-oriented economy and growing consumerism that would inevitably have great impact not only on the lives of its own vast population, but also for those inhabiting neighboring countries and even the world at large.The problems have been well documented in the Western media, but the solutions being tried have perhaps not been so well publicized, and this book is an attempt to redress the balance.

Instead of lack of respect for Nature, enhanced environmental education ensures that there is resurgence in respect for the power and beauty of China's environment.There is a renewed quest for exemplars, of models of good practice in human/environment interaction, a quest that has several dimensions. And so, one dimension of such a quest is the historical one, seeking examples of ecological harmony in past practice.

A cheerful future is one in which the ills of deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, air pollution and the like are effectively tackled via a concerted effort across the country. Officials and cadres provide a key leadership role, but there is realization that local people must have a major rote in combating environmental destruction.Participation and involvement will be crucial. It is likely that the energies and drive of young people will have to be mobilized, as it has been for a number of environmental campaigns such as those concerned with forestation. But all those involved will need to ensure that there is not a false concern to meet arbitrary short-term targets, but instead a genuine desire to improve the local, regional and national environment via long term efforts. This will not be a 'quick fix'; instead it will be an arduous and hard road, but one in which people gain from a sense of working hard together towards a better future.

Preface

Section One Roots of China's Environmental Concerns

Chapter 1 Introduction

 Achievements So Far

  Whose Responsibility ?

Chapter 2 China's varied environment

 Seven Physical Regions

Chapter 3 Historical Preconditions

 Twin Threats: Drought and Flood

 Impact of Han Migrations

Chapter 4 Socialist Transformations

 Mixed Results in the Countryside

Section Two Air Pollution

Chapter 5 Industrial Pollution

 Shougang and Benxi: Models for Change

 Township and Village Enterprises

Chapter 6 Coal and Its Alternatives

 Leading Coal Consumer

 Nuclear and Natural Gas Alternatives

Chapter 7 Gridlock and Smog

 The Bane of Traffic Jams

 Exhaust Emission Fears

 Countermeasures on Many Fronts

Section Three Water Issues

Chapter 8 Pollution of Waterways

 Tackling Domestic Wastewater

 Saving the Lakes

 Red Tide Threat

Chapter 9 Sharing Limited Water

 Diverting Water from South to North

 Yellow River's Future in Doubt

 Alternative Scenarios

 Seawater Option

Chapter 10 The Three Gorges Dam

 Positive Points

 Negative Points

Section Four Waste Disposal

Chapter 11 Consumer Society and Its Waste

  Pros and Cons of Urbanization

 Growth of Consumerism

Chapter 12 Leveling the Waste Mountain

 Cities under Siege

 Still a Long Way to Go

Section Five Land Loss and Recovery

Chapter 13 Greening the Deserts

 Promoting Public Involvement

Chapter 14 Nature Reserves

 Tibetan Example of Nature First

 Pastureland and Forestry Protection

Section Six Summing up

Chapter 15 Bleak Futures, Cheerful Futures

 Bleak Scenario

 Optimistic Scenario

 Final Word

Postscript

Appendix

Index