Michael Blowhard writes:

Dear Blowhards --

China's rapid industrialization has been very impressive. So has its record as the world's most heedless polluter, reports Der Spiegel. Some unappetizing facts:

• The country is home to 16 of the world's 20 dirtiest cities.
  
• The country's factories and power plants emit more sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide than Europe does.
  
• In a few years the country will surpass the United States to become the world's biggest carbon dioxide producer.
  
• The amount by which China increased its power production last year is greater than Britain's entire capacity.
  
• China uses more coal than the U.S., the EU, and Japan combined.
  
• Every seven days a new coal-fired plant comes on line.
  
• It's estimated that 400,000 Chinese die from air pollution every year.
  
• Particulates from China are causing sore throats in Japan.

Link thanks to the Distributist Review.

Best,

Michael

Confucius say: to get rich is glorious...but messy.

Posted by: ricpic on February 8, 2007 7:37 PM

China is an environmental mess, but China does have about four times the population of the US or Europe, and that has to be taken into consideration.

Posted by: John Emerson on February 10, 2007 7:39 PM






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