Skip to content

Pollution

Nations that are cleaning up ---- part 1!

by JW. Dowey 06 Mar 2017
Nations that are cleaning up ---- part 1!

The natural beauty of China’s National Parks belies the awful pollution in the great cities. The efforts being made now in the National Chinese People’s Congress may be too limited to change much unfortunately! Hunan image; Credit: © Shutterstock

Li Keqiang has given us the outline of how one country is governing its carbon emissions. The others may be less informative on any direct action, but China is prevaricating on many issues, as are many nations who should know better.

With Beijing and Shanghai covered in smogs, last year’s reduction of coal consumption by 4.7% was an obvious gut reaction, though far from enough. The world’s largest carbon emitter and its partner in crime, the US, need to perfect their double act in cutting their smoking habit.

“To make our skies blue again,” may be a worthy aim of the Chinese Premier, but the Chinese People’s Congress beginning yesterday should produce more data on how this could be achieved, although luckily, he actually magicked the correctly-coloured sky for the occasion. Renewable energy resources have cause problems in China with many environmentally-destructive giant dams, so manipulating emissions from the numerous coal-fired power stations is not the answer to Chinese air quality. Wasting new solar and wind installations because they are not integrated into the grid is yet another problem.

An increased transparency with large amounts of online monitoring will improve matters. The actual hard work of switching off the fossil fuels is a greater task. PM 2.5 particles need a 25% reduction by this year, according to Beijing’s own targets. This means that older and diesel vehicles need to be taken off the road, as is happening in many of our cities in at least some countries.

The SO2 levels as well as those dangerous nitrogen oxides from diesel engines will be cut by only 3% according to the Premier. City residents will still feel the need to wear those ubiquitous face masks and install many more air filters if that is all that can quickly be accomplished.

We all have these problems in both big cities and also in the rural areas where children could be exposed to fumes of many kinds, but especially those from engines and power stations. Here is a review of China’s greening: China Comes Clean (Legally at Least.)

Let’s hope that every nation can have some representative like Mr Li who at least holds himself responsible for improving the situation, instead of denying the need for action altogether. The future needs to be bright with new technologies, not lumbered with fumes and their global warming effects for centuries.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping