If approximately three quarters of all Beijing’s energy is derived from coal, then the transition would require a lot of effort at the micro and macro level. Over the past decade, energy consumption has spiked over a hundred percent, indicating the reliance on coal. Considering that coal is the most polluting out of all the hydrocarbons available, it would be in China’s best interests to make the switch. The smog dilemma will actually hurt the economy further when the tourism rates will decrease. Who would want to risk visiting such a beautiful land and its people if their life was on the line? Dangerously high levels of smog from coal and car exhaust in Beijing may cause tourists to re-evaluate their tourist destination. If China was to ever
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Mother Earth has been as kind as to let us use her resources, but what have we done in return? We have industrialized, exploited resources and minerals, and dumped our pollution beyond Earth’s ability to absorb it all in such a timely fashion. If we would like the planet to continue being our home, we should learn to better appreciate it. According to a widely controversial movie named “Under the Dome”, Chai Jing, a reporter in Beijing whom narrates us through a documentary covering the air pollution problem engulfing China, discusses the wide range of issues facing China’s most polluted cities, Beijing being one of the most polluted given its unfortunate geographical proximity. Despite the fact the movie was banned in China, it continued to be popular throughout the world, as it depicted what life was really like in Beijing, Harbin, Hubei, and other affected cities alike. Because of such disturbing levels of heavy smog, residents have become prisoners of their own home. But what precisely does this hazardous smog consist of? Well depending on the region in question, but most of the pollutants in Beijing are traced back to car emissions, byproduct produced by the process of coal combustion, and dust blowing off of construction sites. During the winter months, weather conditions are worsened, as coal consumption increases, given that residents use that to heat their homes. Moreover, …show more content…
Nevertheless, our responsibility is to do our best in alleviating the causes and effects, because we pay the price ultimately. For example, air pollution contributes to the dreaded acid rain; acid rain not only devastates agricultural crops, it also pollutes ninety percent of waterways and a large portion of arable soil. In Fact, “environmental degradation cost [China] nine percent of its Gross National Income in 2008”, a number that is quite unacceptable. Since many waterways are now considered wastewaters, that water traveling across the country is spreading the pollution, triggering a chain reaction. Ecosystems are largely affected, as each system relies on the other to thrive. But with these ecological systems pushed off of their natural balance, pollutants are now making their way to the vegetation, the wildlife, such as fish and other delicate marine life, the soil, and underground water tables, in which we heavily rely on to irrigate our agricultural plants and to provide us with potable water. Fish are dying and washing up ashore, and crops are not growing to their fullest potential; therefore, this has contributed to food insecurity as a consequence. Ironically, the smog is so thick, that a spectator would have a difficult time seeing the coal factories ahead, or worse yet, their own feet. How bad is the situation, you might wonder? Well, the
Mother Earth has been as kind as to let us use her resources, but what have we done in return? We have industrialized, exploited resources and minerals, and dumped our pollution beyond Earth’s ability to absorb it all in such a timely fashion. If we would like the planet to continue being our home, we should learn to better appreciate it. According to a widely controversial movie named “Under the Dome”, Chai Jing, a reporter in Beijing whom narrates us through a documentary covering the air pollution problem engulfing China, discusses the wide range of issues facing China’s most polluted cities, Beijing being one of the most polluted given its unfortunate geographical proximity. Despite the fact the movie was banned in China, it continued to be popular throughout the world, as it depicted what life was really like in Beijing, Harbin, Hubei, and other affected cities alike. Because of such disturbing levels of heavy smog, residents have become prisoners of their own home. But what precisely does this hazardous smog consist of? Well depending on the region in question, but most of the pollutants in Beijing are traced back to car emissions, byproduct produced by the process of coal combustion, and dust blowing off of construction sites. During the winter months, weather conditions are worsened, as coal consumption increases, given that residents use that to heat their homes. Moreover, …show more content…
Nevertheless, our responsibility is to do our best in alleviating the causes and effects, because we pay the price ultimately. For example, air pollution contributes to the dreaded acid rain; acid rain not only devastates agricultural crops, it also pollutes ninety percent of waterways and a large portion of arable soil. In Fact, “environmental degradation cost [China] nine percent of its Gross National Income in 2008”, a number that is quite unacceptable. Since many waterways are now considered wastewaters, that water traveling across the country is spreading the pollution, triggering a chain reaction. Ecosystems are largely affected, as each system relies on the other to thrive. But with these ecological systems pushed off of their natural balance, pollutants are now making their way to the vegetation, the wildlife, such as fish and other delicate marine life, the soil, and underground water tables, in which we heavily rely on to irrigate our agricultural plants and to provide us with potable water. Fish are dying and washing up ashore, and crops are not growing to their fullest potential; therefore, this has contributed to food insecurity as a consequence. Ironically, the smog is so thick, that a spectator would have a difficult time seeing the coal factories ahead, or worse yet, their own feet. How bad is the situation, you might wonder? Well, the