Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 6.2
Transporting ceramics (painted silk), Chinese School (15th century)
Source
: Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey/Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library.
China, with components of population growth, migration and 'nation building' (Ma, 2009).
Today China's CO2 emissions are largely industrial, the by-product of an industrial power
on the rise, similar to a Manchester or London in the 1800s (Glaeser, 2011). Only a tenth of
China's CO2 emissions come from the transport sector, but if this rises to the levels found in
the US (40 per cent and upwards), the rise in emissions will be even more dramatic.
Some of the key socio-demographic statistics for China are given in
Table 6.2
. Population
growth in China remains limited at 0.5 per cent per annum, but of course this is on a large
existing population of 1.3 billion persons. The level of urbanisation is at 46.6 per cent in 2009
and, in recent years, growth is mainly a result of migration from rural areas. The urban popula-
tion growth rate is at around 2.5 per cent. Gross national income (GNI) is relatively low at
just over US$3,350 per capita (22,000 Chinese yuan, CYN), with much variation nationally.
Gross domestic product (GDP) growth is averaging around an incredible 10 per cent per annum
in recent years, but this level has reduced to about 8 per cent per annum (2012). The middle
classes and consumption are both growing rapidly. For example, mobile phone subscrip-
tions are at over 50 per 100 persons and Internet use at 29 per 100 persons. CO2 emissions
are still relatively low at 5 tons per capita, but rising rapidly. In aggregate terms China is the
world's largest CO2 emitter (World Bank, 2010a; China National Bureau of Statistics, 2010).
The enormous challenge for China, also with global implications, is in developing a society
that allows 'development' at the individual and national levels, including in income levels
and economic growth, but is also inclusive socially and does not adversely impact on the
environment.
