Skip to main content

China

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 745 Accesses

Abstract

China, with a population of 1.4 billion, is one of the worlds’ leading CO2 emitters and consumers of coal. It also faces the burdens of severe pollution in many regions that have led to the well documented “cancer village” phenomenon. China is also burdened by severe drought in the north and flooding in the south, with cities such as Shanghai increasingly threatened by coastal flooding. Climate scientists speculate that serious social and economic strains will affect the Chinese government and population due to the growing threats from drought, flooding, health complications and rising food prices. The national government has recognized the urgency of these multiple environmental problems and is committed to corrective mitigation and adaption strategies. Moreover, China currently maintains the largest wind farm operation in the world and is making strides to innovate in green economy opportunities.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.”

Chinese Proverb

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    IFRC, 1997.

  2. 2.

    National Climate Centre of China, 1998.

  3. 3.

    Chen Huo-Po, Sun Jian-Qi & Chen Xiao-Li (2013), Future Changes of Drought and Flood Events in China under a Global Warming Scenario, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, 6:1, 8–13 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/16742834.2013.11447051.

  4. 4.

    Xi Hu, “Where will climate change impact China most?” World Economic Forum, April 5, 2016.

  5. 5.

    Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Summary for policymakers. Working Group II contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2014. Available from: http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/IPCC_WG2AR5_SPM_Approved.pdf.

  6. 6.

    Shen C., Wang W., Hao Z, Gong W. Exceptional drought events over eastern China during the last five centuries. Climate Change. 2007; 85 (3–4):453–471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9283-y.

  7. 7.

    “China is quickly turning into a desert, and it’s causing problems across Asia” Marijn Nieuwenhuis, The Conversation UK, Business Insider, May 16, 2016.

  8. 8.

    Kan H., Chen R. Tong S. Ambient air pollution, climate change, and population health in China. Environ Int. 2012 Jul; 42:10–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2011.03.003. PMID:21,440,303.

  9. 9.

    “China faces a flooding crisis as natural disasters triple in 30 years” Olivia Boyd, China Dialogue, January, 1, 2013.

  10. 10.

    Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Summary for policymakers. Working Group II contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2014. Available from: http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/IPCC_WG2AR5_SPM_Approved.pdf.

  11. 11.

    Zhang Z., Duan Z., Chen Z., Xu P., Li G. Food security in China: the past, present and future. Plant Omics J. 2010; 3:183–9.; Ye L., Tang H., Wu W., Yang P., Nelson G., Mason-D’Croz D., et al. Chinese food security and climate change: agriculture futures. Economics. 2014; 8(2014–1):1–39. https://doi.org/10.5018/economics-ejournal.ja.2014-1; Huang J., Rozelle S. Agriculture, food security, and poverty in China. Past performance, future prospects, and implications for agricultural R&D policy. Washington: International Food Policy Research Institute; 2009. http://lib.icimod.org/record/14368/files/4068.PDF?version=1.

  12. 12.

    Knox J., Hess T., Daccache A., Wheeler T. Climate change impacts on crop productivity in Africa and South Asia. Environ Res Lett. 2012; 7(3):034032. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/7/3/034032.

  13. 13.

    Xiong W., Conway D., Lin E., Xu Y., Ju H., Jiang J., et al. Future cereal production in China: modelling the interaction of climate change, water availability and socioeconomic scenarios. Glob Environ Change. 2009; 19(1):34–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.006, Publication: Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Type: Policy & practice Article ID: BLT.15.167031.

  14. 14.

    Ye L., van Ranst E. Production scenarios and the effect of soil degradation on long term food security in China. Global Environ. Change. 2009; 19(4):464–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.06.002).

  15. 15.

    “Statistical Analyses of Climate Change Scenarios over China in the 21st Century” Xu Yinlong, Huang Xiaoying, Zhang Yong, Lin Wantao, Lin Erda, Advances in Climate Change Research, Adv. Clim. Change Res., 2006, 2: 1673–1719 (2006).

  16. 16.

    “Are droughts becoming more frequent or severe in China based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index: 1951–2010?” Meixiu Yu, Qiongfang Li, Michael J. Hayes, Richard R. Heim in Journal of Climatology, Volume 34, Issue 3, 15 March, 2014.

  17. 17.

    Yun Gao, “China’s response to climate change issues after Paris Climate Change Conference” in Advances in Climate Change Research, Vol. 7, Issue 4, December 2016.

  18. 18.

    D.H. Qin, “China National Assessment Report on Risk Management and Adaptation of Climate Change” National Science Press, Beijing (2015).

  19. 19.

    “New Report and Maps: Rising Seas Threaten Land Home to Half a Billion” Climate Central, November 8, 2015.

  20. 20.

    “Tibet: A Major Source of Asia’s Rivers” by Madeleine Lovelle, Global Food and Water Crises Research Programme, Future Directions International, February 4, 2016.

  21. 21.

    “New report reveals global significance of Tibet, earth’s Third Pole, and challenges China’s policies” International Campaign for Tibet, December 8, 2015.

  22. 22.

    Jun Shi and Linli Cui, “Characteristics of high impact weather and meteorological disaster in Shanghai, China” 2012.

  23. 23.

    “New Report and Maps: Rising Seas Threaten Land Home to Half a Billion” Climate Central, November 8, 2015.

  24. 24.

    EJF (2009) No Place Like Home—Where next for climate refugees? Environmental Justice Foundation: London.

  25. 25.

    Findings presented by UK Met Office Hadley Centre, 28/09/2009. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climatechange/news/latest/four-degrees.html.

  26. 26.

    Climate Tracker, http://climateactiontracker.org/countries/china.html, 2017.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Pink, R.M. (2018). China. In: The Climate Change Crisis. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71033-4_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71033-4_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71032-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-71033-4

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics