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control rampant air pollution, which is largely a result of its growing need for electricity to power an ever-increasing number of factories and urban centers.
3.4.1 Off-Shoring: Far, but Not Away
Despite occasional trade war friction, China is the world’s factory. It is a factory run
on the country’s most abundant energy source—coal. While China’s economy
grows, its people are asking why they cannot breathe clean air. Except for in the
most densely populated industrial areas, most US citizens can take the air we breathe
for granted. But, it wasn’t always so. During the same period of time as China built
its production capacity, the United States made the switch to a service economy and,
along with many manufacturing jobs, effectively off-shored the majority of top polluting manufacturing industries. We sent many of our own pollution problems as far
away as possible. We sent them to the other side of the world. Even though we have
taken care of our immediate air pollution problems by relocating them, it has not
been a complete success since climate issues caused by rising CO 2 , NO 2 , and other
greenhouse gas levels are not confined locally and do not respect national borders.
Another reminder that in a closed climate system, as easy as it is to think and act
otherwise, there is no “away.”
The spring of 2020 recorded a pronounced improvement in air quality across the
globe. This coincided with a global pandemic that shuttered production facilities to,
at once, protect workers from COVID-19 and respond to a cratering global demand
in consumer goods. Satellite maps show the improvement from month to month in
Eastern China (Fig. 3.6).
They also show year-to-year improvements between 2019 and 2020 Wuhan
Province NO 2 levels. Pollution levels usually drop during the Chinese Lunar New
Fig. 3.5 Visible evidence of suspended particulates and poor air quality in Eastern China.
According to the photographer, both photos were taken in the “same location in Beijing in August
2005. The photograph on the left was taken after it had rained for 2 days. The right photograph
shows smog covering Beijing in what would otherwise be a sunny day.” (Photo credit Bobak
Ha’Eri licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic License)
3 Trash Can Living
control rampant air pollution, which is largely a result of its growing need for electricity to power an ever-increasing number of factories and urban centers.
3.4.1 Off-Shoring: Far, but Not Away
Despite occasional trade war friction, China is the world’s factory. It is a factory run
on the country’s most abundant energy source—coal. While China’s economy
grows, its people are asking why they cannot breathe clean air. Except for in the
most densely populated industrial areas, most US citizens can take the air we breathe
for granted. But, it wasn’t always so. During the same period of time as China built
its production capacity, the United States made the switch to a service economy and,
along with many manufacturing jobs, effectively off-shored the majority of top polluting manufacturing industries. We sent many of our own pollution problems as far
away as possible. We sent them to the other side of the world. Even though we have
taken care of our immediate air pollution problems by relocating them, it has not
been a complete success since climate issues caused by rising CO 2 , NO 2 , and other
greenhouse gas levels are not confined locally and do not respect national borders.
Another reminder that in a closed climate system, as easy as it is to think and act
otherwise, there is no “away.”
The spring of 2020 recorded a pronounced improvement in air quality across the
globe. This coincided with a global pandemic that shuttered production facilities to,
at once, protect workers from COVID-19 and respond to a cratering global demand
in consumer goods. Satellite maps show the improvement from month to month in
Eastern China (Fig. 3.6).
They also show year-to-year improvements between 2019 and 2020 Wuhan
Province NO 2 levels. Pollution levels usually drop during the Chinese Lunar New
Fig. 3.5 Visible evidence of suspended particulates and poor air quality in Eastern China.
According to the photographer, both photos were taken in the “same location in Beijing in August
2005. The photograph on the left was taken after it had rained for 2 days. The right photograph
shows smog covering Beijing in what would otherwise be a sunny day.” (Photo credit Bobak
Ha’Eri licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic License)
3 Trash Can Living