Haze Problem in China

5 Haze in China Pollution has become a major issue across the globe given the devastating impacts of human activities, particularly industrial processes, on the Earth’s Atmosphere. Environmental pollution is regarded as one of the major causes of global warming or climate change, which has negative impacts on the Earth’s ecosystems. China is one of the countries affected by environmental effects associated with human activities and industrial/manufacturing processes. The country has been struggling with haze and fog since 2013, which have generated public anxiety and official concerns.

Regional haze is regarded as one of the most devastating weather events in China over the past few years. Even though haze can emerge from natural causes, it is largely man-made, especially due to coal emission, huge coal incineration, and winter heating. This paper examines haze in China in relation to its devastating impacts with a view of identifying the most suitable approach for resolving this environmental concern.

Background Information on the Issue Haze is one of the forms of air pollution that can be caused by natural or man-made factors. Haze is defined as a weather phenomenon with a horizontal visibility below 10km because of dense accumulation of fine particular matter (An et al., 2013). China has struggled with haze and other forms of air pollution since 2013. While natural factors play a role in the emergence of haze, the situation in China is largely attributable to man-made factors. An et al.

(2019) contends that China has been characterized with rapid urbanization and industrialization over the past few decades. Industrialization and urbanization have contributed to massive air pollution across the country, which has in turn caused haze and fog. Haze pollution in China over the past few decades is linked to industrial and urbanization activities that are centered on establishing China as the world’s largest developed country and one of the key global economic players. Song et al.

(2019) suggests that the severity of haze pollution in China is evident in the various haze episodes that take place in Beijing and across the North China Plain. These episodes are frequent during winter and pose significant threats to public health. In concurrence, Mao et al. (2018) states that the fine particles associated with haze pose significant public health threats since they contain toxic substances that can affect circulatory and respiratory systems. Since haze affects horizontal visibility, it has the potential to generate ground and air traffic hazards.

According to Mao et al. (2018), Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Sichuan Basin, and Pearl River Delta are among the major polluted regions in China. Apart from industrialization/urbanization processes, haze in China has been fueled by global warming. Existing reports suggest that haze in China is attributable to the substantial adverse effects of global warming in the country. This is supported by the weakening seasonal and winter mean surface winds as well as significant increase in global temperature.

Problem Statement Existing evidence and literature demonstrates that haze has been a major environmental concern and public anxiety issue in China since 2013. This situation is fueled by two major factors i.e. he devastating impacts of global warming and industrialization/urbanization activities in China. An analysis of existing evidence shows that industrialization or urbanization processes are the major influential factors on the issue of haze in China. China continues to increase its industrialization and urbanization activities as its seeks to position herself as the next world superpower.

These efforts and other economic activities in China have had significant negative impacts on the environment and generated public health concerns across the country. This begs the question on whether China should reduce its economic activities, particularly industrialization or urbanization processes in order to deal with the problem of haze.

In essence, is the reduction of economic activities like industrialization/urbanization processes the cure to the problem of haze in China? Potential Solutions to the Issue As shown in the previous segment, the major issue that this paper seeks to address is whether reduction of economic activities in China would help cure the problem of haze. This issue has been established on the premise that existing evidence shows that the problem of haze in China is attributable to rapid industrialization or urbanization (An et al., 2019).

The issue of haze pollution has drawn the attention of the Chinese public as well as scholars, experts, and policymakers. Stakeholders in the environmental and public health sectors have shown their concerns regarding increased haze pollution in the country and advocated for the adoption of suitable strategies to address this problem. However, policymakers in China have experienced tremendous challenges in their quest to identify a suitable solution for the problem. This difficulty is associated with complexities in reduction of industrialization and urbanization processes across the country.

Controlling or lessening haze in China requires a multifaceted approach that addresses various factors linked to the problem. As shown in existing evidence-based literature, there is no single-size approach that would address the problem completely. The need for a multifaceted approach toward addressing the problem is attributable to its complexities and its link to diverse factors. This implies that using a single-size approach would only address one contributing factor, which will not be enough to completely deal with the problem.

Despite suggestions that reduction of economic activities is the most suitable for lessening or controlling haze pollution in China, a multifaceted approach is required. Li & Zhang (2014) suggests that an unhealthy growth economic model is at the major factor causing haze pollution in China. Therefore, resolution of this problem requires addressing the unhealthy economic growth model through reducing economic activities that affect the environment. Industrialization and urbanization activities are the two major economic growth processes with devastating environment impacts such as haze pollution in China.

Similar to other major economies worldwide, China can conduct its industrialization or urbanization process in an environmentally-friendly manner that controls haze pollution. Evidence-based approaches for resolving this problem exist and do not necessarily entail reducing economic activities in the country. Even though economic activities are largely to blame for haze pollution in China, reducing them does not provide a holistic approach for deal with this problem. Economic activities can still be carried out with minimal to no negative environmental impacts including haze pollution.

In this regard, one of the components of the multifaceted approach toward addressing the problem of haze pollution in China is installation of desulfurization facilities alongside all coal-burning boilers. This should be carried out as part of regulatory changes on prevention and control of atmospheric pollution in China. Companies engaged in installation of coal-burning boilers should be required to install desulfurization facilities as part of efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of coal burning processes.

This will play a critical role toward dealing with haze pollution in China since it will help address one of the major causes of this problem i.e. coal burning. This implies that installation of desulfurization facilities is more suitable toward controlling or lessening haze pollution across the country rather than closing down or reducing the number of coal-burning facilities. The installation of desulfurization facilities does not reduce coal-burning activities, but helps to ensure that these processes are carried out in an environmentally-friendly manner.

As a result, the country would be able to pursue its economic growth and developmental goals without lessening industrialization processes relating to coal-burning activities. The other aspect of a multifaceted approach to resolve the problem of haze pollution in China is the promotion of alternative energy production. This should be adopted as part of reducing central heating with electric power in households across China. Alternative.