Fighting Global Warming in China

Introduction

What can we do about global warming? Is it even possible to alleviate the causes and effects of global warming? Both of these questions can be answered by taking a look at some of the steps China is taking to solve its pollution problems. China has begun a pollution by establishing "five 'green finance' pilot zones".1 Each zone will target a different financing option which dovetails with the economy. Each of these zones will work independently and together to discover green financing options that will assist in solving China's pollution crisis.

In its effort to solve it pollution problems, China has closed numerous coal plants, while becoming the "largest solar energy producer"2 on the planet. It is planning the construct plants to capture of carbon, and to replace Beijing taxis with electric cabs. And last, but not least, it has taken urban planning to an entirely new level by beginning the construction of Earth's first forest city.3

Liuzhou Forest City

What will cities of the future look like? If you ask ten different people this question you would probably get ten different answers. Some would say no different from cities of today, except with more pollution. Others would describe a dystopian city such as the ones in "Escape from New York" or "Blade Runner", but very few would describe a planned city containing over "1 million plants of more than 100 species and 40,000 trees."4 Yet, that is precisely the type of city that is being built in China's Guangxi Province.

The "Forest City", as it is referred to, was commissioned by Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning.5 It is located on the Liujiang river, and is north of the city of Liuzhou. Construction of this green city will be completed in 2020.6 When it is completed it will be able to assimilate 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and create over 900 tons of oxygen a year.7 In addition, this city will also enhance the biodiversity of the area and be the home of approximately 30,000 citizens.8

Living on Renewable Energy

For seven days in June 2017, approximately six million people in Qinghai province,9 which is larger than Texas,10 received all their electrical energy from renewable sources. Most of this energy (72%) came from hydroelectric sources while the remaining was generated by wind and solar plants. According to Han Ti--vice general manager--of the company controlling the Qinghai grid, “Clean energy is the ultimate way. We need to reduce reliance on fossil fuel, improve our energy structure, and reduce carbon emissions."11

Conclusion

China is not the first country to show that it can operate on renewable energy, and it will not be the last. China has demonstrated a creative and unified approach to the problem of global warming and pollution. It will encounter successes and failures. It will learn from its failures and go on to achieve greater success in its endeavors to reduce the effect of its carbon footprint on the planet. It plans a 2.5 trillion yuan investment in renewable energy.12 This is a small price to pay to alleviate the effect of pollution and decrease the effect of global warming.

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Footnotes
1  https://futurism.com/its-official-china-is-launching-a-war-on-pollution/
2  ibid
3  ibid
4  https://futurism.com/china-has-officially-started-construction-on-the-worlds-fir...
5  ibid
6  http://inhabitat.com/china-breaks-ground-on-first-forest-city-that-fights-air-po...
7  https://futurism.com/china-has-officially-started-construction-on-the-worlds-fir...
8  ibid
9  https://futurism.com/6-million-people-in-china-received-all-of-their-energy-from...
10  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/qinghai-china-renewables-week_us_5954d053e4b...
11  https://futurism.com/6-million-people-in-china-received-all-of-their-energy-from...
12  https://futurism.com/6-million-people-in-china-received-all-of-their-energy-from...