自1949年以来的中国大气污染
Emory CHN 401
翁嘉 (Weng Jia)
自从欧洲的工业革命以来，人类对空气的污染慢慢地变得严重起来。空气的污染是随着经济的发展一起加深的。中国的空气污染其实从清朝晚期就开始了，但是大规模地影响大气层还是一九四九年中华人民共和国成立以后。
经过很多年的抗日战争和国共内战以后，中国社会贫穷，经济落后。中国共产党政府认为需要很快地，并且大量地发展工业和农业来提高人们的生活水平。在上海和一些大城市依靠过去的工业基础，政府开始了建国早期的工业生产。还比如在东北吉林，黑龙江和辽宁，政府从苏联接管了过去日本军队留下来的工厂，农场也开始了工业生产。这些基础总的来说规模还不是很大，所以当时对大气的污染还不是十分严重。 但是1958年以后污染问题就开始出现了。
中国共产党主席毛泽东在 1958年宣布全国进入“大跃进”运动。这个运动是以大力发展工业为主，最后达到跟英国甚至美国的生产水平。为快速地达到目的，政府没有考虑到对环境的破坏，使空气污染一步步严重下去。全国都开始“大炼钢铁 ”，各地都是大大小小的炼钢工厂。和炼钢铁一样，发电，取暖，都需要燃料。当时的主要原料是煤炭。煤炭被燃烧后会释放大量的二氧化碳。全国都在没有节制地用煤，各地工厂不断地把二氧化碳排到空气中。一些城市里面也都是黑色的烟雾。
由于工业发展得早而且基础比较好，东北地区的污染很严重，不但有害的气体被排到空气里，而且大量的森林树木，比如说大兴安岭，也被砍掉用来做燃料。一些大城市比如说北京，天津，沈阳人们出门的时候都需要带上厚厚的口罩，要不然就会把废气吸到体内去。最严重的是在冬天，北方的冬天都用煤取暖，一到了冷的季节整个城市都会是煤的味道，连地上的雪都会很快变成黑色。烧煤产生废气的问题一直到现在还没有被解决掉，也是中国现在面临的主要空气污染原因之一。
进入六十年代以后，“大跃进”的方法被停止了。政府开始比较平稳的发展经济。即使这样，由于没有保护环境的意识和法律，对空气的污染，尤其是工业污染只是越来越严重。但是空气的污染也分自然和人为的。人为的原因当然以工业为主，一些自然的空气污染就包括沙尘暴，火山爆发或者野火燃烧时散发的烟。
中国的没有很多活火山，但是有很严重的沙尘暴问题。在中国环境保护网上的数据可以看到五六十年代的沙尘暴次数很多，而且强度也大过近几年在中国发生沙尘危害。在沙尘暴发源地和受它影响的地区，大气中的灰尘，沙粒会增加，大气污染会更加严重。有些专家认为沙尘暴的发生是因为在五六十年代中国西部太多的森林被毁掉用来做农田，所以由于没有了树，大风可以带着水土流失产生的沙尘自由地向东移动。
我们可以说，从1949年以来的中国大气污染问题层出不穷。为了改善大家的生活品质，政府、工厂和人民应该严肃地面对这个事实，而且这些问题还要刻不容缓地得到解决。
词汇Vocabulary:
| 1. 工业革命 | Gōngyè gémìng | Industrial Revolution (n.) |
| 例句: 自从欧洲的工业革命以来，人类对空气的污染慢慢地变得严重起来。Example: Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe, air pollution caused by humans has gradually become more severe. | ||
| 2. 加深 | jiāshēn | worsening (n.) |
| 例句: 空气的污染是随着经济的发展一起加深的。Example: Concurrent with the development of the economy is the worsening of air pollution. | ||
| 3. 清朝 | qīngcháo | Qing dynasty (n.) |
| 例句: 中国的空气污染其实从清朝晚期就开始了，但是大规模地影响大气层还是一九四九年中华人民共和国成立以后。Example: China’s air pollution problem actually began in the late period of the Qing dynasty, however the country’s large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. | ||
| 4. 成立 | chénglì | establishment (n.) |
| 例句: 中国的空气污染其实从清朝晚期就开始了，但是大规模地影响大气层还是一九四九年中华人民共和国成立以后。Example: China’s air pollution problem actually began in the late period of the Qing dynasty, however the country’s large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. | ||
| 5. 抗日战争 | kàngrì zhànzhēng | Sino-Japanese War (n.) |
| 例句: 经过很多年的抗日战争和国共内战以后，中国社会贫穷，经济落后。Example: After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated. | ||
| 6. 贫穷 | pínqióng | impoverished (adj.) |
| 例句: 经过很多年的抗日战争和国共内战以后，中国社会贫穷，经济落后。Example: After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated. | ||
| 7. 生活水平 | Shēnghuó shuǐpíng | standard of living (n.) |
| 例句: 中国共产党政府认为需要很快地，并且大量地发展工业和农业来提高人们的生活水平。Example: China’s Communist Party believed that they needed to quickly develop the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to improve citizens’ standard of living. | ||
| 8. 规模 | guīmó | scale (n.) |
| 例句: 这些基础总的来说规模还不是很大，所以当时对大气的污染还不是十分严重。Example: Generally speaking, the scale of these developments were not too large, therefore their impact on the atmosphere was not yet serious. | ||
| 9. 目的 | mùdì | goal (n.) |
| 例句: 为快速地达到目的，政府没有考虑到对环境的破坏，使空气污染一步步严重下去。Example: To quickly achieve its goal, the government did not take into account the damage it would do to the environment and thus the polluting of the atmosphere continued. | ||
| 11. 炼钢工厂 | Liàngāng gōng chǎng | steel refinement (n.) |
| 例句: 全国都开始“大炼钢铁 ”，各地都是大大小小的炼钢工厂。Example: The entire country began “the great steel refinement” and steel factories of various sizes sprouted up everywhere. | ||
| 12. 燃料 | ránliào | fuel (n.) |
| 例句: 和炼钢铁一样，发电，取暖，都需要燃料。Example: Like steel refinement, power generation and heating also required fuel. | ||
| 13. 烟雾 | yānwù | black smoke (n.) |
| 例句: 一些城市里面也都是黑色的烟雾。Example: The cities were filled with black smoke. | ||
| 14. 口罩 | kǒuzhào | masks (n.) |
| 例句: 一些大城市比如说北京，天津，沈阳人们出门的时候都需要带上厚厚的口罩，要不然就会把废气吸到体内去。Example: In a few large cities such as Beijing, Tainjin, and Shenyang, people had to wear thick masks to keep from breathing in exhaust gas. | ||
| 15. 煤 | méi | coal (n.) |
| 例句: 最严重的是在冬天，北方的冬天都用煤取暖，一到了冷的季节整个城市都会是煤的味道，连地上的雪都会很快变成黑色。Example: Pollution is most serious in the winter. Northerners use coal for heating which makes the city air taste like coal during the winter seasons. Even the snow quickly becomes black. | ||
| 16. 法律 | fǎlǜ | laws (n.) |
| 例句: 即使这样，由于没有保护环境的意识和法律，对空气的污染，尤其是工业污染只是越来越严重。Example: Even so, there is still a lack of awareness about environmental protection and no laws to control air pollution. | ||
| 17. 沙尘暴 | shāchén bào | dust storms (n.) |
| 例句: 人为的原因当然以工业为主，一些自然的空气污染就包括沙尘暴和火山爆发等等。Example: Natural sources of pollution include dust storms and volcanic eruptions, etc.. | ||
| 18. 火山爆发 | Huǒshān bàofā | volcanic eruptions (n.) |
| 例句: 人为的原因当然以工业为主，一些自然的空气污染就包括沙尘暴和火山爆发等等。Example: Natural sources of pollution include dust storms and volcanic eruptions, etc.. | ||
| 19. 活火山 | huó huǒ shān | active volcanoes (n.) |
| 例句: 中国的没有很多活火山，但是有很严重的沙尘暴问题。Example: China does not have many active volcanoes, but it has very strong sandstorms. | ||
| 20. 地区 | dìqū | area (n.) |
| 例句: 在沙尘暴发源地和受它影响的地区，大气中的灰尘，沙粒会增加，大气污染会更加严重。Example: In the area where a sand storm originates and the areas affected by it, there is much dust in the atmosphere, which exacerbates the pollution problem. | ||
| 20. 农田 | nóngtián | farmland (n.) |
| 例句: 有些专家认为沙尘暴的发生是因为在五六十年代中国西部太多的森林被毁掉用来做农田。由于没有了树, 大风可以带着水土流失产生的沙尘自由地向东移动。Example: Some experts believe that the sandstorms in the fifties and sixties’ were due to the destruction of forests for the development of farmland in western China. Due to the absence of trees water and soil are washed away by strong winds leaving only sand to move freely eastwards. | ||
| 21. 层出不穷 | céngchūbùqióng | emerge in an endless stream (v.) |
| 例句: 从1949年以来的中国大气污染问题层出不穷。Example: The problem of air pollution since 1949 has been emerging in an endless stream. | ||
| 22. 生活品质 | Shēnghuó píngzhì | the qualities of life (n.) |
| 例句: 为了改善大家的生活品质，政府、工厂和人民应该严肃地面对这个事实。Example: In order to change the quality of our daily life, the government, factories and everyone should seriously accept this fact. | ||
| 23. 刻不容缓 | céngchūbùqióng | to be extremely urgent (v.) |
| 例句: 这些问题应该刻不容缓地得到解决。Example: These problems are extremely urgent and require immediate solutions. | ||
问题讨论 Discussion Questions:
1) 你觉得目前中国的污染问题还是这样吗？
Do you think this is still an ongoing problem in China?
2) 在你的家乡有类似空气污染的问题吗？
Do you have similar a situation in your home town?
3) 面对空气污染的问题，你有什么建议？
What do you suggest that the government do in a situation like this?
4) 面对空气污染的情况，你觉得谁要付更多的责任？为什么？
Who do you think is more responsible for this situation? Why?
5) 你觉得我们的环境可以回到最初的样子吗？为什么？
Do you predict the environment will return to its original condition? Why?
Transcript:
Air pollution since 1949
Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe, air pollution caused by humans has gradually become more severe. Concurrent with the development of the economy is the worsening of air pollution. China’s air pollution problem actually began in the later period of the Qing dynasty, however its large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated. China’s Communist Party believed that they needed to quickly develop the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to improve citizens’ standard of living. While Shanghai and a few other large cities depended on previous industrial structures, the government began the early founding of the country’s industrial culture. For example, in northeast China in Jinli, Heilongjian, and Liaoning the government assumed control of factories left behind from the Soviet Union and the Japanese troops, and farms also began to produce manufactured goods. Generally speaking, the scale of these developments was not too large, therefore its impact on the atmosphere was not yet serious. However after 1958, the pollution problem began to seriously emerge.
In 1958 the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong declared “The Great Leap Forward.” The goal of this campaign was to rapidly develop the country’s industry and ultimately achieve the same level of production as England and eventually America. To quickly achieve its goal, the government did not take into account the damage it would do to the environment and thus the polluting of the atmosphere continued. The entire country began “the great steel refinement” and everywhere steel factories of various sizes sprouted up. In the same way, power generation and heating also required fuel. At that time the primary natural resource was coal. The burning of coal produced a large quantity of carbon dioxide and the country did not control the use of coal, and thus everywhere factories continuously released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The cities were filled with black smoke.
As a result of the pre-existing industrial structures and the early development of industries, the pollution in the northeastern region is very serious. Not only are harmful gases released into the atmosphere, but a large number of trees, such as the ones in Daxinganlin, are cut down and used as fuel. In a few large cities such as Beijing, Tainjin, and Shenyang people have to wear thick masks to keep from breathing in exhaust gas. It is most serious in the winter. Northerners use coal for heating making the city air taste like coal during the winter seasons. Even the snow quickly becomes black in color. The burning of coal brought about the problem with pollution. It was and continues to be the primary contributor to China’s air pollution problem, and has yet to be resolved.
In the early 1960s, the Great Leap Forward projects were abandoned. The government took a more steady approached toward the country’s economic development. Even so there is still a lack of awareness about environmental protection and still no laws to control air pollution. Industrial pollution continues to become more serious. However the source of air pollution is divided into two categories: natural and manmade. The main cause of man-made pollution is industrial related of course. As for natural sources of pollution they include dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires caused by human activity.
China does not have many active volcanoes, but it has very strong sandstorms. The data on China’s environmental protection online website shows records of sandstorms dating back to the 50s and 60s. The sandstorms back then were much more intense than the ones occurring in more recent years. In the area where a sand storm originates and the ones affected by it, there is much dust in the atmosphere, and as the amount of sand increases the pollution of the atmosphere is exacerbated. Some experts believe that the fifties and sixties’ sandstorms are due to the destruction of forests for the development of farmland in western China. Due to the absence of trees, water and soil are washed away by strong winds leaving only sand to move freely eastwards.
We can say that the problem of air pollution since 1949 has been emerging in an endless stream. In order to change the quality of our daily life, the government, factories and everyone should seriously accept this fact. These problems are extremely urgent and require immediate solutions.
自1949年以來的中國大氣污染
Emory CHN 401
翁嘉 (Weng Jia)
自從歐洲的工業革命以來，人類對空氣的污染慢慢地變得嚴重起來。空氣的污染是隨著經濟的發展一起加深的。中國的空氣污染其實從清朝晚期就開始了，但是大規模地影響大氣層還是一九四九年中華人民共和國成立以后。
經過很多年的抗日戰爭和國共內戰以后，中國社會貧窮，經濟落后。中國共產黨政府認為需要很快地，並且大量地發展工業和農業來提高人們的生活水平。在上海和一些大城市依靠過去的工業基礎，政府開始了建國早期的工業生產。還比如在東北吉林，黑龍江和遼寧，政府從蘇聯接管了過去日本軍隊留下來的工廠，農場也開始了工業生產。這些基礎總的來說規模還不是很大，所以當時對大氣的污染還不是十分嚴重。 但是1958年以后污染問題就開始出現了。
中國共產黨主席毛澤東在 1958年宣布全國進入“大躍進”運動。這個運動是以大力發展工業為主，最后達到跟英國甚至美國的生產水平。為快速地達到目的，政府沒有考慮到對環境的破壞，使空氣污染一步步嚴重下去。全國都開始“大煉鋼鐵 ”，各地都是大大小小的煉鋼工廠。和煉鋼鐵一樣，發電，取暖，都需要燃料。當時的主要原料是煤炭。煤炭被燃燒后會釋放大量的二氧化碳。全國都在沒有節制地用煤，各地工廠不斷地把二氧化碳排到空氣中。一些城市裡面也都是黑色的煙霧。
由於工業發展得早而且基礎比較好，東北地區的污染很嚴重，不但有害的氣體被排到空氣裡，而且大量的森林樹木，比如說大興安嶺，也被砍掉用來做燃料。一些大城市比如說北京，天津，沈陽人們出門的時候都需要帶上厚厚的口罩，要不然就會把廢氣吸到體內去。最嚴重的是在冬天，北方的冬天都用煤取暖，一到了冷的季節整個城市都會是煤的味道，連地上的雪都會很快變成黑色。燒煤產生廢氣的問題一直到現在還沒有被解決掉，也是中國現在面臨的主要空氣污染原因之一。
進入六十年代以后，“大躍進”的方法被停止了。政府開始比較平穩的發展經濟。即使這樣，由於沒有保護環境的意識和法律，對空氣的污染，尤其是工業污染隻是越來越嚴重。但是空氣的污染也分自然和人為的。人為的原因當然以工業為主，一些自然的空氣污染就包括沙塵暴，火山爆發或者野火燃燒時散發的煙。
中國的沒有很多活火山，但是有很嚴重的沙塵暴問題。在中國環境保護網上的數據可以看到五六十年代的沙塵暴次數很多，而且強度也大過近幾年在中國發生沙塵危害。在沙塵暴發源地和受它影響的地區，大氣中的灰塵，沙粒會增加，大氣污染會更加嚴重。有些專家認為沙塵暴的發生是因為在五六十年代中國西部太多的森林被毀掉用來做農田，所以由於沒有了樹，大風可以帶著水土流失產生的沙塵自由地向東移動。
我們可以說，從1949年以來的中國大氣污染問題層出不窮。為了改善大家的生活品質，政府、工廠和人民應該嚴肅地面對這個事實，而且這些問題還要刻不容緩地得到解決。
詞匯Vocabulary:
1. 工業革命 Gōngyè gémìng Industrial Revolution (n.)
例句: 自從歐洲的工業革命以來，人類對空氣的污染慢慢地變得嚴重起來。
Example: Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe, air pollution caused by humans has gradually become more severe.
2. 加深 jiāshēn worsening (n.)
例句: 空氣的污染是隨著經濟的發展一起加深的。
Example: Concurrent with the development of the economy is the worsening of air pollution.
3. 清朝 qīngcháo Qing dynasty (n.)
例句: 中國的空氣污染其實從清朝晚期就開始了，但是大規模地影響大氣層還是一九四九年中華人民共和國成立以后。
Example: China’s air pollution problem actually began in the late period of the Qing dynasty, however the country’s large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
4. 成立 chénglì establishment (n.)
例句: 中國的空氣污染其實從清朝晚期就開始了，但是大規模地影響大氣層還是一九四九年中華人民共和國成立以后。
Example: China’s air pollution problem actually began in the late period of the Qing dynasty, however the country’s large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
5. 抗日戰爭 kàngrì zhànzhēng Sino-Japanese War (n.)
例句: 經過很多年的抗日戰爭和國共內戰以后，中國社會貧窮，經濟落后。
Example: After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated.
6. 貧窮 pínqióng impoverished (adj.)
例句: 經過很多年的抗日戰爭和國共內戰以后，中國社會貧窮，經濟落后。
Example: After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated.
7. 生活水平 Shēnghuó shuǐpíng standard of living (n.)
例句: 中國共產黨政府認為需要很快地，並且大量地發展工業和農業來提高人們的生活水平。
Example: China’s Communist Party believed that they needed to quickly develop the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to improve citizens’ standard of living.
8. 規模 guīmó scale (n.)
例句: 這些基礎總的來說規模還不是很大，所以當時對大氣的污染還不是十分嚴重。
Example: Generally speaking, the scale of these developments were not too large, therefore their impact on the atmosphere was not yet serious.
9. 目的 mùdì goal (n.)
例句: 為快速地達到目的，政府沒有考慮到對環境的破壞，使空氣污染一步步嚴重下去。
Example: To quickly achieve its goal, the government did not take into account the damage it would do to the environment and thus the polluting of the atmosphere continued.
11. 煉鋼工廠 Liàngāng gōng chǎng steel refinement (n.)
例句: 全國都開始“大煉鋼鐵 ”，各地都是大大小小的煉鋼工廠。
Example: The entire country began “the great steel refinement” and steel factories of various sizes sprouted up everywhere.
12. 燃料 ránliào fuel (n.)
例句: 和煉鋼鐵一樣，發電，取暖，都需要燃料。
Example: Like steel refinement, power generation and heating also required fuel.
13. 煙霧 yānwù black smoke (n.)
例句: 一些城市裡面也都是黑色的煙霧。
Example: The cities were filled with black smoke.
14. 口罩 kǒuzhào masks (n.)
例句: 一些大城市比如說北京，天津，沈陽人們出門的時候都需要帶上厚厚的口罩，要不然就會把廢氣吸到體內去。
Example: In a few large cities such as Beijing, Tainjin, and Shenyang, people had to wear thick masks to keep from breathing in exhaust gas.
15. 煤 méi coal (n.)
例句: 最嚴重的是在冬天，北方的冬天都用煤取暖，一到了冷的季節整個城市都會是煤的味道，連地上的雪都會很快變成黑色。
Example: Pollution is most serious in the winter. Northerners use coal for heating which makes the city air taste like coal during the winter seasons. Even the snow quickly becomes black.
16. 法律 fǎlǜ laws (n.)
例句: 即使這樣，由於沒有保護環境的意識和法律，對空氣的污染，尤其是工業污染隻是越來越嚴重。
Example: Even so, there is still a lack of awareness about environmental protection and no laws to control air pollution.
17. 沙塵暴 shāchén bào dust storms (n.)
例句: 人為的原因當然以工業為主，一些自然的空氣污染就包括沙塵暴和火山爆發等等。
Example: Natural sources of pollution include dust storms and volcanic eruptions, etc..
18. 火山爆發 Huǒshān bàofā volcanic eruptions (n.)
例句: 人為的原因當然以工業為主，一些自然的空氣污染就包括沙塵暴和火山爆發等等。
Example: Natural sources of pollution include dust storms and volcanic eruptions, etc..
19. 活火山 huó huǒ shān active volcanoes (n.)
例句: 中國的沒有很多活火山，但是有很嚴重的沙塵暴問題。
Example: China does not have many active volcanoes, but it has very strong sandstorms.
20. 地區 dìqū area (n.)
例句: 在沙塵暴發源地和受它影響的地區，大氣中的灰塵，沙粒會增加，大氣污染會更加嚴重。
Example: In the area where a sand storm originates and the areas affected by it, there is much dust in the atmosphere, which exacerbates the pollution problem.
20. 農田 nóngtián farmland (n.)
例句: 有些專家認為沙塵暴的發生是因為在五六十年代中國西部太多的森林被毀掉用來做農田。由於沒有了樹, 大風可以帶著水土流失產生的沙塵自由地向東移動。
Example: Some experts believe that the sandstorms in the fifties and sixties’ were due to the destruction of forests for the development of farmland in western China. Due to the absence of trees water and soil are washed away by strong winds leaving only sand to move freely eastwards.
21. 層出不窮 céngchūbùqióng emerge in an endless stream (v.)
例句: 從1949年以來的中國大氣污染問題層出不窮。
Example: The problem of air pollution since 1949 has been emerging in an endless stream.
22. 生活品質 Shēnghuó píngzhì the qualities of life (n.)
例句: 為了改善大家的生活品質，政府、工廠和人民應該嚴肅地面對這個事實。
Example: In order to change the quality of our daily life, the government, factories and everyone should seriously accept this fact.
23. 刻不容緩 céngchūbùqióng to be extremely urgent (v.)
例句: 這些問題應該刻不容緩地得到解決。Example: These problems are extremely urgent and require immediate solutions.
問題討論 Discussion Questions:
1) 你覺得目前中國的污染問題還是這樣嗎？
Do you think this is still an ongoing problem in China?
2) 在你的家鄉有類似空氣污染的問題嗎？
Do you have similar a situation in your home town?
3) 面對空氣污染的問題，你有什麼建議？
What do you suggest that the government do in a situation like this?
4) 面對空氣污染的情況，你覺得誰要付更多的責任？為什麼？
Who do you think is more responsible for this situation? Why?
5) 你覺得我們的環境可以回到最初的樣子嗎？為什麼？
Do you predict the environment will return to its original condition? Why?
Transcript:
Air pollution since 1949
Since the Industrial Revolution in Europe, air pollution caused by humans has gradually become more severe. Concurrent with the development of the economy is the worsening of air pollution. China’s air pollution problem actually began in the later period of the Qing dynasty, however its large scale impact on the atmosphere did not occur until after 1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
After many years of the Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War, China’s society became impoverished and its economy deteriorated. China’s Communist Party believed that they needed to quickly develop the industrial and agricultural sectors in order to improve citizens’ standard of living. While Shanghai and a few other large cities depended on previous industrial structures, the government began the early founding of the country’s industrial culture. For example, in northeast China in Jinli, Heilongjian, and Liaoning the government assumed control of factories left behind from the Soviet Union and the Japanese troops, and farms also began to produce manufactured goods. Generally speaking, the scale of these developments was not too large, therefore its impact on the atmosphere was not yet serious. However after 1958, the pollution problem began to seriously emerge.
In 1958 the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong declared “The Great Leap Forward.” The goal of this campaign was to rapidly develop the country’s industry and ultimately achieve the same level of production as England and eventually America. To quickly achieve its goal, the government did not take into account the damage it would do to the environment and thus the polluting of the atmosphere continued. The entire country began “the great steel refinement” and everywhere steel factories of various sizes sprouted up. In the same way, power generation and heating also required fuel. At that time the primary natural resource was coal. The burning of coal produced a large quantity of carbon dioxide and the country did not control the use of coal, and thus everywhere factories continuously released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The cities were filled with black smoke.
As a result of the pre-existing industrial structures and the early development of industries, the pollution in the northeastern region is very serious. Not only are harmful gases released into the atmosphere, but a large number of trees, such as the ones in Daxinganlin, are cut down and used as fuel. In a few large cities such as Beijing, Tainjin, and Shenyang people have to wear thick masks to keep from breathing in exhaust gas. It is most serious in the winter. Northerners use coal for heating making the city air taste like coal during the winter seasons. Even the snow quickly becomes black in color. The burning of coal brought about the problem with pollution. It was and continues to be the primary contributor to China’s air pollution problem, and has yet to be resolved.
In the early 1960s, the Great Leap Forward projects were abandoned. The government took a more steady approached toward the country’s economic development. Even so there is still a lack of awareness about environmental protection and still no laws to control air pollution. Industrial pollution continues to become more serious. However the source of air pollution is divided into two categories: natural and manmade. The main cause of man-made pollution is industrial related of course. As for natural sources of pollution they include dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires caused by human activity.
China does not have many active volcanoes, but it has very strong sandstorms. The data on China’s environmental protection online website shows records of sandstorms dating back to the 50s and 60s. The sandstorms back then were much more intense than the ones occurring in more recent years. In the area where a sand storm originates and the ones affected by it, there is much dust in the atmosphere, and as the amount of sand increases the pollution of the atmosphere is exacerbated. Some experts believe that the fifties and sixties’ sandstorms are due to the destruction of forests for the development of farmland in western China. Due to the absence of trees, water and soil are washed away by strong winds leaving only sand to move freely eastwards.
We can say that the problem of air pollution since 1949 has been emerging in an endless stream. In order to change the quality of our daily life, the government, factories and everyone should seriously accept this fact. These problems are extremely urgent and require immediate solutions.