CHINA

1. CHINA MDG’s

2. China’s Background • central Asia • 1.3 billion people in an overall area of 9,596,960 sq km. T • he land area is 9,326,410 sq km and the water area is 270,550 sq km. • its borders are the East China Sea, South China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bay of Korea. • land boundaries touch several countries which include Laos, Nepal, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and North Korea. • climate :north portion it is extremely cold, while in the southern portion it is very tropical. • terrain varies as well, on the western front there are deserts and plateaus, at the east of China are hills and plains, and in other locations mountain ranges proliferate. The vast land has produced numerous natural resources which include natural gas, iron, ore, coal and zinc. • The top 6 most populated cities: Shanghai - 18,542,200 people, Beijing - 17,430,000, Hong Kong - 16,985,200, Tianjin - 11,500,000. Wuhan - 9,400,000, Guangzhou - 15,000,000. • Having been in a location where trade has taken place for centuries, China has been exposed to many different ideologies. For a while the practice of religion was band, but the Peoples Republic of China with its newest government ran by the Communist Party of China, freedom of religion has been granted to a certain extent in 1978. The five recognized religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestant. Out of these religions Buddhism and Taoism are dominant and supported by the government. As a developing nation the Peoples Republic of China has worked to improve and better itself as a nation.

3. MDG Goals: 1. Achieved 2. Ahead 3. On track 4. Slightly off 5. On track 6. Need progress 7. On track 8. On track

4. Increasing HDI

5. Environment • In the past years with all the progress China has put the environment second to production and economic growth. Major environmental issues have surfaced for example, land degradation including grassland destruction, soil erosion, soil and water pollution and endangerment of biodiversity. Efforts in recent years recent years to improve the environments have been great. China has improved forest coverage increased from 16. 55 % in 1998 to 18.21 % in 2004 and from 1999 decertified land has decreased by 37,924 square kilometers. Currently the main concern is the contamination of the air, soil, and drinking water, with harsh metals and chemicals. Much of air, water, and soil are contaminated with poisonous chemicals like lead and mercury. In order to protect the health of the people in China laws and reforms have been passed. China recently converted 3000 taxi cab to specifically use unleaded gas to reduce exhaust emission. China has also begun to set up various environmental awareness and educational programs to inform the public on how to reduce pollution.

6. Environment • China has also focused on improving soil quality and reducing contamination or arable land. In 2006 China began conducting surveys on the soil quality and the results have just recently been released. After constant discussion China has proposed a 5 year plan to fix the issue in its Soil Pollution Prevention Law. In the law are stated provisions which will reduce pollution and begin to repair the soil. China’s plan is to relocate the industries causing the pollution, improve methods in agriculture, and comprehensive treatments of the soil. Once the Law is enacted by the Peoples Republic of China’s Congress then the Environmental ministry will continually regulate the progress made. The object is to check the contamination levels regularly and begin to pin point the sources of contamination. China has been efficient when carrying out environment policy. This is shown in China’s MDG’s where they are on track in increase the amount of available safe drinking water, and provide improved sanitation to its people. The disparities occur in the rural areas and are becoming a main focus for China. With their Communist government China is able to enact provisions more rapidly as well as enforce the provision more effectively. The UN and UNESCO have been working with China to help repair damage and help prevent further contamination of poisonous metals. There is a promising outlook that the environmental issue will begin to improve within the 5 year plan. • If the air and waters which come in contact with the soil are contaminated they too can contaminate the soil; therefore, efforts already in place to reduce and water pollution will contribute to the success of their soil pollution prevention law. Only the future will tell what will come of China’s environment but there is a promising expectation that the current situation will improve.