China's resource future

Technological

Technological

• 17.6% of electricity comes from renewable sources.

• They are the largest producers of photovoltaic

• They are developing their water-dependent thermal- and hydro- power stations

  • Helping to reduce use of non-renewable source

  • Putting pressure on China’s water future.

• Reduce use of water in industry by using improved cooling techniques, use of grey water and sea water desalination.

• New engineering project (2014) moving 45 billion cubic meters of water from Southern china (Yangtze River) to the north eastern parts (Yellow river basin) which is more arid.

Economic

• Global economic slowdown after crash in 2008, global demand has dropped for Chinese manufactured good. Leading to economic growth to reduce:

  • 14% per year in 2007

  • <7% per year in 2016

• China are seen as leading producers in Aluminum, Gold, Iron, Steel, Lead and tin.

• They are also the largest consumers of minerals (facing rapid depletion of domestic supplies)

• It now imports many of it’s minerals from areas such as Peru, Chile and Armenia.

  • 80% of iron

  • 50% of copper

environmental

• Condition of the air in cities is a big problem

  • Estimated that over 1 million people die each year as a result of this.

  • Comes from coal emissions from factories.

• By 2017, China was the leading country for producing electricity from renewable energy

• 60% of China’s coal-fired power stations are in areas which are under water stress and exert even more pressure on the water supplies.

  • Climate change is likely to intensify this issue.

    • In southern china, likely to reduce rain fall by CC.

    • The area is very rich in many different mineral ores which it can use to both political and economic advantage.

political

• In March 2017, the government cancelled 103 coal-fired plants.

• China has withdrawn from treaties (on orders of Trump).

  • Has led to promote credentials as a global leader in environmental innovation.

• The government has state control meaning it control what is happening without worrying about commercial profitability.

• Government action plan to clean contaminated river in the seven key basins with stricter water management.

• Quotas were put in place to export REEs but US took it to WTO, China had to resume quota-free trade in 2015.

• China is using Africa as source of choice to meet growing demand.

  • Seen as + as infrastructural development

  • Seen as – as low wages for high skilled jobs.