Introduction
China is said to be among the top drivers of industrialization in the whole world. It has a fast-growing and rapid expansion of its industries, economy, and urbanization. The economic growth has led to the urbanization of many cities, which have become megacities. Most of this growth has led to a chain in the industrialization of Chinese markets. Most major companies, especially technology, digital, automotive, and automotive companies rely on China to produce and service their products. Low cost of production, low cost of labor, and high quality of skill are among the incentives leading multinational corporations such as Apple, Microsoft, Audi, etc., to build ties with China even to the point of relocating to Chinese megacities.
Globalization can be described as a snowball effect because, by one business or company growing and expanding internationally, it triggers other companies to follow. This is the situation in China and most other first-world countries. As much as the positive effects of globalization outweigh the negative effects, it is still important to analyze the negative effects. For this essay, we shall be looking at the effect of globalization on air pollution in the cities of China.
Air pollution in China cities, particularly Beijing, is fueled by the many industries in the city. From coal to automotive industries, the industries cause drastic effects on air quality. The main air pollutants are Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, Carbon Monoxide, and Particulate Matter. Moreover, the same industries also cause smog, which diminishes transparency and cleanness of the air. The health effects connected to the emission of these gases include respiratory diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, and autism. Lung cancer has been recorded to have increased by 60% (Liu, 1180). It is estimated that Beijing citizens' life span is five to six years shorter than citizens in other cities, which is attributed to air pollution in the city. Air pollution also leads to lower birth rates, high child mortality, and high adult mortality.
Industries
Due to rapid globalization, Chinese industries have to overwork to meet production demands set by global markets. The rapid growth of the economy and the GDP fuels further development of industries. Emissions from these industries cause smog, which reduces visibility. In a number of instances, road transport becomes impossible. Flights have to be canceled for the safety of the citizens. The residents of major cities, including Harbin, Hebei, and Beijing, find difficulty traveling and even transporting goods.
In the last decade, the major economic contributor in China has shifted from agriculture to industries. Subsequently, more industries have been built to enhance economic growth. This then means that energy consumption in these cities increases. As recorded in 2010, China was the largest energy consumer in the world; 75% of this was used by the industries (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2015). With the underdevelopment of China's energy infrastructure, the country has to import most of its energy sources. It uses twice as much oil compared to other countries, which leads to further air pollution.
Moreover, the demand for domestic natural resources such as coal has led China to build more industries to satisfy this demand. Coal industries in the major cities are among the top sources of air pollutants. The situation in these cities creates a conflict between environmental conservation and industrialization, but it is rather clear that industrialization prevails.
Furthermore, globalization leads to the establishment of more company industries in China's cities, where resources are readily available. Multinational corporations establish new and bigger branches in Chinese cities to maintain competitive advantage and improve international ties. This leads to further development of industries that cause air pollution. The relocation of people means that the population in these cities increases due to attraction by jobs. The effect of this increase in vehicle emissions accounts for about 60% of the air pollution (Betts, 318). The megacities that are already overpopulated have to handle even more numbers, which is detrimental to progress.
Conclusion
China and its cities are aware of these challenges and have taken several measures to counter the negative effects of globalization, industrialization, and air pollution. In 2013, China passed the Heavy Air Pollution Contingency Plan to ensure appropriate actions are taken in response to air pollution levels. This is just but one measure; environmental conservation is a matter of global interest, and measures put by international organizations such as the WHO should be followed. Ultimately, as much as globalization has tremendous positive effects, we should not overlook the negative effects that come with it.
