41. China and the Global Environment: Learning from the Past, Anticipating the Future
- Author:
- Katherine Morton
- Publication Date:
- 11-2009
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Lowy Institute for International Policy
- Abstract:
- One of the greatest dilemmas of the early 21st century is how to satisfy the demands of densely populated states in the context of a global environmental crisis. As the world's biggest polluter and prominent emerging world power, China is at the centre of the global debate. Worsening pollution trends, increasing resource scarcity, and widespread ecological degradation have serious implications for China's ongoing modernisation drive. The spillover effects across borders also pose a challenge to its relations with the outside world. Although China's per capita CO2 emissions are low relative to the United States and Australia, they already exceed the world average. In 2007, China overtook the United States to become the world's largest aggregate emitter.
- Topic:
- Environment, Government, International Trade and Finance, and Reform
- Political Geography:
- China, Asia, and Australia