Thesis: Coal pollution in China has been a significant cause of environmental pollution-China being one of the largest coal producers in the world- therefore, necessitating the development of appropriate measures to reduce its severity.
The demand for economic growth as well as the ever-growing Chinese population has increased the demand for energy in China although Coal has been criticized as the cause of air pollution.
The dominant source of energy has been coal due to its affordability and availability. The emissions from its combustion are mainly in form of carbonic and nitrogen oxides, sulfur, and particles of heavy metals such as mercury. The emissions from the utilization of coal cause health since these substances are mainly water and air pollutants.
Acid rain has been the principal hazard resulting from the emissions from coal users.
The chemical combination of coal pollutants with water results in acid rain, which harms vegetation, aquatic animals, birds, and other biodiversities. This kind of rainfall affects agriculture as it makes the soils acidic, as farmers will have to spend more on liming the soils. Agricultural food products may sometimes contain mercury resulting from acidic rain, which causes health complications for both humans and animals.
The chief environmental concern of the century on global warming has been blamed on carbon dioxide emitted from the utilization of coal.
Carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere emits a high level of light energy from the sun while absorbing heat from the earth. This causes instability in its chemical component, which releases energy absorbed in form of heat energy to the earth. The pollutants cushion loss of heat from the earth to space, and subsequently, increasing the earth’s temperature. The ever-rising temperature results in global warming causing glaciers to melt and coastal flooding tsunamis.
China has been faced with severe water shortages caused by the long-term effects of coal pollution.
The persistent rise in temperatures leads to climate change, which causes droughts, sea level rises, and disruption of rainfall patterns. The accelerated desertification results in low amounts of rainfall received. Sea level rise causes tsunamis, which displaces people along coastal lines. Increase the cost of dealing with the effects of coal pollution such as the depletion of water resources, treatment of patients, and premature deaths.
Action needs to be taken to sustain human, animal, and plant life by reducing pollution in China although there have been immense challenges.
Despite the public outcry in the recent past, the Chinese laws have not served to reduce these effects of coal pollution. There has been a minimal implementation of the laws placed to curb the effects of coal pollution. The existing mistrust of the central authorities in addressing the utilization of coal has been a hindrance in the reduction of emissions.
Some of the solutions for the crucial problem in china have been incorporated.
Enforcement of these environmental laws has been hampered by political influences and corruption. With the increased adverse effects of coal pollution and the inept government authorities, new ways have to be devised to deal with coal pollution. New policies dealing with emissions should be enacted and violators brought to book to sustain a healthy environment.