From The Times Online: Beijing’s economic miracle has come at a daunting price.
High in the Tienshan mountains in the westernmost region of China, pristine snowfields feed the streams that fill a famous local beauty spot known as Heavenly Lake. The crystal waters inspire even more column inches of enthusiastic brochure-ese than they might otherwise, for such enthusiasm is impossible across most of China.
The industrial revolution that has lifted 400 million Chinese, perhaps more, out of poverty in less than a generation, turning their country into the world’s dominant manufacturer and newest economic giant, has also despoiled its environment almost beyond recognition. As the water table in the north of the country drops by a metre a year, 300 leading cities are running short of water. Hundreds more choke under clouds of airborne particulates, with particularly damaging effects on children and the elderly. Every main river is heavily polluted, some to the point that their water is useless even for irrigation.
