China's Coal Demand

Recently, there has been talk about China’s economy and what their plans are to reduce the amount of toxins being released into the air from the huge masses of coal being burned in their country. The demand for coal in China right now is soaring and the market for coal-fired power plants is growing so rapidly that a new one opens about every 10 days. The pollutants that are released from burning coal are responsible for nearly 400,000 premature deaths each year, and cause cancer, heart disease, and respiratory damage. Not only are the people of China suffering from the pollution, but the tiny particles of sulfur dioxide produced from the burning of coal also have an effect on global warming all over the world. The long term result will be warmer climates which can lead to a variety of problems such as crop failure, extinction of animals, rising sea levels, and the spread of diseases. It seems surprising to me that nothing has been done to stop or reduce the burning of such a harmful substance, but then again this is the new economy’s black gold. One way in which China is trying to counteract this harmful issue is to improve the nation’s energy efficiency, but this is not possible without the latest technology and help from other countries. More than likely, little changes will be made to the energy plan due to the resources that are needed and their availability. The question is, “Should we continue the supply of coal and watch the economy boom, or put more emphasis on issues of health and slow down the growth of this deadly market?”