Contemporary Chinese Environmental Debates and Policy: Water Resource Management Issues Environment and Society (ENVI1110) Monday 24 October 2005 Damian Howells Room 3.13, School of Chemistry

Map 1. China’s major river systems Available from:

The Reform Era (1978 – present) Launched by post-Mao leadership Deng Xiaoping Disillusioned with previous economic policy China’s economy stagnant Based on market economics “To get rich is glorious” Private enterprise in agriculture & industry Radical departure from previous approaches Deng had been labelled a capitalist and purged

The Reform Era cont’d GDP has seen phenomenal growth 1983 – US$256.1 billion 1994 – US$542.5 billion 2004 – US$ billion 9.5%(approx) p.a. 7% p.a. predicted growth until 2020 Further economic growth severely constrained Water shortages Energy shortages

Water Resource Issues in China Widespread shortages in many regions Particularly on the North China Plain 400 of 668 cities suffer chronic shortages Adequate supplies for 650m people 50% of current population Urban demand for water increases 10% p.a. Urban supply increases by 7% p.a.

Source: Benewick, Robert and Stephanie Donald (2000) The state of China Atlas p. 87

South/North Water Transfer Project Supply water to the cities of the North China Plain An important economic region An important agricultural region Home to approx ¼ of population The region suffers a chronic shortage of water Natural - climate, decreasing rainfall Manmade – rising demand, bad management, pollution

Eastern route – easiest and cheapest 18bn m 3 water annually Resettlement of 10, 000 people (est.) Use of existing canals, rivers and lakes Cost of construction - US$3bn (est.) Central route – more expensive and difficult Phase 1 (2010) 9-13bn m 3 annually Phase 2 (20??) 20bn m 3 annually Resettlement of 250,000 people (est.) Cost of construction - US$7bn (est.) Resettlement costs - US$10bn (est.)

Potential problems Existing pollution from farming and industry Spread of existing problem Won’t solve the problem Environmental Impact? EIA not conducted Focus on engineering & technology The project is a long-held dream Surveying began in 1950s Insufficient expertise & technology Political campaigns

Energy supply issues in China Demand is outstripping supply Increased industrial & domestic demand Power cuts are common in many areas Barrier to development of inland areas The need for cleaner energy sources 65% of China’s primary energy production from coal Already the 2 nd largest emitter of CO 2 Acid rain effects 30% of China Estimated cost – 20 billion Yuan p.a. (US$1.5 billion)

Available from: 3GorgesDam/slides/002ChinaMapDams2.htmlhttp:// 3GorgesDam/slides/002ChinaMapDams2.html

Available from:

The Three Gorges Dam Specifications of the dam Reservoir 372 miles / 600km long 39.3bn m 3 of water Cost – US$24bn (est.) Two main elements of the TGP Power generation to meet rising demand Planned output - 84bn kilowatt hours of electricity p.a. Flood defence

Flood Defence The Yangtze Valley prone to flooding ,000 deaths 1998 – 3,656 deaths (estimated) 5.7m homes destroyed, 7m damaged 14m people evacuated Economic losses £21 billion Future large floods are highly likely Deforestation upstream Land reclamation, draining of lakes downstream

Overseas Reactions to the TGP Social costs 1.2m people dislocated from 100 towns/villages Relocation funds have gone missing Employment opportunities? Environmental costs Habitat destruction Impact of industrial pollution Chinese dolphin Chinese sturgeon Concerns that silt will block the turbines Production could cease early.

Domestic Reactions to the TGP Decision taken in post-Tian’anmen period Political clampdown Civil society in China is very week GONGOs (Govt. Organised NGOs) Licensed by the State Terms of the debate are set by the State Development & poverty alleviation prioritised (e.g. Chongqing) Government pride at China’s achievements

Suggested further reading For a general overview of China’s water resource issues see: World Commission on Dams (2000) Experience with Dams in Water and Energy Resource Development in the People’s Republic of China Introduction pp For further details on the Three Gorges Dam Project see: World Commission on Dams (2000) Experience with Dams in Water and Energy Resource Development in the People’s Republic of China Annex 2, The Three Gorges Project pp For the South/North Water Transfer Project see: Liu Changming (1999) Environmental Issues and the South-North Water Transfer Scheme in Edmonds, Richard Louis ed. Managing the Chinese Environment Oxford: Oxford University Press pp