Harbin is a city best known as “the Ice City,”
its temperatures can reach as low as -40F in the winter. The city will have to
provide heating for at least six months because of the extreme weather. Smog’s
from heating coal have been so heavy, policeman have to signal cars in the
driveway. Many schools, roads, or airports have been shut down. The winter
heating systems by burning of coal was responsible for the caused. To lower
energy usage, the city spent 1.1 million dollars to supply residential building
with additional five layers of wall protection from the freezing temperature.
Now,
China is the leading country in the consumption of coals, over 70 % of coal
burning runs the energy China use. The dense pollution can cause heart and lung
diseases in people that have shorten the life expectancy by 5.5 years younger. “The
level of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, in Harbin's air this week reportedly
reached 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the World
Health Organization's daily target level by a factor of 40.” Beijing and cities
nearby are not so different from Harbin; they were noted as some of the most
polluted cities globally.
China
will need to discuss this matter seriously and develop new plans to attack this
issue. Though this issue cannot be easily solved, it will need to be cleared up
because people’s lives are affected. It caused the depletion of the environment,
a major concern need to be address. Regardless of what happens, heating 24/7 is
required for almost every household or else the people will suffer. China will
have to find cheaper and natural gas to warm up the city and lower
pollution.
Mailee Vue
October 22, 2013
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