How have urbanization and economic development of East Asia created environmental concerns?

It is estimated that by 2025 China will become the world’s leading producer of greenhouse gases

Chinese demands pose threats to biodiversity as far away as Africa

Respiratory and heart diseases related to air pollution are the leading cause of death in China

75% of energy production in China is still dependent on coal

The water quality in 40% of the rivers in China are unsafe to drink

Air pollution in China is reported to kill 700,000 people a year

It was estimated the Chinese economy lost $112 billion in lost labor and healthcare costs in 2005

China produces 46% of the world’s steel which contributes to air pollution

China has the 2nd largest number of automobiles in the world, nearly 230 million and growing

Environmental standards are lower in China than most other nations

Urbanization Environmental Facts

• Taiwan and Japan are mountainous countries which forces people to live in confined spaces

• As people came to take advantage of the mountains’ resources, water pollution, soil erosion, landslides, forest fires, and flooding occurred

• Some areas of the land are threatened with destruction and some wildlife species are threatened with extinction

• Cities struggle with dangerous levels of air, water, and noise pollution, and disposal of solid and toxic wastes

• Nuclear power plants, international airports, commercial ports, fishing harbors, industrial parks, and fish farms are having a devastating impact on the coastal environment

• Illegal dumping of toxic

chemicals is a big issue• High-density cities burn their trash to lack of space

The Three Gorges Dam has blocked approximately 10 million tons of plastic bags, bottles, and other debris

More than 265 billion gallons of raw sewage are dumped into the Yangtze River annually

Habitat loss has left pandas endangered

There are less than 2,500 mature pandas left in the wild

99% of the panda’s diet is bamboo

Urbanization cuts down the bamboo

Pollution from China affecting Japan:•40% of air pollutants observed in the Kyushu region in 2007 originated from China•30% of smog in Tokyo came from China•Emissions of nitrogen oxide in China and other East Asian countries has doubled since 1985

Acid rain and acid snow has destroyed pine and other trees - 40% of the trees 1 part of Japan were damaged in 2005

In 2010 pollutants were estimated to have caused 8,600 premature deaths in 4 Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xian)

How has East Asia made an impact in the global economy?

The economy of East Asia is 1 of the most successful regional economies in the world

Trade is relatively open having zero or low duties on imports of consumer and capital goods

Large and flexible labor market has helped promote economic performance

East Asian people have demonstratedrapid learning capabilities, such as new technology

A global economy has developed in which nations are dependent upon one another for goods and services

The nations of East Asia used their supplies of cheap labor to become manufacturing powerhouses

Global Economy Facts

• China has made the largest contribution to the growth rate worldwide over 13% since 2001

• In 2005 China contributed 14.3% to the world economy growth

• Japan contributed 10.3% to the world economy growth in 2005

• The United States peaked in 34.5% shares of global imports and exports in 2000 and declined to 22.6% in 2007

China is now a significant player in world production, consumption, trade, international finance, and the environment

• China became the world’s largest international trader in 2009

• China could have the largest economy in the world within the next 20 years

• From 1985 – 2000 China profited more from globalization than any other country in the world

• China is currently a key economic and political power

• China is now the 2nd greatest importer of oil• US lost 15 million jobs between 1995 – 2002• The demand from China has driven up prices

of many natural resources (wood, soy beans, rubber, etc.)

Japan has the world’s 3rd largest economy

Japan has the 2nd largest holder of U.S. debt securities

Malaysia, Thailand, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, and Argentina have been forced to reduce tariffs due to East Asia’s economy

China’s economic growth in 2012 was at 7.9% which was lower than 9.3% in 2011

East Asia’s economy is fueled by large investment projects

East Asia was expected to contribute almost 40% of global economic growth in 2012

Poverty is decreasing with people earning under $2 a day decreasing to 23.3% by the end of 2014

JAKOTA TRIANGLE•Japan•Korea (South)•Taiwan

Became the most powerful nations of the Pacific Rim during the 1980s and 1990s

East Asia

• It emphasizes education and the promotion of knowledge

• It directs investment into high productivity planning

• Countries protects various industries with the promotion of trade to increase exports

• Countries made a direct investment in the market

GDP of East Asia

What have been the costs and benefits of China’s one child policy?

The policy’s primary goal is to keep a low birthrate

1979 law that prohibits about 1/3 of China’s population from having a 2nd child

The policy limits urban families to a single child and most strictly applies to Han Chinese living in urban areas

It does not apply to ethnic minorities throughout the country

Han Chinese families living in rural areas can apply to have a 2nd child if the 1st child is a girl

“Later, Longer, Fewer” policy is the cornerstone of China’s birth control program

One Child Policy Facts• The Han Chinese represent more than 91% of

the Chinese population• In rural areas, Han Chinese families can apply

to have a 2nd child if the first child is a girl• A couple is usually permitted to have a 2nd

child if the first child is born with birth defects or major health problems

• Families who are permitted to have a 2nd child usually have to wait three to four years after the birth of the 1st child

The policy has been successful at reducing the population growth, particularly in the cities

Women in China used to average having 6 children, now the number is below 2

• The one-child policy has reported prevented 300 million births

• The reduction of population has helped pull people out of poverty and helped promote China’s economic growth

Rewards

• Rewards for families observing the One Child Policy:Higher wagesBetter schooling Preferential treatment in obtaining

government assistance and loansBetter employmentRetirement funds

• Couple with one child are given a “one-child certificate” entitling them to such benefits as:Cash bonuses – an extra month’s salary every

year until the child is 14Longer maternity leave Better child carePreferential housing assignments

Punishment for Violation• Sanctions for families who violate the One

Child Policy include:Fines – from $370 to $12,800 depending

on the regionEmployment terminationDifficulty in obtaining government

assistanceForced abortion (up to 9 month of

pregnancy) and sterilization

Impact on Females• There is now a ratio of 114 males for every

100 females. The average is 105 males born for every 100 females worldwide.

• Female children are at risk to:Abortion – there were 14.4 million

abortions in 1983Reports of more than 1 million abortions are

carried out each yearNeglectAbandonment at a high rate

There are more females attending college than ever in China

Improved education has provided access for females to get better paying jobs

Debate on the Policy

• Housing shortages in urban areas could be partly responsible for the decline in birth rate

• The right to sell and grow agriculture in rural areas reduced the need to rely on children to work in the fields

• Improvement in education and women working could have caused the need for more children to drop

• Children are not an economic asset to the family income in the cities

• China is expected to achieve zero population growth by 2025

• The policy could be worsening the aging crisis Not enough young workers to support the

aging population

Concern for Children of the 1-Child Policy

• Appear to be less trusting, less trustworthy, and more pessimistic than children born before the policy went into action

• Only children in the country are growing up coddled and un-socialized

• Less willing to take risks• Some mothers think only-children suffer

from loneliness and become spoiled