Western region should aim for sustainable development without imperiling the ecosystem

The recent news of chromium pollution in Yunnan province is just not another case of an environmental hazard in China, but an eye-opener into the developmental problems that are facing western China.

The issue raises doubts on the viability of the current growth model and also for the future. It has now become imperative to shape future economic growth on a model that is not only cost-effective, but also sustainable.

In my opinion, development should always be a win-win situation for society and the environment, and that is inevitably the route that western China needs to adopt.

During the past decade, prompted by growing demand and interests at different levels, many western regions started to vigorously exploit natural resources. Along with this the heavy and chemical industry developed, not only in terms of size but also in scale. Sadly there were no laws in place to check such unbridled growth.

A major issue that plagues the western region is the disorganized exploitation of resources and the inappropriate planning of heavy industry without any regard for environmental protection. Driven by fat profits and unrestricted by effective regulations, the disorderly exploitation of resources has triggered several environmental problems in the region.

Moreover, the absence of strategic planning within and among the regions saw many of the heavy and chemical industries, including some highly polluting firms, being located in environmentally sensitive areas like rivers, posing grave threat to the ecosystem.

Western China has a relatively fragile ecological environment. Water resources within most of the regions have limited carrying capacity. The quality of the atmosphere and water has a direct impact on the environmental quality of the cities and river basins in the western region. The excessive exploitation of resources and the unbridled expansion of the highly polluting industries in some areas have already exceeded the normal levels that the environment can support.

There are also issues with regard to development needs and environment limits. Over-exploitation of water resources in some parts of the Yangtze River or the concentration of coal and chemical industry around upstream Yellow River are threatening the overall ecological security of the basins and water safety.

Western China still remains a region less developed and therefore, poverty alleviation, economic development and the prevention of a widening gap between the living standards of coastal citizens and the locals are the main tasks for the government.

It was to fulfill the above objectives that China decided to implement the go-west strategy in 2000. The plan has achieved a lot in terms of promoting economic and social development in the region. Though the construction of an ecological environment is an integral part of the plan, it has often been given the short shrift in actual policies. It is these kinds of actions that have led to the current situation and the increased cases of environmental pollution in the region.

Though the government has laid down the 10-year developmental road map for the western region, it is clear that the rough and extensive pattern of resource exploitation and economic development in the region is no longer viable given the resource and environment constraints.

Changing the developmental pattern is no easy task, but it needs to be done in such a way that it adheres to the five principles that promote a harmonious coexistence of the society and the nature.

We must learn to respect the nature and exploit its resources scientifically according to the natural conditions, and minimize the disruption of the environment. At the same time we must moderate the resource exploitation to ensure sustainable development.

Care should be taken to develop a sustainable economy, and create a resource saving and environmentally friendly society to give sustainable development a further boost.

Overall consumption patterns need to change and we must try to reduce and discourage waste. There should also be a clear understanding of the relationship between humans and nature.

On a more practical level, strategic development plans for the regional ecology and environment need to be developed to ensure the ecosystem of the western region does not deteriorate, the water and soil in the region does not over-carry, and emissions are contained at acceptable levels. Investment for regional environmental protection projects also need to be increased.

To ensure the successful implementation of the go-west strategy, it is vital to set up an environmental protection infrastructure that fosters projects that enhance and improve the competitiveness of local enterprises. By such careful and concerted actions not only can we achieve win-win results, but also strike a balance between exploitation and protection.

The author is a researcher with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.