I feel like, for a lot of us, when we think of China, our thoughts automatically go to the levels of pollution that are apparent in the air there. China is arguably highly-recognized for the severity of the pollution present in its air, and it’s a bit concerning.
But, there is good news pertaining to the amount of toxic entities existing in the air in China, according to an article from The Good News Network.
“The megacities of China have seen a remarkable fall in most markers for air pollution, as well as in associated deaths.
“According to a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded study from the journal Lancet, across all 33 of the Middle Kingdom’s provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities there have been reductions in air particulates related to fuel-burning and cooking oil, as well as in ozone depleting substances.
“By the numbers, the fall has been around 9% in air particulates since 1990.
“Given that 81% of Chinese citizens still live in areas where air pollution exceeds acceptable levels under WHO Air Quality Guidelines, this reduction of particulates equates to a life-saving change for people across the country.
“In 2017 compared in 1990, 60.6% fewer people have been dying per year based on a broadly defined set of conditions resulting from air pollution—translating to hundreds of thousands of lives.
“One of the largest contributors to air pollution in China is from personal households: wood and coal burning for cooking purposes takes its toll, and currently represents a larger share of pollution after years of substantial public investment in the clean energy sector, and in advisory boards that address particulate matter pollution generated by power generation,” the article says.
I think this information is incredibly promising and is a sign of hope for future generations, and I certainly think it combats the stereotype I mentioned earlier in this post.
ontheedgeofeverything 