Opinion

Op-Ed: Chinese environmentalism

An essay by my friend and former classmate Timothy Gutmann, who currently teaches English in Beijing and studies Chinese.  A Boston University graduate, he hopes to return to America to study East Asian and Islamic modern philosophy.

=====

By Timothy Gutmann

Environmentalists have felt justly skeptical of China’s claims of a “Green Olympics.” Quantitatively, greens can find much to fault. However, they should take heart in a qualitative understanding of the contexts of China’s newfound concern for the environment.

Many international media correctly point out China cannot sustain its Olympic cleanup. Halting construction, shutting factories and nearly halving traffic have boosted the number of clear-sky days, by whatever standard. The military’s dabbling in weather modification has added to the cosmetic benefits, with timed rains cleaning the skies markedly. However, these measures point to something akin to an ecological crash-diet. China’s assessments of its “Green GDP” are contentious. By anyone’s measurements but its own, China’s air still contains dangerous levels of toxins. And the Olympic strides cannot be sustained under a normal work regime.

However despite the problems that the data show, Chinese are acutely conscious of the environment. The government’s bans on public smoking and plastic bags met wide approval. Quitting smoking and carrying a grocery bag by Anya Hindmarch have become fashion statements. Abstentions from meat and energy-travel are gaining ground among Beijing’s trendsetters. Few Beijingers complain about political or social issues. However, they often loudly voice concerns over air and water quality. Gripes about pollution are an exception to Beijingers’ anger at foreign criticism. On its own terms, Chinese environmentalism is waxing.

The two Chinese characters for “environment” share the ambiguity of the English word. Discussing the environment is complicated in that Chinese and Western cultures use such diverse spiritual and aesthetic vocabulary. Many Beijing subway posters entreat residents to promote a “safe”, “polite” or “harmonious” environment. However, many educated Beijingers still list spitting as a chief environmental concern. When asked about the biggest environmental problem ahead of the Games, a young customer service representative said migrant workers and their coarse manners. Despite this discord, linking the environment to concepts like social harmony indicates the issue’s prominence.

Greens should celebrate any caveat the Chinese government attaches to its promotion of business. Managers can call on the police to resolve their labor disputes. The government treats working conditions like state secrets. Any qualification to the state’s support of business is immensely significant. By casting the environment as a part of the state’s greater social project, the state is giving a place and voice to the environmental movement. Rather than indicating misinterpretation, China’s distinctive environmental concepts indicate the country takes it seriously.

The environmental cause in China has serious progress to make, however, it enjoys the theoretical support of the public and sanction of the state. Greens can build from this. At the orchestrated coincidence of official orthodoxy and popular will, none sees a limit to what China can accomplish.

Sphere: Related Content

© 2008 ResponsibleChina.com: Environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship in China..