by Anna Bryant, Greengrants Intern
Xi’an Green Community is an impressive example of new citizen efforts that are springing up nationwide to increase environmental awareness. Working on a shoestring with the enthusiastic help of dozens of dedicated volunteers, this group is capturing the imagination of people who are just beginning to learn about environmental issues and discovering ways to participate in local clean up efforts.
China is changing rapidly. As it transitions from a mostly rural country to an urban, industrialized nation, it is facing a host of new environmental issues. Though China’s switch to a market economy has reduced poverty levels, it has increased pollution, which poses risks for human health and damages water and air quality. In 1998, the World Health Organization reported that seven of the world’s ten most polluted cities were in China. Coal burning is the main contributor to this pollution, and energy consumption is rapidly growing. China was responsible for 9.8 percent of the world’s energy consumption in 2001, and this number is expected to grow in the coming years. Already, China is the second largest emitter of carbon dioxide.
The Chinese government has begun to address some of the country’s environmental issues. The State Environmental Protection Administration was established in 1998 to create environmental policy and regulation. A tax on high-sulfur coals and construction of natural gas pipelines may help ease the crisis to a limited extent. In 1999, the Beijing city government ordered vehicles to convert to natural gas, and the national government has begun a push to make vehicles more fuel-efficient. The government also has made efforts to encourage the use of alternative energy sources, such as wind and hydroelectric power, to meet the country’s growing demand for energy. Of course, these energy sources can bring their own set of challenges; China continues to explore major dam-building activities and expansion of its nuclear energy programs.
Though the Chinese government has shown itself to be open to environmental protection, lasting progress requires awareness and widespread support for environmental causes throughout the entire society. To encourage communities to live more sustainably, people in the city of Xi’an established the Xi’an Green Community. The organization kicked off its efforts with several activities in the fall of 2003, including an opening ceremony, a speech at the middle school followed by question and answer sessions in small groups, and a conference about the regulations of the Xi’an Environment Protection Bureau. The organization continues its work by creating two billboards about an environmental issue each month, putting on environmental education programs at the local schools every three weeks, monitoring the city’s air pollution, and organizing a range of environmental awareness events for the community.
With the support of Global Greengrants Fund, the Xi’an Green Community has established itself as a leading organization within its community. A grant of $700 supported the organization’s initial projects and promoted its further development. The organization estimates that more than 2,000 people have participated in its environmental awareness activities, and that number continues to grow.