Summary
Highlights
David Fineberg travels to Linfen, China, identified as the planet's dirtiest place. Breathing the air for a day is equivalent to smoking three packs of cigarettes, a reality for 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities, which are located in China.
Linfen's economy revolves around energy production, featuring endless factories emitting toxic chemicals, poisoning the air, land, and water. A permanent toxic smog replaces clouds, reflecting an economy model where growth exacerbates environmental degradation, showcasing the ugly side of China's economic development.
Despite its status as the most polluted city, life in Linfen for its four million residents appears relatively normal, with cluttered roads and ongoing construction. The city struggles with poor public relations due to its pollution, causing residents to move away, though coal trucks, a significant pollution source, are ever-present.
Children leaving an elementary school are accustomed to the apocalyptic-looking sky, similar to seeing a neighborhood on fire. This normalcy highlights the severity of air pollution, with 70% of Chinese cities failing air quality standards, primarily due to coal burning, increased transport, and construction.
Initially, the crew brought masks, expecting to see widespread use, but found residents in Linfen did not wear them, leading the crew to abandon theirs to avoid standing out. Twenty years prior, Linfen was known for its fruits and flowers, a stark contrast to its current state as China's coal mine.
Over half of China's rivers, a third of its lakes, and 80-90% of urban groundwater are polluted, primarily from industrial processes and agricultural pesticides. This water pollution directly correlates with 'cancer villages,' where residents dependent on these contaminated water sources exhibit significantly higher cancer rates.
Due to high demand, illegal private coal mines proliferate despite being shut down or leading to arrests. These unregulated mines contribute significantly to pollution. Residents, many former farmers forced into coal-related livelihoods, scavenge for anything valuable to make a living, highlighting economic hardship related to the industrial shift.
After a week in Linfen, the film crew experienced physical symptoms of pollution, with burning eyes, itchy throats, and black nasal mucus. Police visited their hotel, prompting fears of confiscation as the crew was filming illegally as tourists.
China faces the challenge of balancing economic development to alleviate poverty with environmental protection. Local officials prioritize economic growth, suggesting a need for changes in performance evaluation to incentivize environmental care. Efforts to improve Linfen's pollution, like factory closures, have been superficial.
China has transformed from a bicycle-dominated country to one filled with cars and trucks, becoming the world's leading polluter due to coal burning and manufacturing. While China implemented short-term measures to clean Beijing's air for the Olympics, a long-term structural solution is needed. The issue is a global problem, with American and multinational companies benefiting from cheap labor and materials in China, making it clear that while China faces a huge cleanup, the US remains the largest per capita polluter.