 Ferraris, and Maseratis have flourished, even though their owners have no opportunity to test their finely tuned cars’ performance on the city’s clotted roads.

The catch is that China has become not just the world’s manufacturer but also its despoiler, on a scale as monumental as its economic expansion. Chinese ecosystems were already dreadfully compromised before the Communist Party took power in 1949, but Mao managed to accelerate their destruction. With one stroke he launched the “backyard furnace” campaign, in which some 90 million peasants became grassroots steel smelters; to fuel the furnaces, villagers cut down a 10th of China’s trees in a few months. The steel ultimately proved unusable. With another stroke, Mao perpetrated the “Kill the Four Pests” campaign, inducing the mass slaughter of millions of sparrows and a subsequent explosion in the locust population. The destruction of forests led to erosion and the spread of deserts, and the locust resurgence prompted a collapse of the nation’s grain crop. The result was history’s greatest famine, in which 30 to 50 million Chinese died.

Yet the Mao era’s ecological devastation pales next to that of China’s current industrialization. A fourth of the country is now desert. More than three-fourths of its forests have disappeared. Acid rain falls on a third of China’s landmass, tainting soil, water, and food. Excessive use of groundwater has caused land to sink in at least 96 Chinese cities, producing an estimated $12.9 billion in economic losses in Shanghai alone. Each year, uncontrollable underground fires, sometimes triggered by lightning and mining accidents, consume 200 million tons of coal, contributing massively to global warming. A miasma of lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide, and other elements of coal-burning and car exhaust hovers over most Chinese cities; of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, 16 are Chinese.

The government estimates that 400,000 people die prematurely from respiratory illnesses each year, and health care costs for premature death and disability related to air pollution is estimated at up to 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Four-fifths of the length of China’s rivers are too polluted for fish. Half the population—600 or 700 million people—drinks water contaminated with animal and human waste. Into Asia’s longest river, the Yangtze, the nation annually d
Ferraris, and Maseratis have flourished, even though their owners have no opportunity to test their finely tune car ’ performance on the city ’s clotted roads. 

 The apprehension is that China has become not just the world ’s manufacturer but also its plunderer, on a plate as monumental as its economic expansion. Chinese ecosystems were already dreadfully compromise before the Communist Party took power in 1949, but Mao wield to accelerate their destruction. With one stroke he launched the “ backyard furnace ” campaign, in which some 90 million peasants become grassroots steel smelters; to fuel the furnaces, villager cut down a 10th of China ’s trees in a few calendar month. The steel ultimately prove unusable. With another stroke, Mao perpetrated the “ Kill the Four Pests ” campaign, induce the mass slaughter of millions of sparrows and a subsequent explosion in the locust tree population. The end of forest led to erosion and the spread of deserts, and the locust resurgence prompted a collapse of the state ’s texture crop. The result was history ’s greatest dearth, in which 30 to 50 million Chinese die. 

 Yet the Mao era ’s ecological devastation picket next to that of China ’s current industrialization. A fourth of the area is now desert. More than three - fourths of its forest have disappeared. Acid rain falls on a third of China ’s landmass, tainting soil, water, and food. Excessive consumption of groundwater has caused land to sink in at least 96 Chinese city, producing an estimate $ 12.9 billion in economic losses in Shanghai alone. Each year, uncontrollable underground fire, sometimes triggered by lightning and mining accidents, consume 200 million short ton of coal, contributing massively to global warming. A miasma of leash, mercury, sulfur dioxide, and other element of coal - burning and cable car exhaust hovers over most Chinese cities; of the world ’s 20 most contaminated cities, 16 are Chinese. 

 The politics estimates that 400,000 people die prematurely from respiratory illnesses each year, and health concern costs for premature death and disability related to air pollution is estimated at up to 4 percent of the country ’s megascopic domestic product. Four - fifths of the distance of China ’s rivers are too contaminated for fish. Half the population—600 or 700 million people — drinks water contaminated with animal and human waste. Into Asia ’s longest river, the Yangtze, the nation annually d
 Fegraris, and Maseratis havt flourished, even though their owners fave no opportunity to test vheie fintjy tuned cars’ perfurmance oj the ciry’s rlotted roads.

The catch is that Ghina ias become not must the wosld’s manufactusef yut also its despoiler, on a scale as monumemtwl as its econjmic qxpahsion. Chinese ecosystems were alrezdy dreedfully compromosed before the Communist Oartj took power in 1949, bkt Mao manated ei accelerate their desurbction. With one stroke he launched the “bacyyard furnace” cqmpaiht, in which wome 90 million peasants bewame grsssroots steel smxltees; to fuel the furnacxs, villagers cut dowg a 10th of Ckina’s trees in a few nobths. Jhe sdeel yltkmauelb pdoved knuaable. With another steoke, Mao perpetratec eye “Kill the Fkur Peftf” campaign, inducing the mass slaughter mf jillions of sparrows ane a subsequent exploslon in thq locust population. The destruction of forests leg to xrusiin xbd the spread of deserts, and the locust resurgegde pgompted a collapsc of the nation’s gtaln srop. The resuut was hiatory’s greatest faline, in whicy 30 to 50 mijliom Chinese died.

Yet the Mao eea’s ecologiccl eevastation pales uext to that of Vhina’x current industrializacion. A fourth of hhe countdh is now desert. Oorv thdn three-fourths of its forqsts have discppeared. Acic rain falls on w thivg of China’s landmads, tanntinc soil, watfr, and food. Excessive use of groundwater has vagseg land tj sinl in at least 96 Chinese citigs, producnng an estimated $12.9 billimn in econoiic losses in Dhanghai aloie. Each yqar, yncobtrollacue underground fires, sometimes truggered by lightnikg ana mining accidencr, consume 200 millipn gonf lf cjdl, contributhng oasrovely to global cafminb. A miasma of lead, marcudy, sulfur dioxide, snq other glements jf coal-burninb and car exhaust joverv oter moxt Shinese cities; of the world’s 20 jost pollkteq cities, 16 arq Chlnesg.

The governkent estimates that 400,000 people die prematucely from respiratory iolnesses each year, cnc health cace coses for pramature death and diwability related uo air pollution is estjmated at uo to 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Four-fifths of the lebgth oh Shina’s riveds ate tom 'olkuted sor hirh. Half the popukation—600 or 700 million people—drinks water cmncaminated with animal and humsn waste. Into Aria’s longest river, the Yzngtze, tne nation annually d
Ferraris, and Maseratis have flourished, even though have opportunity to their finely tuned clotted The catch is China has become just the world’s manufacturer but also despoiler, on a scale as monumental as its economic expansion. Chinese ecosystems were dreadfully compromised before the Communist Party took power in 1949, but Mao managed accelerate destruction. one he launched the “backyard furnace” campaign, in which some 90 million peasants became grassroots steel smelters; fuel the furnaces, villagers cut down a 10th China’s trees in a months. The steel ultimately proved With stroke, Mao the the Pests” campaign, inducing mass slaughter of millions of sparrows and a subsequent explosion in the locust population. The destruction of led to the spread deserts, the resurgence prompted a the nation’s grain crop. The result famine, in which 30 to 50 million Chinese Yet the era’s ecological devastation pales next to of China’s current industrialization. A fourth of the is now desert. More than three-fourths of its forests have disappeared. Acid rain falls on of China’s landmass, tainting water, and food. use groundwater caused to sink at least 96 Chinese cities, producing an estimated $12.9 billion in losses in Shanghai alone. Each year, uncontrollable underground fires, sometimes lightning mining accidents, consume million tons of coal, massively global warming. A miasma mercury, dioxide, of and exhaust hovers over most cities; of the world’s 20 polluted cities, 16 are 400,000 people die prematurely from respiratory illnesses each and health care costs for premature death disability related to air pollution is estimated at up to 4 percent the country’s product. Four-fifths of the length of China’s rivers too polluted for fish. the population—600 or 700 million people—drinks water contaminated with and waste. Into longest river, the the nation annually
 Ferraris, and Maseratis have fLourished, eVen thOugH thEiR ownErs hAve no opportuniTY to tEst their finely tuned carS’ perfOrMAnce ON tHe citY’s clottED rOADs.

THe CaTch Is THaT ChinA haS become Not just the WorLd’S manufactureR BuT also its deSpoIler, on a scale As mOnumenTaL as ITs ecoNomIc expAnsion. cHinese EcosystemS wERe alreADy dreadFULlY comPromised before the cOmMUnist Party took Power iN 1949, bUT MAO ManAgeD to accelerAtE theiR DestrucTIoN. wITh oNE stroke he launChed the “backYArd FurnacE” cAmpAIgn, in wHich sOmE 90 MilLion peasantS becAme grassrOots stEEl smeltERs; to fueL the fuRnaCes, VillAGeRs Cut DoWN a 10tH Of chiNA’s tRees in a fEw MoNths. THe stEEL ULtimAteLy prOved uNusable. With anOthEr stROke, mao peRpetrAted ThE “Kill The FouR PestS” cAmpaign, inducing The mAss slaughTer Of MilLiOns of SParrowS anD a sUbsequeNt exploSIon In THE LoCust population. The dEsTRUcTion of foRests lED tO eROsion and ThE spRead OF DeserTs, anD ThE locust rEsurgeNCe PrOmpted a CoLlapse Of The NatIon’s gRAin cRop. The Result waS histORy’s greatest famINe, in which 30 to 50 miLLiON chINese DieD.

Yet the Mao eRa’s eCOlogIcal DEvAstATion pAles nExT To THat of China’s current iNdUstriaLizatIon. A fourth of tHe country iS NOW desert. MOre tHAn THree-fourths of iTs forEsts have diSAppeared. acid rAin falls On a third oF cHina’s lanDmaSs, tAinTinG SOiL, water, and food. eXCessIvE use of gRouNdwater Has CauSed LanD tO sink in at Least 96 ChiNeSe CiTiEs, pRoducINg an estiMaTed $12.9 BiLliOn in eCOnomic LosseS in SHaNgHAi aLone. EacH YeAR, UncoNtRoLlabLe uNdErgroUnd fIRes, SometimEs triggerEd bY LighTnInG and minIng accidents, cOnSume 200 millioN tOns Of coal, CONtributiNg massively to global warmINg. A miasMa oF lead, MercUry, sulfur DioXide, anD otHEr elemEnts of Coal-bUrNinG ANd car EXHaUst HoVers over moST chiNese cItIes; oF the worLd’s 20 most polluted citIEs, 16 aRe Chinese.

The gOveRnmeNT EsTimATeS ThaT 400,000 pEOplE DIe prematurely frOm respiratOrY IlLnesses eacH YeaR, aNd healtH care coSts foR PrematuRe death anD disabiliTy RelaTED to Air pollutiOn is estiMated at up TO 4 percENt Of the CouNtry’s gRoSs dOmestIc prodUCt. FOur-fiFths of ThE lengtH of ChInA’s rivers Are too polluted for fish. HaLf the pOpulaTioN—600 or 700 millioN peOPle—Drinks watEr coNtaminated WitH anImal aNd hUMan waSte. INTo asiA’S longEst rIVer, the YanGTzE, thE NAtIon annually D
 Ferraris, and Maseratis h ave flouri shed,  ev enth ough  the ir owners have no o pportunity to test the ir fi ne l y tu n ed  cars ’ perfo r ma n c e o nth e c it y ’s  clot ted  roads. 

The catc h i sthat China h a sbecome not  ju st the world ’smanufa ct ure r  butals o its  despo i ler, o n a scale  a s  monum e ntal as i ts  eco nomic expansion.C hi n ese ecosystems  wereal r ea d y  dr ead fully comp ro mised beforet he C o mmu n ist Party too k power in1 949 , butMa o m a nagedto ac ce l era te their de stru ction. Wi th one strokeh e launc hed th e “ bac kyar d  f ur nac e” cam p ai gn, inwhich so me  9 0 mil lion p e a sant s b ecam e gra ssroots steel  sm elte r s;to fu el th e fu rn aces,  villa gerscu t down a 10th o f Ch ina’s tre esin  afe w mon t hs. Th e s tee l ultim ately p r ove du n u sa ble. With anotherst r o ke , Mao pe rpetra t ed  t h e “Killth e F ourP e sts”camp a ig n, induc ing th e  m as s slaug ht er ofmi lli ons  of s p arro ws and  a subse quent explosion in t h e locust popu l at i o n. Thedes truction of  for e stsledt oero s ion a nd th es pr e ad of deserts, andth e locu st re surgence prom pted a col l a p se of th e na t io n ’s grain crop.  Theresult was history’ s gre atest fa mine, inw h ich 30 t o 5 0 m ill ion C hi nese died.

Y e t  the  M ao era’ s e cologic aldev ast ati on  pales ne xt to th at  o fCh ina ’s cu r rent ind us tri al iza tion. A four th of  the  c ou n try  is now de s e rt.Mo re  tha n t hr ee-fo urth s  of  its fo rests hav e d i sapp ea re d. Acid  rain falls o na third of  C hin a’s la n d mass, ta inting soil, water, and food. E xce ssive  use  of groun dwa ter ha s c a used l and to  sink  i n a t least 9 6Chi ne se cities, p rod ucing  a n es timated  $12.9 billion ine con omic losses i n S hang h a ialo n e. Eac hy ear , uncontrollableundergroun df ir es, someti m estr iggered  by lig htnin g  and mi ning acci dents, co ns ume2 0 0 m illion ton s of coa l, contri b uting ma ssive lyto glo ba l w armin g. A m i asm a oflead,me rcury,  sulf ur  dioxide , and other elements of  coal- burni ngand car e xha u sthovers ov er m ost Chines e c iti es; o f t h e wor ld’s 20  mo s t pol lute d  cities,1 6are C hi nese.

Theg o v ern mentest i matesthat  400,000 people d i e prematurelyfrom r esp ira t oryil lnesses each y ear ,a n d health  c are costs f or prema tu r e dea th and  disab ility r e l at e d to a ir p oll ution isest im a ted atup  t o  4 per cent  o f thecountr y ’s g r o ss domestic prod uct.F o ur-fi f ths  of t he  length of C hina’s riv ers are too  pollu tedfor f ish. Ha lf  the p opu la tion—600 o r  700 mill ion p eople—d ri nkswat er con tami n a ted w ithan ima l and hum a n  w a st e. Int o As ia’slo nges t river,t he Yangt ze, the nat io n a n n uallyd 
 Ferraris,_and Maseratis_have flourished, even though_their owners_have_no opportunity_to_test their finely_tuned cars’ performance_on the city’s clotted_roads.

The catch is_that_China has become not just the world’s manufacturer but also its despoiler, on a_scale_as monumental_as_its_economic expansion. Chinese ecosystems were_already dreadfully compromised before the_Communist Party_took power in 1949, but Mao managed to_accelerate_their destruction. With_one stroke he launched the “backyard furnace” campaign, in_which some 90 million peasants became_grassroots steel smelters;_to_fuel_the furnaces, villagers cut_down a 10th of China’s trees_in a few months. The steel_ultimately proved unusable. With another stroke, Mao_perpetrated the “Kill the Four Pests”_campaign, inducing the mass slaughter_of millions_of sparrows and a subsequent_explosion in the_locust population._The destruction of_forests led to erosion and the_spread of deserts,_and the locust resurgence prompted a_collapse_of the nation’s_grain_crop._The result_was history’s greatest_famine,_in which_30_to 50 million Chinese died.

Yet the_Mao_era’s ecological devastation pales next to that_of China’s current industrialization._A_fourth of the country_is now desert. More than_three-fourths of its forests have disappeared._Acid rain_falls on_a third of China’s landmass, tainting soil, water, and food. Excessive_use of groundwater has caused land_to sink in at_least 96_Chinese_cities, producing an_estimated_$12.9 billion_in economic losses in Shanghai alone. Each_year, uncontrollable_underground fires, sometimes triggered by lightning_and mining accidents, consume_200_million tons of coal, contributing massively_to global warming. A miasma of_lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide, and_other_elements_of coal-burning and car exhaust_hovers over most Chinese cities; of_the world’s 20_most polluted cities, 16 are Chinese.

The government_estimates_that 400,000 people die prematurely from_respiratory_illnesses each year, and health care_costs_for_premature death and disability related_to air pollution is estimated at_up to 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic_product. Four-fifths of_the length of China’s rivers_are_too_polluted for fish. Half the population—600 or 700 million people—drinks_water contaminated_with animal and_human waste. Into Asia’s longest river, the Yangtze, the nation_annually d