Remarkably, 2.6 million square kilometers, more than one-quarter of China's total land area, are deserts. It is scant wonder then that China is the world's leader in desertification. And it comes as no surprise that in 2002 China enacted the world's first law on controlling and preventing desertification. In fact, by 2020 the country plans to reclaim 200,000 square kilometers of desert.
Using conventional technology, China, like other affected countries, plants grasses and trees to anchor the sand and keep it in place. This helps, but the winds can still carry grains of sand aloft. China has now gone to the next level and pioneered the use of cyanobacteria which can create a biocrust which is thick enough to help promote topsoil and prevent erosion, even in the harsh desert environment.
So when I think of air pollution, I know that it will one day be solved, and harbor some hope it will be sooner rather than later. Estimates range from five to fifty years before meaningful change can occur and the costs are staggering. Whole industries will have to be uprooted and the mix of energy resources will have to be radically changed.
Most youngsters today think of London fog as an upscale fashion brand. Yet after World War II the English capital was plagued by extreme pollution, even worse than we experience on most bad days, much of it, as here, from burning dirty coal. Today, however, London is a breath of fresh air albeit after many years, numerous laws and regulations, and billions of pounds sterling in anti-pollution equipment later.
【Fewer sandstorms give hope for cleaner air】相关文章:
★ Death penalty confirmed for Mumbai terror gunman
★ Iran mulls venues for nuclear talks
★ Flight simulators give pilots real training
★ Inspectors eye rules for family planning
★ Central bank gives yuan more latitude
★ Scalpers dial up trouble for iPhone release
★ Ex-soccer chief stands trial
★ Expats get wide range of services at new Pudong center
★ Bombing strikes Assad's inner circle
最新
2020-08-21
2020-08-20
2020-08-19
2020-08-06
2020-08-05
2020-08-05