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Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Al Gore might want to change the name of his famous $40 million PowerPoint presentation to “The Inconvenient Truth About China.” While the media and policy establishment are preoccupied with global warming issues that may have important consequences in 50 years, an environmental disaster exists in China right now. This significant challenge, however, is also a major opportunity for the Chinese leadership and American business.
To get your attention, below is just a sampling of facts drawn from various sources including an excellent article by Elizabeth Economy in Foreign Affairs.
--China is the world leader in air and water pollution.
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--Sixteen of the most polluted cities in the world are in China.
--According to World Wildlife Fund, China is the largest polluter of the Pacific Ocean.
--Two-thirds of China’s largest 660 cities face a water shortage right now.
--The EPA estimates that 25% of the particulates hovering over Los Angeles originate in China.
--Netherlands’ Environmental Agency states that China is the world’s largest contributor of carbon dioxide.
--A World Bank/Chinese government joint study estimates that about 750,000 infants a year face premature death due to respiratory disease.
--Chinese experts believe that only about 10% of China’s environmental laws are consistently enforced.
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Clearly, decisive and immediate action is necessary. It requires three major ingredients.
The first is a major change in thinking on the part of the Chinese leadership. Of all people, I am a believer in economic growth, but it has to be balanced against damage to the environment. For the most part, Chinese environmental laws and regulations are already on the books, they just need to be strictly enforced.
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This means giving local and regional administrators more independent authority, something with which the leadership is uncomfortable, given its top-down, authoritarian bent. It also requires a change in its “economic growth at all costs” attitude.
Secondly, cleaning up China’s environment will require big bucks. No problem here in light of China’s $1.3 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. Setting aside $200 billion over the next three to five years should help enormously.
Thirdly, this environmental initiative will require technology and expertise. This is where American business, the global leader in environmental technology, comes into the picture.
Congressional pressure on China concerning U.S.-China trade deficits is enormous and growing. Giving American firms the lead in helping China to address environmental issues will help the Chinese leadership to show its citizens that it is taking concrete action while at the same time sharply reducing trade tensions and imbalances with America.
The environmental challenge in China is daunting, but procrastinating will make it ever the more unmanageable. American business is ready to saddle up and help wherever it can.
If all this happens, the following ETF baskets of American companies could benefit directly if they have the foresight to go after opportunities in China.
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