GreenPeace East Asia
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Worldwide, Greenpeace is known as a non-government organisation that campaigns for imminent worldwide complications and attempts to rectify them through non-violent means. Its mission statement expresses these views and presents the aim of the organisation:
"Greenpeace is an independent, nonprofit, global campaigning organization that uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and their causes. Greenpeace’s goal is to ensure the ability of Earth to nurture life in all its diversity. Greenpeace stands for positive change through action to defend the natural world and promote peace. We investigate, expose and confront environmental abuse by governments and corporations around the world. We champion environmentally responsible and socially just solutions, including scientific and technological innovation." What has been done?Primarily, Greenpeace is known for its consistent in-depth investigations and spreading of awareness of these prolific issues. Their main action is their campaign against the use of coal in China, which is the main contributor to the worsening air quality, as the burning of such releases sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter[1]. The resulting chemical compounds aid in the process of acid rain, global warming and the worsening air quality. The organisation holds the belief that the lack of energy production could be compensated by a further reliance on renewable energy, of which China already has delved quite heavily within. Wind and solar energy could make a drastic impact, considering these release almost zero emissions.
In addition, Greenpeace has been campaigning for the amendment of various guidelines related towards air quality, notably the Air Quality Objectives created in Hong Kong. These are notably 20 years out of date and extremely lackluster in comparison to World Health Organisation Standards[1]. These results create a false positive, seemingly conveying the air in Hong Kong as healthy by its own standards, when it is far from it. Furthermore, they present awareness of this situation by not simply campaigning on their website; they have built websites and apps that denotes the real air quality levels experienced in China. Their latest reports, "Dangerous Breathing" and "Ranking Eastern Chinese cities by their 'clean air' actions" denote policy changes to which would be highly effective if implemented. These will be evaluated in the possible solutions and include:
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Figure 1: Greenpeace protesters campaigning against the use of coal in the vicinity of one of the most pollutant heavy coal plants. This was in response to a report that detailed those that released the most greenhouse pollution. They are calling for immediate action against climate change from high-ranking individuals. [6]
Figure 2: Greenpeace protesters unfurl the message 'Blue Skies Now' at the Beijing Drum Tower in response to previous bouts of extremely bad air pollution. [7]
Whilst these actions have primarily been passive, raising awareness and promoting possible solutions, occasionally actions need to be taken to get the message across. On the 10th of October, Greenpeace activists projected an image denoting 'Blue Sky Now' on the Beijing Drum Tower, in response to the staggering results measured 3 days prior. These results extrapolated that there were certain locations that contained over 15 times the acceptable limit for World Health Organisation standards, with most areas experiencing 250ug/m[3].
In addition, Greenpeace has contributed towards the massive debate regarding the air quality within China on the social media site Weibo. After the initial hype between the data from the government and the embassy, Greenpeace was able to coerce debate towards the excessive coal consumption from the differentiations in air quality[4]. The awareness raised has helped stem protests towards the coal usage within China and forced the government to take action a few months after the discussion began. |
How effective has it been?
The actions of Greenpeace seem to be effective, using their profound recognition to raise the awareness of these issues. The investigation and research into these issues have effectively gauged the detrimental impacts of the air quality, thus advocating strategies that would be most effective based on their analysis. However, the scattered protests aren't clearly demonstrating to the general public that this is an impending issue. Of course, their website attempt to lobby for the immediate action against air pollution, but their limiting factor is that their only main medium is through sporadic protests or the internet, with action only viable when large masses demand change. Therefore, Greenpeace needs to be seemingly more proactive, with awareness being the primary goals towards the policy change that is required. In conjunction, whilst their investigations and reports provide great detail and information, there is limited visibility and ability to spread the awareness.
In addressing the criteria, Greenpeace has prominently made informing the masses as top priority. The spreading of this awareness has been very effective, although somewhat limited, but aids in the achievement of a general consensus to solve the impeding issue. The organisation has also set-up various monitoring programs, allowing the effective locating and prioritizing of problematic areas, whilst also conveying the necessary steps towards success. Even the Chinese coal mining industry is embracing these solutions, with the slowing coal consumption mid 2013 seeing some major companies taking part in unique actions. Most notably, Shenhua Energy has been involved in a joint investment project for the construction of wind farms with Hydra Tasmania [5]. Similarly, other leading coal industries are also moving towards renewable energy, with most capitalizing on the already prominent renewable energy industry and making the most of it. We can clearly see that these are off the back of a widespread awareness movement that has seen pressure applied for cleaner air quality, with organisations such as Greenpeace being detrimental to the cause. With few negatives, Greenpeace continues to play a pivotal role in the reduction of China's air pollution.
In addressing the criteria, Greenpeace has prominently made informing the masses as top priority. The spreading of this awareness has been very effective, although somewhat limited, but aids in the achievement of a general consensus to solve the impeding issue. The organisation has also set-up various monitoring programs, allowing the effective locating and prioritizing of problematic areas, whilst also conveying the necessary steps towards success. Even the Chinese coal mining industry is embracing these solutions, with the slowing coal consumption mid 2013 seeing some major companies taking part in unique actions. Most notably, Shenhua Energy has been involved in a joint investment project for the construction of wind farms with Hydra Tasmania [5]. Similarly, other leading coal industries are also moving towards renewable energy, with most capitalizing on the already prominent renewable energy industry and making the most of it. We can clearly see that these are off the back of a widespread awareness movement that has seen pressure applied for cleaner air quality, with organisations such as Greenpeace being detrimental to the cause. With few negatives, Greenpeace continues to play a pivotal role in the reduction of China's air pollution.
References:
[1] Greenpeace. (2014). What We Do About Air Pollution. Available: http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/campaigns/air-pollution/work/. Last accessed 15th Oct 2014.
[2]Greenpeace (2012) Dangerous Breathing, Beijing: Greenpeace.
[3] Zhang Kai. (2014). AIRPOCALYPSE HITS BEIJING- AND BREAKS DEVASTATING NEW RECORD. Available: http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2014/10/10/airpocalypse-hits-beijing-breaks-devastating-new-record/. Last accessed 20th Oct 2014.
[4] Greenpeace. (2013). THE TURNING POINT HAPPENS ON CHINESE TWITTER. Available: www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/specials/gpm04/twitter-weibo-different-data/. Last accessed 24th Oct 2014.
[5] Lifeng Wang. (2013). THE CHINESE COAL INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO WEAKENING DEMAND AND A FLOOD OF IMPORTED COAL. Available: http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2013/05/24/the-chinese-coal-industry-responds-to-weakening-demand-and-a-flood-of-imported-coal/. Last accessed 22nd Oct 2014.
[6] Greenpeace. (2009). Chinese Power Companies called out. Available: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/china-polluting-power280709/. Last accessed 24th Oct 2014.
[7]Jim Antal. (2014). Worldwide Breaking News. Available: http://www.rightnow.io/breaking-news/beijing_bn_1412066748109.html. Last accessed 24th Oct 2014.
[2]Greenpeace (2012) Dangerous Breathing, Beijing: Greenpeace.
[3] Zhang Kai. (2014). AIRPOCALYPSE HITS BEIJING- AND BREAKS DEVASTATING NEW RECORD. Available: http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2014/10/10/airpocalypse-hits-beijing-breaks-devastating-new-record/. Last accessed 20th Oct 2014.
[4] Greenpeace. (2013). THE TURNING POINT HAPPENS ON CHINESE TWITTER. Available: www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/specials/gpm04/twitter-weibo-different-data/. Last accessed 24th Oct 2014.
[5] Lifeng Wang. (2013). THE CHINESE COAL INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO WEAKENING DEMAND AND A FLOOD OF IMPORTED COAL. Available: http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2013/05/24/the-chinese-coal-industry-responds-to-weakening-demand-and-a-flood-of-imported-coal/. Last accessed 22nd Oct 2014.
[6] Greenpeace. (2009). Chinese Power Companies called out. Available: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/china-polluting-power280709/. Last accessed 24th Oct 2014.
[7]Jim Antal. (2014). Worldwide Breaking News. Available: http://www.rightnow.io/breaking-news/beijing_bn_1412066748109.html. Last accessed 24th Oct 2014.
