Environmental Problems and Issues
CHINA:
Environment:
Current Issues: air pollution from the overwhelming use of high-sulfur coal as a fuel, produces acid rain which is damaging forests; water shortages experienced throughout the country, particularly in urban areas; future growth in water usage threatens to outpace supplies; water pollution from industrial effluents; much of the population does not have access to potable water, deforestation, trade in endangered species
Natural Hazards: frequent typhoons, damaging floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, droughts
JAPAN:
Environment:
Current Issues: air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain, acidification of lakes and reservoirs, Japan's appetite for fish and tropical timber is contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere, a nuclear reactor was damaged in a recent tsunami, Fukushima, the effects of this damage are felt all the way across the specific. The radiation is so strong that people may not even be able to approach the nuclear plant for years and years to come.
Natural Hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes, about 1,500 Earthquakes every year, tsunamis
NORTH KOREA:
Environment:
Current Issues: localized air pollution, water pollution, inadequate supplies of potable water
Natural Hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding, occasional typhoons during the early fall
SOUTH KOREA:
Environment:
Current Issues: air pollution in large cities, water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents, drift net fishing is depleting the water of fish and other marine life
Natural Hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods, earthquakes in the southwest
TAIWAN:
Environment:
Current Issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage, air pollution, contamination of drinking water supplies, trade in endangered species
Natural Hazards: earthquakes and typhoons