中国大気汚染 成長至上主義の限界露呈した

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 19, 2013)
China's air pollution shows limits of focus on growth
中国大気汚染　成長至上主義の限界露呈した（1月18日付・読売社説）

China now has to pay the price for its distorted policy of ignoring environmental protection measures as a result of its focus on economic growth above all else.
　経済成長至上主義で環境対策を軽視してきたツケと歪(ゆが)みをさらけ出したといえるだろう。

In various Chinese cities, air pollution has become a serious problem. In Beijing, for instance, the concentration of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less--known as PM2.5--found per cubic meter in smoke from factories and exhaust gas from automobiles briefly rose to more than 10 times the recommended environmental standard in China and nearly 40 times the safe limit in the guideline set by the World Health Organization.
　中国の各都市で大気汚染が深刻化している。
　工場の排煙や自動車の排ガスなどに含まれる直径２・５マイクロ・メートル以下の微小粒子状物質（ＰＭ２・５）が１立方メートル当たりの観測値で、北京で一時、基準値の１０倍以上、世界保健機関（ＷＨＯ）指針値の４０倍近くに達した。

PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep inside the lungs, causing asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer. Thick smog containing these particles has been generated in China, and the number of people with respiratory ailments has sharply increased. Low visibility caused by the smog has greatly affected traffic.
　ＰＭ２・５は肺の奥まで入り込み、ぜんそくや気管支炎、肺がんを発症させる物質だ。これを含んだ濃霧が発生し、呼吸器疾患の患者が急増した。視界不良により交通機関にも大きな影響が出た。

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Environment ignored

The daily life of Japanese living in the country has been also threatened, with two schools for Japanese children in Shanghai recently suspending students' outside activities. This is a serious environmental pollution that cannot be overlooked.
　上海の日本人学校では、屋外活動が中止になるなど、在留邦人の生活も脅かされている。看過できない甚大な環境汚染である。

The main causes of the thick smog are an increase in exhaust gas, the combustion of coal for heating and a lack of strong wind, resulting in the retention of polluted air in the atmosphere. The phenomenon occurs every year around this time, but this year the pollution is extremely bad.
　暖房用の石炭焼却に伴う排ガスが増え、風が弱く空気が滞留したことなどが濃霧の原因だ。毎年この時期に起きる現象だが、今年は特に劣悪な汚染となった。

Factors behind the situation include the disorderly expansion of production activities along with sharp economic growth and a drastic increase in the number of automobiles.
　背景にあるのは、急成長に伴う生産活動の無秩序な拡大と自動車の激増である。

Manufacturers do not observe environmental regulations and regional authorities do not supervise them strictly. The quality of desulfurization devices is said to be poor and some even say many are not operating.
　製造業者は環境規制を守らず、地方当局もそれを厳しく監督していない。脱硫装置の性能は低く、稼働してさえいないとされる。

Under a "scientific development concept" banner, the previous administration of Hu Jintao transformed the country's gross domestic product-centered policy and declared it would aim at sustainable development while also paying consideration to the environment. However, the current reality shows the level of China's environmental pollution has already gone beyond the acceptable limit.
　胡錦濤前政権は、「科学的発展観」を掲げて、それまでの国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）中心の方針を転換し、環境へも配慮する持続可能な発展を目指すとしてきた。だが、実態は環境汚染が限界に来ていることを示している。

If environmental measures are delayed, the Chinese government will have to pay a great price for its mistaken policy. The Xi Jinping administration must fully recognize this and take measures to sufficiently deal with the air pollution.
　環境対策が遅れれば、その代償は一層大きくなる。そのことを習近平政権は十分に認識し、万全の対策を講じるべきである。

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Japan's problem, too

For Japan, the air pollution in China is not a fire on the opposite side of the river. Similarly to yellow sand, the particles will disperse into neighboring countries such as Japan and South Korea via westerly winds. So it is unavoidable for the pollutants to cause a certain degree of contamination across borders.
　中国の大気汚染は人ごとではない。黄砂と同様に、偏西風で日本や韓国など周辺国へと拡散し、一定の越境汚染は避けられない。

Although it is not yet determined that they came from China, particulate matter exceeding the Japanese safety level has been observed in Japan. Caution will be necessary hereafter.
　中国からの飛来とは断定できないが、基準を超える微小粒子状物質が日本で観測されている。今後も警戒を要するだろう。

Japan has promoted cooperation with China in energy saving and environmental protection to create a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. We wonder to what extent this policy produced results.
　日本は中国との戦略的互恵関係を構築しようと、省エネ・環境協力を前進させてきたが、どこまで効果をもたらしたのか。

More than a dozen nuclear reactors have been operating in China, and the government plans to construct more than 50 additional reactors.
　中国は原子力発電所十数基を運転させ、５０基以上の建設を計画している。

If a reactor accident took place, it would have an immeasurable effect on Japan. There must be many ways Japan can cooperate with China in this field.
万一、原発事故が発生すれば、日本への影響は計り知れない。この分野でも日本が中国に協力できることは多いはずだ。

Japan should patiently appeal to China about the importance of environmental problems and needs to call on the country to utilize the know-how of Japan's antipollution measures.
　日本は中国に対し、環境問題の重要性を粘り強く訴え、中国が日本の公害対策のノウハウを活用するよう働きかける必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2013)
（2013年1月18日02時01分  読売新聞）