中国大気汚染―改善は日中の利益だ

--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 30
EDITORIAL: Japan, China both stand to gain in tackling air pollution
中国大気汚染―改善は日中の利益だ

Dense, toxic smog often blankets wide areas of Beijing and other Chinese cities. Air pollution in China is a serious problem.
　中国の大気汚染が深刻だ。北京などの広い範囲が、有害物質を含んだ濃霧にたびたび覆われている。

It is also as much Japan's problem as China's as airborne pollution reaches Japan. There is another aspect to the issue. Some 140,000 Japanese now live in China, the result of close economic ties between the two countries. Their health is also at risk.
　ひとごとではない。中国の汚染が風に流されて日本に影響する「越境汚染」も起きている。両国経済は緊密で、中国で暮らす日本人は１４万人に上る。

The Chinese government must act quickly. If Japan offers to help with its superior environmental technology, both countries will benefit.
　中国政府は、改善を急ぐべきだ。日本が優れた環境技術で協力すれば、双方の利益になる。

While bilateral relations are still tense over the Senkaku Islands sovereignty issue, this sort of cooperation should be actively promoted. It can be a force to propel bilateral relations forward.
　尖閣諸島の問題で関係はぎくしゃくしたままだが、こうした面での協力はどんどん進めるべきだ。両国の関係を前に進める力にもなり得る。

China has suffered some serious air pollution for quite some time.
　ひどい大気汚染は、今年始まった話ではない。

The main problem is PM2.5, or particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. (One micrometer is one-thousandth of a millimeter.)
　問題になっている汚染物質は直径が千分の２・５ミリ以下の微小粒子状物質、ＰＭ２・５だ。

As the particles are minuscule, they can be inhaled deep into the respiratory organs and cause asthma, lung cancer and other diseases.
　粒が小さいため、呼吸器の奥深くまで入り込み、ぜんそくや肺がんなどの病気にもつながるとされる。

Exhaust gases from cars and factories, heating boilers and thermal power plants are the main sources of PM2.5. Air quality tends to deteriorate markedly in winter when many heating devices are used and the air becomes stagnant.
　自動車や工場の排ガス、暖房用ボイラー、火力発電所などが主な発生源だ。暖房が多く使われ、空気が滞る気象条件が重なる冬場に悪化しやすい。

When the air quality is particularly bad, people's daily lives are affected. For instance, schools cancel outdoor activities.
　汚染がひどいときは学校が屋外での活動をやめるなど、日常生活にも支障が出ている。

Just as Japan neglected environmental protection during its pursuit of high economic growth from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, China has done the same. Many corporations are more concerned with making profits than giving consideration to the issue, and are all-too-willing to ignore environmental regulations.
　経済成長に突き進んだ中国では日本の高度成長期のように、環境対策は置き去りにされてきた。もうけを優先し、規制を守らない企業も多い。

However, the public's awareness of environmental issues is changing dramatically.
　だが、環境に対する市民の意識は大きく変わりつつある。

The Chinese government had no intention of disclosing PM2.5 levels. When the Chinese people began to show keen interest in levels disclosed independently by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the government had no choice but to release the data.
　中国政府はもともと、ＰＭ２・５の数値を明かしていなかった。ところが、北京の米大使館が独自に公表していた数値に市民の関心が高まり、政府も発表せざるを得なくなった。

Movements against factory construction due to environmental concerns are becoming more commonplace across China.
　環境への影響を心配して、工場建設に反対する運動も、各地で相次いでいる。

The Chinese government now welcomes foreign investments in energy-saving and environmentally friendly ventures, having switched from its economic growth-only policy to one that focuses more on the quality of life. The Chinese Communist Party stressed "construction of eco-civilization" in its national congress held in November.
　中国政府は、成長一辺倒から生活の質を重視する方針を掲げるようになり、省エネや環境分野での外資導入も奨励する。昨年１１月の共産党大会では「エコ文明建設」が強調された。

China has much to learn from Japan's experiences in fighting environmental pollution. Although the Japanese government has discontinued most of its official development assistance (ODA) programs to China, there are many things the private sector can do.
　公害に取り組んできた日本の経験は、中国にとって大いに参考になるはずだ。中国への政府の途上国援助（ＯＤＡ）はほとんど打ち切られたが、民間で出来ることも多い。

Some local governments in Japan are beginning to call for joint Japan-China ventures to expand eco-business opportunities. Though Japan needs to protect its state-of-the-art technology, ventures such as these present huge business openings to Japanese corporations. Collaboration among universities and research institutions should also prove beneficial to both countries.
　日本の自治体が呼びかけ、中国との環境ビジネス拡大を目指す動きも出ている。先端技術を守る工夫は必要だが、日本企業にとってビジネスチャンスでもある。大学など研究機関の連携も有益だ。

The Japanese government should draw on its ODA experiences to actively support such efforts.
　日本政府はＯＤＡで培った経験も生かし、積極的に橋渡しや後押しをするべきだ。