Strategy to Reduce Unintentional Production of POPs in China

1. PROFILE OF THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IN CHINA In developing countries, the amount of paper consumption can be used to determine a nations level of modernization, such as the emerging Chinese paper industry that, for the last two decades, has been strongly linked to the national economy and the common livelihood of the people. In 2005, The People’s Republic of China had a total production amount of paper and cardboard of 56 million tons, which accounts for 14% of total world consumption and is expected to rise to 70 million tons in 2010. The Chinese paper industry received around 1 billion USD from international financial institutions, foreign governments and foreign direct investments, resulting in large industrial and market transformations directed at strengthening their economy and raising overall living standards. However, as with most comprehensive ventures ample benefits come coupled with consequences. For the past 20 years the pulp and paper industry has contributed to China’s growing distress concerning POPs (persistent organic pollutants), as identified by the Stockholm Convention, a situation that must immediately be remedied to alleviate China from its growing environmental concerns.