.png)
The current situation of fresh waters in China is disastrous. Indeed, the combination of several factors has resulted in the creation of this situation whereby there is a need to seek new alternative sources of fresh waters. In fact, one can not ignore the great role played by the government in the last two decades when it comes to developing the necessary infrastructures for the extraction of fresh waters on one hand and for ensuring that these water would reach the citizens in the country on the other. These efforts were also the result of the great economic growth that was witnessed in the country in the last two decades and which could be traced back to the open door policy of 1978. Yet, despite these positive developments that took place, one can not also ignore the current state of surface waters in the country as the existing lakes and rivers are highly polluted and many of them have reached a point where entire aquatic creatures have been led to extension as a result of the high levels of pollution of these sources. It is important to mention in this regard, that the main sources of pollution are the industrial and chemicals wastes that are being produced by the Chinese factories. Indeed, the economic growth of the country has resulted in huge negative consequences including the pollution of fresh waters. In this regard, the biggest problem that lies ahead and which must be dealt with is related to the pollution of groundwaters in the country. Thus, the current existing aquifers are being depleted as a result of being exploited in an unsustainable manner without giving the aquifer the necessary time required for recharging through the rain falls. Moreover, this situation is further worsened because of the pollution that is currently occurring in plenty of these aquifers which means that groundwater would not be used for a long time as it takes a quite sometime for an aquifer to become completely clean after being polluted. In the chapter “China and the Recognition and Protection of the Human Right to Water,” the author Roberto Soprano examined the problems and potential solutions associated with the high level of pollution of fresh waters in China. In this regard, the author has attempted to provide the necessary legal basis that currently exists in international law for ensuring the protection of what is left of fresh waters in the People’s Republic of China. For instance, the author has paid particular attention to the right to water as a stipulated in the different United Nations (UN) resolutions, in particular, the General Assembly Resolution 64/292 but also other resolutions that were adopted the same year. The author has also tried to use other provisions stipulated in different international convention to support his claims mainly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Geneva Convention; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and so on.
PDFPDFStay tuned for news on sustainable development, environment and climate change, international trade and human rights, Chinese issues and much more!
