Population and the Environment in China

Book excerpt: The authors incorporate the results of historical research, current analysis, and forecasting to discuss the relationship between human population and the environment in China. Proposing ways that China can move from vicious to positive cycles, they offer creative recommendations for overcoming the current crisis and for promoting development. By providing valuable scientific basis for China’s decisions, the book will be an important reference for other nations, international organizations, and research institutes seeking to solve population and environmental problems. Qu Geping is professor at Beijing, Tsinghua, Tongji, Wuhan and Nanjing universities and at the People’s University of China. He is also chair of the Environmental Protection Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress. He was previously administrator of China’s National Environmental Protection Agency. The first Chinese representative to UNEP, Professor Qu has held numerous distinguished positions. Li Jinchang is adviser to the Chinese National Environmental Protection Agency, first deputy director of the Contemporary Environmental and Economic Policy Research Center, and a member of the standing committee of China’s Environmental Science Society. He is also professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the People’s University of China, and Chongqing University.