Beijing, June 28: A scathing UN-sponsored report published today urged the Chinese government to implement political reforms if it is to head off a mounting environment catastrophe as well as growing social unrest. The China human development report 2002, unveiled in Beijing, was produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in collaboration with the United Nations development program. It spells out a dismal environmental situation in China, exacerbated by huge population pressures, land and resource scarcities, worsening pollution, increased urbanization and uncertain food and water supplies.
"Environmental degradation has now become so acute that it is one of the main factors forcing future multi-faceted change," the report warned. "Indeed, environmental factors are likely to constrain, or even reverse, social and economic progress."

The report calls on China's government to use its centralized political system to adopt "green" development strategies that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. "The situation in terms of the environment will continue to get worse for a while, before it could turn better," said the Sei's Karl Hallding, lead author of the report.
"The next five years will be a critical juncture for China to make choices for a yet more reform-oriented path. And towards good governance," he said.
"The critical issue is to bend the curve to go up to a better future."

Bureau Report