Beijing Water Crisis: 1949 - 2008 Olympics
Contributing Organization(s): Energy Probe Research Foundation
Author(s)/Creator(s): Probe International Beijing Group
Publishing Date: 2008-06-26
Issue Areas: Energy and Environment
Ownership/Rights Info: Creative Commons Attribution 1.0 Generic
File info: 59 pages; 661.55 KB file size
Access Note: In addition to the report, two pdf maps are available for download.
Access this research:
Access Note: In addition to the report, two pdf maps are available for download.
Type/Format: Policy Brief
Language code: English
Coverage:
Comment & Review
Beijing water woes
Posted by: tinawina on Thu, 14 Aug 08 21:17:57 +0000
This is a sobering read. The olympics play just one part of what in essence is the end-stage water crisis in the Beijing region -- urban, domestic, agricultural, industrial, and recreational (namely golf course maintenance) water useage are also discussed.
The role of the olympics in furthering Beijing's water woes, however, is a true case-study in failed and/or neglected environmental, industrial, and consumer policies pertaining to water use. Of course, I'd thought about the need to fill and replenish newly built olympic-sized swimming and diving pools. What I hadn't thought about are things like luxury hotels popping up here and there in Beijing and piping hyper-precious groundwater into man-made water-scapes in order to woo Olympic-bound foreign customers. As well, Beijing officials have created man-made lakes, streams, and fountains to recreate and feature the city as truly Olympic.
Policy suggestions conclude this well-written and thorough description of the many problems Beijing will face as the Olympics come to a close. Anyone who reads this research won't be able to help thinking about next steps for Beijing -- and the true costs of hosting the olympic games -- while watching the closing ceremonies.


