Chinese Pollution Documentary Draws Attention to Nation’s Nuclear Expansion

Chai's documentary uses a year's worth of research, interviews, and factory footage to call attention to the noxious smog that chokes many Chinese provinces, where air quality is so poor that citizens are effectively trapped beneath a "dome" of dangerous particulate matter year round. The film openly criticizes state-owned energy corporations, steel producers, and coal factories, drawing special attention to China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, which often fails to report companies responsible for pollution. In one case, captured on film, a steel plant that failed its government inspection remains open despite failure to reduce pollutant levels or even pay its fine. Jing's queries receive a familiar answer: these plants, responsible for thousands of jobs, are simply "too big to fail."

The true scale of China's air pollution problem is staggering. An internal 2003 report by the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning estimated that ambient air pollution was responsible for roughly 300,000 deaths per year, primarily caused by cancer. In urban areas, as little as one percent of the population breathes air considered safe by European Union standards. Manufacturing emissions have also led to a rapid deterioration of drinking water quality, to the point where 60 percent of China's rivers are considered unsafe to use as drinking water sources.

While the extreme levels of pollution discussed in this film aren't exactly news to the people of China, this film has engaged viewers in the West and drawn much-needed attention to the repercussions of China's rapid industrial expansion. Inefficient coal-powered plants, responsible for most of the country's electricity as well its smoggy skies, are the primary focus of new efforts to cut down on fossil fuels and use more renewable energy sources. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in 2014 that the country will try to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, the role of nuclear power has taken on renewed importance.

In March, He Yu, chairman of China General Nuclear Power Group, was quoted saying that if China plans to meet its target of incorporating non-fossil fuels into 20 percent of its energy mix, it will need to install at least 150 GW of nuclear reactors by 2030. It is a plan the Chinese are pursuing at a rapid pace. With 23 new nuclear reactors under construction, China is set to nearly double its number of reactors in operation while a three-fold increase is expected by 2020. Most new plant approvals will be prioritized for areas suffering from the worst air pollution. Doubling down on its nuclear export market as well, Argentina recently announced a deal to purchase nuclear reactors from China. Expected to be of original Chinese design, this agreement stands as a testament to the country's rapid nuclear expansion program.

The United States has played an increasingly large role in China's quest to become a global leader in nuclear energy. Public pressure and the looming threat of climate change has resulted in these two common rivals working together on dozens of clean energy projects, ranging from energy-efficient building codes to new chemical processes for reducing coal-fired pollutants. The use of renewable energy has become just one of many goals (learn more here). In exchange for access to China's dynamic economic market, many American companies have shared technology with Chinese partners, including new, safer, reactor designs. Though the budget for US-China collaboration on clean energy is relatively modest, the opportunity for the world's two largest carbon emitters to develop a relationship focused on environmental policy may prove to be invaluable.

Chai Jing's Under the Dome represents the mounting public pressure for a radical shift in China's approach to environmental policy. There is a strong demand, both domestically and internationally, for more government accountability, transparency, and participation in regard to the pollution crisis. Amazingly, the momentum behind this public outcry seems to be having an effect. New legislation, collaboration with international experts and environmental regulators, and increased efforts to shift Chinese infrastructure toward nuclear energy alternatives may all signal hope for a brighter, cleaner future for China's citizens.

Beth Kelly is a freelance science writer with a strong interest in nuclear power and its potential as a clean energy source. A graduate of DePaul University, she is currently based out of Chicago, IL. Find her on Twitter at @bkelly_88