Saving China from itself: how the world's biggest polluter is dealing with climate change

By Philip Wen and Sanghee Liu
July 4 2015 - 5:43pm
Hai Zhengjun, 64, in front of his former cave dwelling. The land where Hai and his family live has an average annual rainfall of 300-500 millimetres.  Photo: Sanghee Liu
Hai Zhengjun, 64, in front of his former cave dwelling. The land where Hai and his family live has an average annual rainfall of 300-500 millimetres. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Farmer Cheng Yuhai, 48, has been ploughing the barren land of Ningxia Loess Plateau for 30 years. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Farmer Cheng Yuhai, 48, has been ploughing the barren land of Ningxia Loess Plateau for 30 years. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Hai Zhengjun, 64, uses a plastic vessel to take showers. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Hai Zhengjun, 64, uses a plastic vessel to take showers. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Hai Fuquan, 58, at a new resettlement village assigned to ecological migrants. The Ningxia government has moved about 350,000 people from ecologically fragile mountain areas to plains where they can better access water. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Hai Fuquan, 58, at a new resettlement village assigned to ecological migrants. The Ningxia government has moved about 350,000 people from ecologically fragile mountain areas to plains where they can better access water. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Wang Liandong, 36, concerned about the uncertainty of life in the city, is one of few young men who have chosen to stay in his old village. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Wang Liandong, 36, concerned about the uncertainty of life in the city, is one of few young men who have chosen to stay in his old village. Photo: Sanghee Liu