Podcast:China's Rapid Development and the Environment

Talk of the Nation, December 21, 2005 · Critics say that China's rapid economic growth leads to pollution in the air and water, and leaves mountains of untreated waste. In one recent incident, an explosion at a Chinese chemical plant spilled benzene into a major river, cutting off the water supply to thousands. As part of an ongoing series on China in the 21st century, experts and guests examine the country's environmental record.

Guest:

Elizabeth Economy, director of Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; author of The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge to China's Future