9781422281246

tially confine themselves to their own homes as much as possible, building “bubbles” of clean air and purified water. The pollution in some of China’s largest industrialized cities, how- ever, has become so bad at times that even being inside is not healthy. In one case, Chinese screenwriter Liu Nanfeng, who is married with a young daughter, had five air purifiers, two air-quality monitors, and a water purification system installed in the family’s Beijing apart- ment. “I feel safe at home, but when we go out to the mall, the indoor and outdoor air are the same,” Nanfeng told Alexandra Harney for a Reuters news service article.

Words to Understand in This Chapter

biodiversity— the variety of life on Earth, including genetic diversity within ani- mal and plant populations, and the variety of habitats in a specific area. developed country— a country that is industrialized and has a highly diversified economy. developing country— a country with little industry that is seeking to develop its resources by increased industrialization. ecosystem— all the living things in a specified area that interact with each other and their nonliving environment, such as the weather, sun, soil, climate, and atmosphere. greenhouse gases— gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation from the sun, trap heat in the atmosphere, and increase atmospheric temperatures. Industrial Revolution— a period in the late-eighteenth century through the nine- teenth century in which the predominantly rural, farming societies in Europe and America became industrial and urban. standard of living— a term that refers to the levels of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to certain segments of society within a particu- lar geographic area.

8

The Global Economy and the Environment