There are new adjustments to the straw burning policy, and many provinces have implemented conditional burning, learn more
The environmental impact of the ban on burning and straw burning.
The straw burning ban has been implemented for more than 10 years, and its impact on rural areas in China is huge and far-reaching. The original intention of the straw burning ban policy was to reduce air pollution, especially PM25 and emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, thereby improving air quality. However, the impact of straw burning on air pollution is less than that of other sources of pollution, such as vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and animal and wetland emissions. The soot from incineration is concentrated only at a specific time and place, the emissions are limited, and the impact on the atmosphere is short-lived. In contrast, the emissions of others** are enormous, and the impact and damage to the atmospheric environment and climate change are more serious. Therefore, compared with the treatment of environmental pollution sources, the effect of banning straw burning is minimal, and it can even be said that the cart is turned upside down. For the pros and cons of banning straw burning, Chinese citizens have long been aware.
Pros and cons of banning straw burning.
The biggest benefit of banning straw burning is the reduction of PM2 emitted into the atmosphere5 Carbon dust and carbon dioxide, which has a negative impact on improving cloudy weather. In the vicinity of airports, a ban on straw burning can improve visibility and improve flight safety during take-off and landing. However, the consequences of banning straw burning are severe. On the one hand, returning a large amount of straw to the field will affect the growth and sowing of crops, hinder seed germination, crop root rooting, plant drying and wilting, and increasing pests and diseases, which will eventually lead to a reduction in grain production and a serious threat to food security. On the other hand, in order to obtain high yields, farmers pile up a large amount of straw indiscriminately, which affects environmental hygiene. Some of the straw is scattered into canals, ponds and rivers by the wind, and the wastewater produced by decomposition pollutes the water source and threatens the drinking water safety of people and animals. In addition, the discarded straw can clog drainage ditches and weirs, affecting the drainage and irrigation systems of farmland and causing flooding in the event of flooding. In addition, in the dry season of autumn and winter, straw piled up indiscriminately is very easy to cause fires and become a major fire hazard.
In short, although the ban on straw burning has a certain effect on reducing air pollution, it does more harm than good. Straw burning seriously affects agricultural production, threatens China's food security, destroys the ecological environment, and leads to frequent floods and droughts. In order to solve this problem, the state is considering lifting the straw burning ban in rural areas across the country, and some provinces have begun to implement conditional straw burning ban policies. This policy allows farmers to burn straw at a specific time and within a certain range to avoid disproportionate impact on the atmospheric environment. Some provinces have even tried to lift the ban on straw burning nationwide after obtaining approval from the national authorities. It is imperative to cancel the ban on straw burning, and the full implementation of the policy of banning straw burning with conditions will bring more opportunities for promoting agricultural production, increasing grain output, and increasing farmers' economic income. We look forward to the implementation of this policy.
Summary. In response to the decade-long ban on straw burning in rural areas, we recognize its limitations in reducing air pollution, including that the pollution from incineration is short-lived, limited, and has negligible effects compared to other sources of pollution. At the same time, the ban on straw burning has also brought serious damage to agricultural production, food security and the ecological environment, such as crop yield reduction, environmental pollution, water pollution, etc. In the face of this situation, the state is considering canceling the straw burning ban policy, and some provinces have begun to implement the conditional straw burning ban policy. The implementation of this policy will bring more opportunities to farmers, promote agricultural development, increase grain production, and increase farmers' economic income. We look forward to the smooth implementation of this policy, and hope to achieve sustainable development of agriculture and harmonious development of the environment through the rational use of straw resources. We look forward to the positive changes that will be brought about by the lifting of the straw burning ban.