Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road

Wang Wan Yi, age 76, and Linang Jun Qin, age 72, eat noodles in their one room home carved out of the sandstone, a typical dwelling for local people in the region. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Unique identifier: GP01WN1

Type: Image

Shoot date: 14/08/2009

Locations: Asia, China, East Asia, Gansu, Silk Road

Credit line: © Greenpeace / John Novis

Ranking: ★★★★★★ (B)

Containers

Shoot:

Silk Road Climate Change Impacts

Greenpeace travels the iconic Silk Road in China to find how climate change has affected the famous trade route. The Silk Road was the world's first superhighway, a series of desert and mountain crossings that enabled silk to make its way from the ancient Chinese capital of Xian. The Silk Road allowed links between China and the West to flourish, encouraging an exchange of art, ideas and culture as well as trade. Desertification and drought has taken its toll on the Silk Road. The once great civilisations dotted along the road have now been consumed by the desert and the region is home to some of China's poorest people. The Silk Road is considered a climate hot spot, like the poles, where climate change is accelerating faster than in other areas. These changes include glaciers retreating at an alarming rate along the route. However, there is a twist to the story. Many parts of the Silk Road have exceptionally powerful wind resource locations. It is where China is now building massive wind farms and the renewable industry flourishes. Green factories are springing up everywhere along the route, most notably in Gansu and Xinjiang. The migrant workers who once traveled to Beijing for work have now returned home again to find new 'green' jobs.

Related Collections:

Energy Revolution Report 3rd Edition 2010

Silk Road Climate Change Impacts

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