Green Data App Compels Pollution Control in Chinese Industries

Public awareness about the pollution caused by businesses is proving to be a powerful tool for change in China. In a scenario where environmental activists find it difficult to force industrial polluters to change, court processes are long-drawn and complex, and incentives to cut environmental corners are high, public accountability can achieve quicker and more effective results.

Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun has been awarded a $1.25 million prize at the Skoll World Forum on Entrepreneurship for making a dramatic impact in China with a new green app for mobile phones. China’s government recognized the growing public anger over worsening industrial pollution levels, and acceded to Ma’s request to make real-time emissions data from factories public.

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Vikas is a staff writer for the Sustainable Development news and editorial section on Justmeans. He is an MBA with 20 years of managerial and entrepreneurial experience and global travel. He is the author of "The Power of Money" (Scholars, 2003), a book that presents a revolutionary monetary economic theory on poverty alleviation in the developing world. Vikas is also the official writer for an international social project for developing nations "Decisions for Life" run in collaboration between the ILO, the University of Amsterdam and the Indian Institute of Management.