Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
China reports decline in major pollutant emissions
Adjust font size:

China's emissions of major pollutants - sulfur dioxide and chemical oxygen demand (COD) - over the first nine months of the year dropped for the first time in several years, a senior official with the state environmental watchdog said in Zhengzhou of Henan Province on Wednesday.

"Sulfur dioxide emissions in China fell a year-on-year 1.81 percent in the first three quarters, and the COD (a measure of water pollution) dropped 0.28 percent," Zhou Shengxian, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), said.

Under huge pressure to curb the deterioration of its environment, China has committed itself to improving energy efficiency by cutting energy consumption by 20 percent per unit of GDP, along with a 10 percent cut in major pollutants, between 2006 and 2010.

However, China missed both the energy conservation and discharge reduction goals last year. The country's discharge of sulfur dioxide and the COD saw year-on-year increases of 1.2 percent and 1.8 percent in 2006.

In June this year, the Chinese government issued a work plan on energy conservation and pollutant discharge reduction, which pledged the country would reduce its discharge of sulfur dioxide from 25.49 million tons in 2005 to 22.95 million tons in 2010, and the COD from 14.14 million tons to 12.73 million tons.

Zhou attributed the current decrease in the two major pollutants mainly to the installation of more desulfurizing facilities in coal-fire power plants, the increase of sewage handling capacity and the closure of a large number of polluting factories.

However, a report previously released by SEPA said China's overall environmental situation was still "serious" with frequent pollution accidents affecting the quality of life for many people.

Last year, 842 pollution accidents were reported, including 482 cases of water pollution and 232 cases of air pollution.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- Reducing Pollution High on City's Agenda
- Guangdong Reaches Pollution Control Target
- Gov't Pledges US$176 Mln to Tackle Pollution
- Sulfur Dioxide Emission Decrease in First 6 Months
- Severe Punishment Suggested on Water Polluters
Most Viewed >>
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing particulate matter II
Shanghai particulate matter III1
Guangzhou sulfur dioxide II
Chongqing particulate matter III2
Xi'an particulate matter III1
Most Read
- White paper on energy
- Endangered monkeys grow in number
- Yangtze River's Three Gorges 2 mln years in the making
- The authorities sets sights on polluted soil
- China, US benefit from clean energy
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
- Prof. Maria E. Fernandez to Give a Lecture on Climate Change
More
Archives
UN meets on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference brought together representatives of over 180 countries and observers from various organizations.
Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base