The Chinese government will invest 1.35 percent of its gross
domestic product (GDP) each year for the next three years in
environmental protection.
The State Council, China's cabinet, publicized a belated
five-year environmental protection plan for 2006 to 2010 on
Monday.
"Most of the investment will go to treating water pollution,"
said Zou Shoumin, director of the Chinese Academy for Environmental
Planning, who took part in drafting the plan.
He estimated the government would spend 640 billion yuan
(US$85.33 billion) on treating water pollution, 600 billion yuan
(US$80 billion) on air pollution and 210 billion yuan (US$28
billion) on solid waste.
In 2005, China spent 238.8 billion yuan (US$31.8 billion) on
environmental protection, accounting for 1.31 percent of that
year's GDP, according to a government white paper.
The plan, only adopted by the State Council in September, sets
out guidelines, major tasks and measures for the government to
tackle pollution.
As part of the plan, China aims to cut its chemical oxygen
demand (COD), a major index of water pollution, in 2010 by 10
percent from 2005 and sulfur dioxide emissions also by 10
percent.
By 2010, the plan says, 75 percent of China's large cities will
enjoy more than 292 days of good air quality (air quality level II
or better) every year. In 2005, the percentage was 69.4.
China's air quality level II is equal to a pollution reading of
between 51 and 100.
The country issued a five-year environment plan for 2001 to 2005
but the targets set were not met.
According to the State Environmental Protection Administration
(SEPA), sulfur dioxide emissions in 2005 increased by 27.8 percent
over that in 2000 instead of dropping while the COD fell 2.1
percent from 2000 rather than 10 percent.
Water pollution has been worsening. Twenty-six percent of
surface water can not be used for any purpose, 62 percent is not
suitable for fish and 90 percent of the rivers running through
cities are polluted.
"The country failed to meet the target of reducing sulfur
dioxide emissions, mainly because of the unexpected increase in
energy demand between 2000 and 2005," Zou said.
The energy consumption in 2005 increased by 55.2 percent from
2000 but the newly-built thermal plants did not adopt facilities to
reduce the sulfur dioxide emissions while the projects to update
the old ones with eco-friendly technologies did not go well, he
said, adding the papermaking industry had also caused serious
pollution.
"Some local governments have favored economic growth much more
than environmental protection and the environment watchdog also
lacks strong power to supervise them," he said.
The State Council said in its statement on the new plan that it
will set up an assessment mechanism to monitor the local
governments.
Every half year, the State Council will publicize a report of
major pollutant discharges in all provinces and regions and launch
national checkups on how local governments implement the plan in
2008 and 2010, the statement said.
"The results will be key to assessing the performance of local
governments," it said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2007)
