RSSNewsletterSiteMapFeedback

Home · Weather · Forum · Learning Chinese · Jobs · Shopping
Search This Site
China | International | Business | Government | Environment | Olympics/Sports | Travel/Living in China | Culture/Entertainment | Books & Magazines | Health
Home / Environment / Policies and Announcements Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Agenda set to curb pollution for green Olympics
Adjust font size:

China is aiming to cut its air and water pollution by at least 5 percent in 2008 comparing with 2005 figures to ensure a green Olympics, said Zhou Shengxian, head of the country's environmental watchdog.

Zhou said Tuesday on a work conference of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) that the country plans to cut its sulfur dioxide and chemical oxygen demand (COD), two major pollutants emissions in China, by 6 and 5 percent respectively in 2008 from 2005 levels.

The plan means the country will cut up to 2.3 million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and 1.3 million tons of chemical oxygen demand (COD) this year.

By 2010, the plan is to reduce both levels by 10 percent based on 2005 levels.

"Industrial restructuring will play a fundamental role in curbing pollution," China Daily quoted Zhou.

Use of sulfur scrubbers to clean emissions will be emphasized to curb air pollution, according to the plan.

New thermal power generation units with a combined capacity of 30 gigawatts will be installed with sulfur removal capabilities, which is expected to reduce SO2 emissions by 1.5 million tons.

Zhou also revealed that more high energy consuming and high polluting power plants will be shut down this year.

The shut-down plan includes a number of small thermal power plants with a combined output of 13 gigawatts, steel plants with a total capacity of 6 million tons, cement plants with a combined output of 50 million tons, iron production facilities with a total capacity of 14 million tons, and papermaking factories producing a combined 1 million tons.

"If achieved by the end of this year, the plan will help China reduce its emissions of SO2 by 600,000 tons and cut the COD by 400,000 tons," Zhou said.

Key eco-friendly projects will also be implemented, Zhou said.

The country's urban wastewater treatment capacity is to be increased by 12 million tons a day, which will cut COD by 600,000 tons.

In addition, industries will be required to strengthen their wastewater treatment capacities and will be expected to decrease COD by 200,000 tons a year.

Measures taken by the central government and environmental agencies last year also saw progress being made in the green battle.

The density of COD in water resources was 6.5 milligram per liter, down 7 percent on 2006.

A reduction in SO2 emissions also saw the area of land affected by acid rain shrink by 100,000 square kilometers.

The number of blue-sky days with good air quality was also up on the previous year.

However, China's fight against pollution is far from over, Zhou said.

The country ranked first in sulfur dioxide emission in the world in 2005.

SEPA figures also showed that last year, the quality of more than 26 percent of water runoff was worse than grade V - a level unfit for human contact.

(China Daily January 23, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Comment
Username   Password   Anonymous
 
China Archives
Related >>
- China reports decline in major pollutant emissions
- Gov't Pledges US$176 Mln to Tackle Pollution
- Environment Watchdog Slams Local Governments
- Key Pollutant Discharge on the Rise
- China Ecological Environment Worsening
Most Viewed >>
-Resource-exhausted cities to be rehabilitated
-Frozen section of Yellow River extends further
-'Sculpture' by nature
-Winter storm to continue: forecaster
-Plants and Animals in China
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing sulfur dioxide II
Shanghai particulate matter II
Guangzhou particulate matter I
Chongqing particulate matter II
Xi'an particulate matter II
Most Read
-Resource-exhausted cities to be rehabilitated
-Frozen section of Yellow River extends further
-'Sculpture' by nature
-Winter storm to continue: forecaster
-Plants and Animals in China
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
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback

Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号