From AP:
BEIJING — China’s environmental watchdog admitted Monday the country had failed to reach any of its pollution control goals for 2006 and had fallen further behind as the economy picked up speed.
The State Environmental Protection Agency said faster-than-expected economic growth meant that sulfur dioxide emissions increased by nearly 1.8 percent, or 463,000 tons, over the previous year, according to a report on its Web site.
Sulfur dioxide emissions are chiefly caused by coal burning. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal, depending heavily on coal-fired power plants for electricity. [Full Text]
Related article: CHINA REPLACING THE UNITED STATES AS WORLD’S LEADING CONSUMER says, “Among the five basic food, energy, and industrial commodities”grain and meat, oil and coal, and steel”consumption in China has already eclipsed that of the United States in all but oil. China has opened a wide lead with grain: 382 million tons to 278 million tons for the United States last year. Among the big three grains, the world’s most populous country leads in the consumption of both wheat and rice, and trails the United States only in corn use.”
