The Washington Post reports on the five-year environmental protection plan just released in Beijing:
The plan includes previously announced targets that officials have failed to meet, including reducing pollutants such as sulfur dioxide by 10 percent. It warns that China’s emphasis on rapid economic growth is severely affecting public health.
“The system does not work smoothly. Investment for environmental protection is not enough. Laws and regulations are not respected. It’s very hard to punish those who violate the law and law enforcement is not strict enough,” the plan observes. “Currently the conflicts between China’s economic and social development and its limited environmental resources are getting more and more serious each day.” [Full text]
See also “China promises 1.35% of GDP as annual environmental protection investment” from Xinhua.
