China's Minister for Ecology and Environment, Li Ganjie, emphasized the nation's commitment to combating pollution during a press briefing at the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and National People's Congress sessions. He stated that the government will maintain its focus on pollution prevention and control in 2019, balancing economic development with environmental protection.
Progress in Water and Air Quality ¶
Li reported that 99.9% of 1,474 urban drinking water sources along the Yangtze River Economic Belt have seen their pollution issues resolved within two years. The ministry also noted a 1.3% increase in cities like Beijing and Tianjin with improved air quality, reflecting a reduced average PM2.5 concentration.
Regulatory Measures and Enforcement ¶
The minister highlighted stricter environmental regulations, including a 3.1% reduction target for key pollutants such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen. In 2018, 186,000 administrative penalties were issued for environmental negligence, demonstrating enhanced law enforcement efforts.
Global Air Quality Context ¶
A 2018 report by Greenpeace and IQAir AirVisual revealed that Chinese cities still dominated the top 30 most polluted globally, though average pollution levels dropped 12% from 2017 to 2018. Delhi remained the world's most polluted city, while Beijing ranked 122nd. The United Nations estimates air pollution causes 70 million premature deaths annually.
Long-Term Environmental Goals ¶
Li reiterated China's goal of achieving a moderately prosperous society by 2020, citing investments of $38.1 billion in pollution control. President Xi Jinping's emphasis on ecological civilization underscores the priority of sustainable development without compromising environmental standards.
