China spends big on environment

The central government has injected more than $3.18 billion into anti-pollution efforts in rural areas since 2010, the final year of the 11th Five-Year Plan which aimed to improve air, water and other pollution.

Alongside the earlier allocation, spending on environmental protection has been increased by $32.64 billion each year since 2011.

In 2013, the total used for environmental protection in China reached $163.2 billion, with money coming from governments, companies, institutions and the public, and accounting for 1.59 percent of the country’s GDP.

During the 12th Five-Year Plan, from 2011 to 2015, the overall financing on environmental protection projects will exceed $816 billion.

In addition to increased government spending, the environmental protection industry has also thrived in recent years. A survey finished at the end of 2013, showed that in China 230,000 companies with 3.19 million people participated in the “green” sector.

Products used for safeguarding the environmental have also become more popular, with a 30 percent increase. Thanks to effective national polices and strong support, the environmental protection industry witnessed annual growth of 20 percent.

Still, challenges remain. The annual air quality of only three cities, out of the total 74 key cities, met the new national standard in 2013.

On the national level, only an estimated 220 days had good air quality last year. The figure for Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province, however, was less than 140 good days. A detailed report about the environmental situation will be released in June.

Looking to the future, Vice-Environmental Minister Wu Xiaoqing said airborne pollution, water pollution and soil pollution are equally important issues to tackle.

The first draft of a law dedicated to soil pollution is in progress now.