China unveils pollution reduction plan
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E-mail China Daily, December 6, 2012
The Chinese government vowed to further cut gas emissions and pollutants as a new plan targeting pollution was unveiled on Wednesday.
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Vehicles drive in dense fog in Beijing in this Nov 16, 2012 file photo. [Photo/Xinhua] |
The intensity of PM2.5, which measures particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers, will be cut by at least 5 percent by 2015 from 2010 levels in 13 major areas, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection's plan.
The level of PM10 and sulfur dioxide will be reduced by 10 percent, while nitrogen dioxide will be cut by 7 percent, according to the plan.
The plan, approved by the State Council on Sept 27 and unveiled on Wednesday, is China's first comprehensive plan on reduction of overall air pollution.
Its release came after Xie Zhenhua, China's top climate-change official, said at the UN climate talks in Doha on Monday that China plans to cut its energy intensity by 16 percent and carbon intensity by 17 percent from 2010 levels.
The 13 major areas cover 14 percent of the nation's geographic area and 117 cities. They contribute 71 percent of the country's economy and account for 48 percent of the population. They also produce half the emissions in China of major pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
PM2.5 intensity will be cut by at least 6 percent in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta region and the Pearl River Delta region, all of which are China's most prosperous areas.
