New Pollution Reduction Targets Listed

For the past five years, China has been trying to reduce its sulfur dioxide(SO2) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) emissions as part of their eleventh Five Year Plan. These two chemicals are the major sources of China's air and water pollution. The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) wants to reduce these emissions by 10% by the end of 2010. During the annual environmental protection conference in Beijing, the MEP stated that China's sulfur dioxide emissions have already been reduced by 10% at the end of 2009. Although China has been successful in reducing its SO2 and COD, China is still facing heavy-metal pollution. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has identified two new pollutants, nitrogen oxide, which causes acid rain, and ammonia nitrogen. These two new pollutants will be incorporated in China's next Five Year Plan (2011-2015). China is making a great effort in order to correct the excessive emissions of several different pollutants. With the fast rise in cars in the country, as well as other factors, these efforts will substantially help China as well as the environment as a whole.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-01/26/content_9376178.htm