2016年CRI China's Pollution Efforts Showing Results: Minister

 

Minister of Environmental Protection Chen Jining says China's efforts to tackle environmental pollution over the past year have been successful.

"Our efforts have resulted in an obvious trend of improvement in air quality. For example, last year in the 74 cities that implemented² new environmental and air quality standards, annual average concentration of PM 2.5 was 55 micrograms per cubic meter, down 14.1-percent year on year. NASA satellites also observed a reduction of particles in China's eastern and middle regions last year."

Chen also highlights the enforcement of environmental protection laws by local governments, and dealing³ with local officials who have shielded polluting companies from punishment because of the desire to maintain or expand tax revenues.

The minister notes that more than 190,000 companies have been punished for breaching⁴ environmental rules.

"In the past year, we have encountered some problems when implementing⁵ the new environment protection law. Some local government failed to perform their responsibilities for environmental protection. And some companies also failed to practice their responsibilities and make their information on environment open to the public. Another problem is in some areas there is a lack of staff and equipment for some law enforcement departments."

Chen has pledged to keep up the pressure on local governments to implement¹ environmental policies.

He says local governments and firms will face tougher punishments for violating rules, referring to a new environment law that took effect in January. 

The new legislation also aims to promote the use of clean energy.

According to the minister, China is promoting the clean use of coal and boosting low-emissions facilities for coal-fired power plants that rival those of gas-fired plants.

The official denies some concerns that China may be facing a trade-off between environmental improvement and economic growth.

"There are some people who think that protecting the environment is a burden, will affect the GDP, and affect development, so there is a problem that these people think they can't, or they are afraid to (take measures to protect the environment). Our economy has now entered a new normal, which is to transform from extensive growth in the past, from chasing quantity to striving for quality."

The official says there aren't polluting industries - only polluting firms. 

He adds the unfair competitive advantage polluting industries enjoy should be eliminated.

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 breaching   

攻破( breach的过去式 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。
• Third, an agency can abuse its discretion by breaching certain principles of judge-made law. 第三，行政机关会因违反某些法官制定的法律原则而构成滥用自由裁量权。

5 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句