CCTV9英语新闻11月：中国国家发改委气候变化问题举行新闻发布会（在线收听）

A news briefing on China's policies and actions in addressing climate change is being hosted by the vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Xie Zhenhua.

Smog brings negative effects to the climate, environment, health and economy, according to a new report calling for greater attention to the problem and effective measures to control it.

Citing the historical data analysis, the Annual Report on Actions to Address Climate Change 2013, which was released Monday by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China has seen smog with increasing frequency and duration over the past 50 years.

The report noted that the number of smoggy days have increased, particularly in the Yangtze River Delta, a key economic region encompassing Shanghai and parts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, as well as in southern Guangdong’s Zhujiang River Delta, which is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao.

The report stressed that increased air pollutants, caused by growing social consumption of fossil fuels, were the main cause of the smog, adding that photochemical pollution and cooking and vehicle emissions also contributed to the problem.

According to the report, smoggy weather is likely to cause extreme climate incidents, disrupt air, water and land traffic due to low visibility, affect people’s lungs and immune systems, and lead to more deaths and severe chronic diseases.

While encouraging China to draw experiences from other countries, the report stressed that the country must map out a plan to combat air pollution based on its own situation and conditions.