Citizens exercise at the Bund area cloaked with haze in east China's Shanghai, Oct. 28, 2012. [Xinhua]

The government underscores the importance of environmental protection by incorporating it into the annual national socioeconomic development plans. It has designated about 20% of the territory in the ecological zones and the land and marine zones with sensitive and fragile ecological systems as the "red zones for ecological protection." It also makes officials' efforts in environmental protection as one important evaluation of their work performance, and those officials, whose decision-making has caused environmental damages, will be held accountable for their decisions. The government has adopted specific action plans on the prevention and improvement of air pollution, particularly serious smog in some parts of the country. The plans give priority to "big cities and regions plagued frequently by haze," and underscore the "adjustment in energy structure, gas emission controls and dust prevention." China is also working to increase the proportion of nuclear power (15 reactors now in operation and 26 reactors under construction), natural gas and renewable energy in the consumption of primary energy, and is promoting the clean use of coal through constructing several demonstration thermal power plants with "almost zero emissions."

But the environmental issue in China is not an isolated case, and is a component of the overall global picture. Extreme weather and droughts occurring in China are also the results of global warming, which is a common challenge to the human being. China has signed several international conventions relating to environmental protection, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and has strengthened cooperation with other countries and regions and international organizations in the field of environmental protection. In July, China and the United States held dialogue on climate change policies within the framework of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, and signed the EcoPartnerships Plans. It is believed that growing and deepening China-US cooperation in environmental protection will play a positive role in alleviating the global environmental issues.

China is also working hard to improve the awareness for environmental protection among the public and to vigorously develop the environmental protection industry. Across the country, a growing number from the public are taking part in activities for environmental protection. The environmental protection industry is witnessing rapid development, and the output value of the industry is expected to hit 4.5 billion yuan by 2015, with an annual growth rate of more than 15%. The government is also promoting energy conservation and emissions reduction and speeding up pollution treatment, and this will give rise to a tremendous market for energy conservation and environmental protection industry and bring enormous opportunities to businesses from both China and the world. It is firmly believed that the Chinese government and the people will not cease their efforts until the battle to protect the ecological environment is won.

Feng Zhaokui is an honorary academician with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

This article was first published at Chinausfocus.com To see the original version please visit http://www.chinausfocus.com/energy-environment/china-wont-allow-the-environment-to-weaken-the-nation/