China will continue to implement its stringent anti-pollution efforts despite slowing down economy. China is keen on pursuing economy growth, while maintaining high standards in environment protection. China is keen on strengthening local governments' role in controlling pollution.
China's Environment Minister Chen Jining said Chin would continue its restructuring measures to stimulate economy growth. Moving away from heavily polluting companies, Chinese government wants to create more space for good companies with technology innovation. Chinese government has also observed that lack of commitment from local government in enforcing environmental laws to control pollution as these're more focused on economy growth.
CNBC reports that China was focusing mostly on economy growth without much attention to environment. This continued for decades. Recently, Chinese government has changed its focus and has decided to move away from an economy that dependent on heavy industry to more sustainable economy based on domestic consumption and services.
Chen Jining said: "We need to hold the local governments accountable. Only if we hold them accountable for environmental responsibilities will the enterprises be more law-abiding."
Yahoo Finance further adds that China had been used to equate development factor with GDP and production only. Chen says Chinese government believes how valuable nature is. Chinese government is in the process of striking a balance between environment protection and economy development. China has decided not to go for economy development at the expense of environment.
Chen said: "Only when those polluters bow out of the market will it be possible to set aside some development space for good companies to focus on innovation and improving product quality, and to avoid the phenomenon of 'bad money driving out good in our development."
Chin is world's largest commodity consuming nation and also coal consumption is highest in the world. Coal consumption is slowing down in China for the past two years. China is also investing in renewable energy. However, China approved over 200 new coal-fired power plants in 2015 alone. In March 2015, Chinese government has empowered local governments to give permits. Economists opine that the surge in coal-based power plants is an example of how government's keen on prop up GDP, as reported by ABC News.
China recorded 6.9 percent growth rate in gross domestic product (GDP) for 2015. Chinese government has set a target of 6.5 percent to seven percent GDP growth rate for 2016. Environmental pollution has become a cause of worry when economy started slowing down. China's wealthy citizens are expressing their concerns over environmental pollution.
Join the Conversation