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China expected to reach green goal a year earlier

By Li Jing (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-03-18 15:30

China is likely to realize its target of sulfur dioxide emission reduction in 2009, one year ahead of time, a senior official from the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said.

Related readings:  Watchdog to inspect pollution along Yangtze River  China vows to reduce emissions  China reduces pollution in first half of 2008  Polluting projects rejected or delayed

"By the end of last year, China has reduced 8.95 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions from the 2005 level, which is already close to the target of 10 percent reduction," said Wang Jian, from the pollution prevention department of the MEP.

"It is very likely that China will realize this target in 2009, a year ahead of schedule," Wang said.

China vowed to reduce its emissions of sulfur dioxide, a major cause of air pollution, by 10 percent during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-10).

But Wang said China is still the world's largest emitter of sulfur dioxide, with annual emissions totaling about 22 million tons.

The country will continue to slash its sulfur dioxide emissions during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15), and the detailed target is still being discussed, Wang said.