And Niu Wenyuan, head of the team for strategic research for sustainable development at the Chinese Academy of Science, supported Pan's idea with his statistics. About 18 per cent of China's GDP (gross domestic product) has cost degradation of resources and hurt the environment.

Since China began its reform and opening up, its economy has witnessed remarkable growth. However, accompanying the growth is excessive exploitation of resources and deterioration of the environment. Worse, the situation is continuing.

It is estimated that in 2030, the country's continentality, an index directly reflecting desertification, will be raised by 3.3 percentage points, according to Niu. The annual average temperature will be higher by 0.6-1.4 degrees Celsius. Between 17-22 per cent of species will be threatened. At the same time, water resources per capita will be reduced to 1,850 cubic metres from the current 2,600 cubic metres.

What's more, SEPA officials predict the set objective of preventing and controlling acid rain and sulphur dioxide releases in the 10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-05) might not be realized. Before that, they also expressed their worries that pollution control and treatment in key river basins and areas might not yield the expected result.

Experts claim that if not given proper treatment, the Yangtze River will become China's second Yellow River due to excessive sand and pollution.

China's environmental protection and improvement face a tough challenge.

Aware of the tough situation, the government has stressed the importance of scientific and sustainable development, which requires a harmonious development between the economy, society and the environment.

The concept of Green GDP is replacing the pursuit of GDP growth that does not take into account environmental costs.

Officials are required to take a more active role on environmental protection achievements and take more responsibility for failures. Those achievements and failures will, in turn, be linked with their promotion or demotion.

However, this assessment system is difficult to complete, since unlike GDP growth, Green GDP is difficult to examine and calculate. So far, there is no standard to evaluate the cost of resource consumption and environmental deterioration in the world.

It has been suggested that items such as changes in air and water quality, as well as the number of environmental complaints, should be part of standard job evaluation.

Some provinces are even working towards adopting the system on a trial basis, although no timeline has been set.

Besides establishing a scientific calculation system of Green GDP, the country should pump more funds and manpower into developing recycled energy.

Coal produces some 70 per cent of the country's primary energy supply. Excessive consumption of coal, considering that it is a kind of fossil fuel, not only pollutes the environment, but also poses a threat to energy safety and influences sustainable development.

The government should also set up a strategy to control environmental pollution, taking advantage of resources both at home and abroad.