China to have Environment Ministry

China has announced that it will upgrade its environment agency SEPA to ministry status. The new environment ministry aims "to boost environmental and ecological protection efforts and accelerate the building of a resource-saving and environment-friendly society," State Councilor Hua Jianmin said while explaining the government's plan this week.

The ministry will be responsible for drafting and implementing programs, policies and standards concerning environmental protection; working out environmental functions in different regions; supervising pollution prevention and treatment efforts; and tackling major environmental issues

Obviously there are huge problems in China.

"Some of the policies put forward by the central government, when they are implemented at the local level, in some places they are not completed or in place," Zhang Lijun, deputy chief of the State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), according to Reuters.

Also in the news, China appears to be producing far more carbon dioxide than previous estimates and this will frustrate global aims to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gases. A group of economists are adding to calls for China to sign up to binding cuts, something it has refused to do.

China Daily: Ministry will give more weight to green issues

Reuters: China's emissions seen rising faster than thought

I, for one, will not go to Beijing this year. 1936, anyone?

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