China’s regions ignoring Beijing on environment goals

BEIJING (AFP) – Local governments in China are continuing to invest in dirty, resource-intense industries, jeopardising Beijing’s goals of saving energy and cutting pollution, state media reported Monday.

Some regions are encouraging steel, cement and other heavy industries to boost economic growth despite demands from Beijing to rein in those sectors, the China Daily newspaper said, quoting a top development official.

“The central government is committed to achieving the (green) targets but some local governments have turned a blind eye to them,” said He Bingguang, a deputy director with the National Development and Reform Commission.

He said the problem also could “indirectly hinder social harmony,” in an apparent reference to rising social disquiet over China’s worsening environmental degradation.

AFP