Economic losses from pollution account for 10% of China’s GDP

The economic losses caused by environmental pollution may account for about 10 percent of China’s GDP (gross domestic product), said a Chinese official on Monday.

The white paper, titled “Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)” and released by the Information Office of the State Council, China’s cabinet, says that the situation of environmental protection in the country is still “grave”.

The conflict between environment and development is becoming ever more prominent. A relative shortage of resources, a fragile ecological environment and insufficient environmental capacity are becoming critical problems hindering China’s development, it says.

Xinhua