The public awareness of environmental protection was enhanced and the development of environmental protection undertakings accelerated. At the end of 2000, there were 128,000 people working in environmental protection agencies in China. Some 2,204 environment monitoring stations at various levels employed 40,000 workers.

            New achievements were made in natural conservation, with the number of pilot ecological demonstration zones reaching 213. China had 1,227 nature reserves, including 155 at the national level, which covered 98.21 million hectares, or 9.9 percent of the country's total land area.

            The construction of the legal system for environmental protection achieved new progress, with intensified enforcement of related laws. By the end of 2000, a total of 438 standards of various types for environmental protection had been formulated. Some 91.5 percent of construction projects started in the year were subject to examinations to evaluate their influence on the surrounding environment and 98 percent of projects that went into operation in 2000 were equipped with pollution control facilities. A total of 38,101 environmental pollution control projects were completed within the specified time set for the year, absorbing a total investment of 20.8 billion yuan. Some 2,718 smoke/dust control zones were established in 537 cities, covering an area of 18,000 square km, and there were 2,288 zones covering 13,000 square km in 476 cities, where the noise pollution was brought down to a specified level.

            The deterioration of environmental pollution was initially put under control, with the total volume of discharge of major pollutants declining continually. In 2000, the total discharge of 12 major pollutants reduced by 10 to 15 percent compared with that in 1995. By the end of October 2000, over 90 percent of the 238,000 polluting enterprises had met pollutant drainage standards. Of the 46 key cities designated for environmental protection, 33 were up to the standard in terms of the surface water quality and 22 met the standard for air quality. Of them, 18 cities were up to the standard in both air and surface water quality, and the rest cities were close to the standards.

            Progress was made in key environmental protection projects. Some 95 percent of the 5,188 major polluting enterprises, located in the valleys of the Huaihe, Liaohe and Haihe rivers and Taihu, Dianchi and Chaohu lakes, met pollutant drainage standards. Fifty-five municipal sewage treatment plants were built in these valleys and another 111 were under construction. These plants accounted for 67 percent of the total planned to be built.

            Initial results were seen in the control of air pollution. Of the 175 cities in regions designated for controlling acid rain and sulfur dioxide, 102 attained the second grade standards in terms of the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the air. By the end of November 2000, some 3,944 of the 4,678 sulfur dioxide-emitting enterprises in the control regions met the emission standard, accounting for 84.3 percent of the total.

I. Present Situation

1. With the rapid growth of the population (1.3 billion), there is a lack of land and other natural resources (such as forests, grassland and water bodies). In some places, it used to happen that in order to increase land for growing crops, people cut down trees to fill the rivers and ponds, which greatly damaged the environment. In China, huge population creates human pollution and it has been the major problem in environmental protection.
2. In China, there are numerous industrial enterprises. 90% of them are small and medium size. General speaking, the equipment and facilities in these enterprises (especially those in the countryside) are old and out of date which consume more materials and causes more pollution.
3. The major power (over 70%) in the cities used to be coal which produced dust and SO².
4. Every year there are about 1.5 million abandoned household electrical appliances (4 million refrigerators, 5 million washing machines, 5 million TV sets, air-conditioners and computers).
5. Every year, there is over 62 billion tons of waste water (66% from industries).
6. Natural disasters (sand storms, floods, acid rains, draught and etc..) destroys about 130,000 hectares of land every year. The production and development of mineral resources consumes about 40,000 hectares of land.

SO2 Concentration Distribution by Provinces in China
 

1. In 1973, the 1st National Conference on Environmental Protection was held. Measures and actions have been carried out to control “three pollutions”.
2. After the 2^nd National Conference on Environmental Protection was held in 1983 in which a plan for the year 2000 was issued, governments at all levels set up offices or organizations for environmental protection.
3. In May, 1992, the investigation and evaluation in 38 major cities shows that the cities are very-well protected. Many polluting factories were closed down or forced to take measures to control pollution.
4. The courses on environmental protection are taught in all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in China. More than 60 universities have degree programs on this major.

III. The Laws and Acts on Environmental Protection

1. Law of Ocean Environmental Protection (Aug. 23, 1982)
2. Law of Water Pollution Prevention (May 11, 1984);
3. Law of Forest (Sept. 20, 1984);
4. Law of Grassland (June 18, 1985);
5. Temporary Provisions of Environmental Management in the Open Economic Zones (March 4, 1986);
6. Law of Mineral Resources (March 19, 1986);
7. law of Air Pollution Prevention (Sept. 5, 1987);
8. Law of Water (Jan. 21, 1988);
9. Law of Wild Animal Protection (Nov. 11, 1988);
10. Regulations of Sound Pollution (Sept.26, 1989);
11. Ten Policies and Actions of China Environment and Development (Sept. 1992);
12. Law of Preventing and Solving Sand Problems (Sept. 1, 2001)

IV. Some measures by the state

1. The government has invested over 100 million yuan to protect national animal Giant Panda.
2. More and more waste treatment plants and centers have been established. Some produce electricity.
3. "The Water World" (lakes) in Beijing will increase seven times more in 7 years.
4. The coverage of national forestation has increased from 8.6% in 1949 to 16.55% in 1998, about 158.941 million hectares.
5. To reduce air pollution, from September of 2001, the production of 187 kinds of automobiles with carburetor has been banned and the import of those with CFC-12 制冷剂 is forbidden.
6. By the end of September 2001, about 28,000 small-sized coal mines had been closed.
7. About 6,000 oil refineries have been banned.
8. The government has started the world largest national water projects(50 years, over 1,000 kilometers investment of 486 billion yuan) to make full use of the water resources including the seven major rivers such as Yangzte River and Yellow River. Over 70% of the industrial waste water should be recycled.
9. The government has made a policy of "Whoever pollutes should be fully responsible." "Make full use of water, save water and have better water treatment". From 2003, waste water fee is charged in all cities and towns.