Government and Policy

China's emission cut not optimistic: vice minister

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-03 11:40

 

Smoke billows from chimneys at a chemical factory in Hefei, Anhui province March 10, 2010.[Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING -- China's efforts to cut its greenhouse gas emission are facing challenges and the situation is not "optimistic," said a senior environment official here Thursday.

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The emission of sulfur dioxide has increased by 1.2 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, said Zhang Lijun, vice minister of environment, at a press conference here.

"This alarmed us that the situation is not optimistic," he said.

The output of energy-consuming industrial products has increased quite fast this year, which is one of the reasons causing the increase, he said.