Time Line

1979: China publishes its first environmental protection law.

1981: Scientists do detailed study on pollution in the Bohai Sea, one of the more serious instances of sea pollution in China.

1995: Sustainable development is highlighted as an important national strategy for the first time.

2005: Former director of State Environmental Protection Administration Xie Zhenhua resigns following a major toxic spill in Songhua river. He is the highest-ranking official to leave office over a pollution accident.

2007: The State Environmental Protection Administration halts several major projects on ecological concerns. The move is welcomed by the public and dubbed as "environmental review storm".

2008: The environmental watchdog was elevated to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

(China Daily 06/01/2011 page53)