Agency outlines green proposals

The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) yesterday outlined its plan to significantly reduce air and water pollution this year.

It aims to cut up to 2.3 million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and 1.3 million tons of chemical oxygen demand (COD), a measure used in the monitoring of pollution.

SEPA director Zhou Shengxian said yesterday in Beijing that this year's targets are to reduce SO2 by 6 percent and COD by 5 percent based on their 2005 levels, which serve as the base for the environmental goals of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10).