China's air quality is improving — That's what the nation's environment minister Chen Jining said during the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's bi-monthly session. Speaking in front of lawmakers, Chen emphasized that stricter environmental laws helped combat air pollution.

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Over the years, air pollution has become a significant concern for the citizens of China especially for those living in big, industrialized cities in the central and eastern regions of the nation. That's why after decades of pursuing growth while risking the environment, the world's second-largest economy decided to begin its extensive fight to rectify the irreversible effects of air pollution.  

According to the Chinese authorities, stricter implementation of tough environmental laws is indeed a major factor in containing air pollution. Beijing Review reported Chen attributed China's air quality improvement to the financial support and enforcement efforts of the government.

Moreover, austere enforcement of the policies, new technology and better coordination between ministries and among cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta were cited in the rigorous reduction of air pollution in China. Women of China also learned that the government allotted $1.6 billion for air pollution control and prevention. And adding the government funds helped leverage private investment worth $48 billion, Chen revealed.

Aside from the government's financial support, Chen added that China had succeeded in meeting its target set in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), which is to reduce non-operational capacity in the polluting steel, cement and glass sectors one year ahead of target. And that optimization campaign of the country's energy structure is already in motion, China.org noted.

Usage of clean energy has also risen. While discharges of key pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been checked. The vehicle emissions, on the other hand, have been restricted by banning heavy-polluting vehicles off the road and new energy automobiles are promoted.

Meanwhile, amid China's stricter environmental laws, the next step is to further optimize the country's evaluation of the government's implementation of air pollution control measures, develop regional coordination, improve technological research and polish laws and regulations in the field and make polluters pay the high-priced fine.

A new Environmental Protection Law, which is a daily fine system incorporated to punish offenders and motivate companies to expedite the costly modifications needed to reduce pollutants, will also be enacted this 2015. And in cases where fined violators fail to rectify the problem, the fine can increase without limit.

As China continues to wage war against air pollution, the authorities have detained about 8,500 suspects in over 4,500 environment-related criminal cases.

Tagsair quality, Environmental Laws