Woo-hoo. Chinese Government Pledges $176 Million (US) To Fight Air Pollution - Peoples' Daily

[hatrack]

The government will invest more than 1.33 billion yuan ($176 million) to help cut pollutant emissions and build more effective environmental monitoring systems across the country, said Vice-Minister of Finance Zhang Hongli.

Zhang said the charge on sulfur dioxide emissions will be doubled to 1.26 yuan per kilogram within three years and that on chemical oxygen demand (COD) emissions should be raised to a varying extent in accordance with local conditions, according to a statement on the ministry's website.

The central government released a comprehensive blueprint in June on cutting emissions of pollutants and energy saving. According to the plan, the feasibility of imposing an environment tax should be studied and a tax on resource use should be introduced. The levy on sewage discharge will also be raised from the current 0.67 yuan (9 US cents) per ton.

The Ministry of Finance will channel more funds to environmental protection departments, Zhang said. The funds will be used to support pollution monitoring, law enforcement and the setting of environmental standards, he said.

EDIT

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/6247719.html

Gosh, I'm getting all moist at the sheer scale of their financial committment.

[LARED]

1. $176 Million (US) is start (barely) nt

[madrchsod]

2. 75% will go into the pockets of local party members

and industrialists...they spent more than that clearing out the folks for the olympics in peking.

[youngdem]

3. Pfft.....They'll probably spend it on ammo for killing peasants

and making soylent green air filters.

If there is a government on Earth I trust less to do the right thing than Bushco, it is the Chinese government.

Besides, the ONLY reason they are doing this is window dressing for the Olympics, trying to present a civilized face to the world, especially since some athletes are concerned the air will be too dirty to even participate in their events.