In a bid to try and meet reduction targets set, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has ordered local authorities to stop giving preferential treatment to energy guzzling projects. The premier has pledged to reform the pricing of natural resources such as water and natural gas and impose higher taxes on pollution emitted. He also vowed to penalize those who violate environmental law by implementing a polluters pay policy. Of the 20 cities in the world with the most polluted air, China houses 16 of them. A recent study suggests that 400,000 premature deaths per year are caused by air pollution and in a country where river water has been known to burn through skin, any curb in pollution is a welcome one.

Cutting preferential treatment to big polluters - what a novel idea: ya reckon we could make it fly in Congress?

more on this at Chinaview.