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China is serious about environmental issues, particularly those that directly affect the economy and well-being of the people.
One proof of this is the ongoing program of the central government to control air pollution. The province of Hebei is the main beneficiary of a special fund from China's central government this year allocated for curbing air pollution. The province will have a lion's share of the new 5 billion yuan or US$827 million special fund, according to Hebei's finance department.
Based on a report submitted by the finance department to the 12th People's Congress of Hebei, around 2.62 billion yuan will be allocated to the province for anti-air pollution program. The amount is more than half of the total funding allocated on a national level. The funding is both a reward and a subsidy for the successful provincial efforts in minimizing air pollution and developing eco-friendly industries.
Five other major regions will also receive significant amount of funding for their respective anti-air pollution programs. The Ministry of Finance announced that subsidies will also be given to Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shandong and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. The fund allocations to various regions vary depending on the need and on the success of their respective anti-pollution programs. Those regions that are more successful in curbing air pollution are given higher fund allocations as reward.
Awarding Hebei province with the lion's share of the fund for environmental protection is not only a matter of merits but also a matter of necessity. In terms of air pollution, Hebei has real serious problems. Its capital is consistently included in the list of ten cities in China that have very poor air quality.
It should be recalled that the province of Hebei has provided a total of more than 16.5 billion yuan for eco-friendly projects, particularly those that focus on energy conservation and environmental protection. This is equivalent to a 28.8 annual increase as compared to the preceding year.
In 2013, more than 16.5 billion yuan was allocated to projects for environmental protection and energy conservation by the province. According to the government work report of 2013, this is an increase of 28.8 percent.
