Pollution fix will take time, says Li

Vice-Premier Li Keqiang said it would take time to resolve environmental problems and called for joint action to combat air pollution, China Central Television reported on Jan 16. Li's remarks came in response to the heavy smog that blanketed many cities across China. He said China must change the extensive economic growth mode and eliminate the backward production capacity that harms the country's ecology. He pointed out that China must not only step up enforcement of environmental protection laws, but also reminded people to improve their own awareness of air pollution. He also said it's necessary to release data from the PM2.5 air quality index to the public. On the evening of Jan 16, the environmental authorities in Beijing said the city was experiencing "extreme, severe pollution," as PM2.5 readings reached as high as 900 at certain monitoring stations.

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