China - Environment

China's state-run media say the amount of pollution discharged in China's rivers and lakes has increased this year, despite government efforts to improve environmental practices.China Daily, citing a report by the State Environment Protection Administration, said that China produced more than 12-billion tons of industrial waste water in the first half of 2006. That figure is up around two-and-a-half percent from the same period last year.

The environmental agency attributed the increase to the country's booming industries -- and to local governments not implementing strict environmental protection policies. Implementing environmental regulation has been a slow process in China's booming economy, in large part because local industrial officials are reluctant to follow through with measures for fear of short term losses.

中国官方媒体说，尽管中国政府努力改善环保，但是排放到中国河流和湖泊里的污染物质今年还是有所增加。《中国日报》援引中国国家环境保护总局的一份报告说， 中国在2006年上半年工业废水排放量为120亿吨，比去年同期上升了大约2.5%。

中国国家环保总局把这种情况归咎于中国工业的蓬勃发展和地方政府不执行严格的环保政策。中国经济快速发展，执行环保政策进展缓慢，主要原因是地方工业官员担心短期内的经济损失，因此不愿意贯彻环保措施。