China Misses Environmental Targets

China's state media say the country has failed to meet targets to reduce pollution and conserve energy. China's target for 2006 was to cut energy consumption by four percent and emissions of major pollutants by two percent. But state media reported Wednesday that only the capital Beijing and five other regions managed to reach those goals. Throughout the country, energy consumption went up by almost one percent in the first half of last year.

2006 was the first year in a five-year plan that set ambitious environmental goals for China. By 2010, Beijing wants to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent and cut key pollutants by 10 percent.

Environmental groups say they are not surprised China failed to reach its targets in the first year because the government is still giving priority to economic growth.

中国官方媒体报导说，中国没有达到减少污染和节约能源的目标。中国政府2006年的目标是将能耗降低4%，将重大有害污染物排放量减少2%。但是，官方媒体星期三报导说，只有首都北京和其它5个地区达到了目标。去年上半年，全中国的能耗上升了将近1%。

2006年是中国确定雄心勃勃的环保目标的五年规划的第一年。到2010，北京希望将能耗降低20%，将主要污染物质排放量降低10%。

环保团体说，中国第一年就没有达到目标，他们并不意外，因为政府仍旧更注重经济增长。