Minister: BMW+polluted water=irony

Edited and translated by People's Daily Online

In the National Environmental Protection Conference held in last week, the Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian released China's PM2.5 monitoring schedule: the PM2.5 monitoring will be carried out in all regions of China before Jan.1, 2016; the PM2.5 monitoring will be launched in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and all provincial capital cities in 2012.

The media called the schedule published at the end of 2011, "A symbol of the public opinion's victory in the air protection battle."

Some experts commented that the launch of the PM2.5 case, starting from the public's call to the country's practical action, reflects that the serious pollution situation of China involves all of us. In order to solve the environmental problems, everybody is needed, and especially, the government must shoulder its unavoidable responsibility.

On the day before the schedule was published, the Seventh National Environmental Protection Conference was held in Beijing. While giving the theme report, Vice Premier Li Keqiang said that the fundamental quality of environment is a kind of public product and a public service that the government must guarantee.

Industry insiders noted that for the first time, providing environmental goods became an obligation on the Chinese government.

Li said in addition to promoting economic development, government agencies have a duty to ensure "blue skies, clean water, and clean air."