Guangdong province witnessed a 2.9% decline in sulfur dioxide emissions and 1.1% decrease in COD (chemical oxygen demand) in the first half year of 2006, while these two indexes separately increased by 5.8% and 4.2% nationwide, according to the Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau.

In recent years, Guangdong province, which has suffered severe pollution due to rapid industrial development, has initiated a series of projects on waste treatment and limitation of air and land pollution. In year 2004, the province formally adopted "Green Guangdong" program to develop a cyclic economy, combat pollution and depletion of nature resources.

The province has poured huge money over recent years in the pollution control and ecological conservation. The Pear River Cleaning Project and a series of waste treatment projects are high on the government's agenda. A total of 88 sewage treatment centers have been built till the end of this June, with a capacity of manage 6.69 millions tons of sewages per day, which ranks the fist in China, and can reduce about 350,000 tons of COD every year.

The province has finished desulphurization installation for a total of 6.52 million kw thermal power plants, which decreased about 200,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions.

Meanwhile, the province has put efforts in limiting the environmental standard, advancing the industry structure and economic growth pattern.

According to the "11th five-year" plan, to the year 2010, the province will reach a 15% decline in sulfur dioxide emissions and COD than that of 2005.

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Editor: Yan