China sets pollution target after smog scare

China will aim to cut carbon emission and energy use by 3.7% for every unit of GDP growth in 2013, Bloomberg reported, citing a National Development and Reform Commission report released Tuesday. China announced a 7.5% growth target for this year during the opening of the National People’s Congress on Tuesday. China’s State Council estimated that it will spend up to US$380 billion on conservation and emission cuts through 2015. Concerns on pollution came to the forefront of the Chinese media in January when the nation’s capital was shrouded for weeks in record levels of smog.