China struggling to meet pollution goals

A report submitted on Wednesday to the Chinese government said faster-than-expected economic growth was to blame for China’s struggle to meet its 2011-2015 environmental targets, Reuters reported. The state of China’s environment has come into particular focus in 2013, with most major cities engulfed by hazardous smog during the course of the year, including Beijing in January and Shanghai earlier this month. Desperate to head off growing public anger about the state of the country’s air, water and soil, Beijing has promised to put an end to its “growth at all costs” economic model. The government report covered the 2011-2012 period.