China has set a goal of reducing its major pollutant emissions by more than 30% to 40% by 2015 in its latest 12th five-year plan (2010-2015) for environment protection, according to a Wednesday report in the People’s Daily newspaper. 

In the report said that the outline specifies 7 major indicators, with ammonia nitrogen and nitric oxide added as two new indicators, the official said. The plan calls for ammonia nitrogen and nitric oxide emissions to be cut by 10 percent by 2015, while chemical oxygen demand (COD) and sulfur dioxide emissions should drop by 8 percent, the report said. 

The five-year outline also calls for an investment of 3.4 trillion yuan ($539 billion) in environmental protection efforts. Eight major projects, including reducing major pollutant emissions and resolving environmental problems that affect people’s health, will require a investment of nearly 1.5 trillion yuan.

Thenumber of major cities covered by China’s air quality index system has expanded from 113 to 333, with stricter assessment standards established as well. 

The outline states that local governments should shoulder most of the responsibilities in financing and implementing the five-year plan, with midterm and final evaluations to be conducted in 2013 and 2015, respectively, the report said. 

Possible the China starts becoming an european green opponent?