On June 5, the World Environment Day, Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Minister of SEPA, announced the publication of "China Environment Bulletin'99" to the press conference. Xie Zhenhua, said that China increased spending on pollution to 82 billion yuan, or one percent of GDP, in 1999. He also said that the pollution of air, water, soil, and noise is still very serious in cities, that the environment quality in rural areas is getting worse.

According to the Environment Bulletin, the environmental situation has improved in many cities, but the situation is still serious and that the total volume of pollutants discharged is still large.

For the first time, water pollution, COD emission, caused by domestic life surpassed that by industries. The report also said that water pollution and water shortages were two major problems. Forty billion tons of untreated industrial and human waste are discharged into water last year, a larger figure than for 1998. Water pollution and resource shortage are the main challenges facing China today. China's major rivers all suffer from pollution problems.

Pollution of offshore marine areas is very serious.

Coal is a major contributor to air pollution, and the source of sulphur dioxide. Only 33 percent of 338 cities surveyed had good air quality. There was no improvement in acid rain reduction.

The report also discusses noise pollution, radiation, resources, bio-diversity, climate changes, land use, forest and grassland degradation, and natural disasters...