Government, NGO groups raise environment awareness

Concern over worsening air pollution in big cities has become part of the national discourse and debate among citizens. It was especially so in Beijing after a foggy June this year, which marks the most serious air pollution in 50 years for the city.

Heavy smog and haze have often dominated headlines across the nation.

Alarms have been triggered and public complaints are mounting.

Beijing resident said, "The polluted air not only affects my health but also ruins my good mood."

Beijing resident said, "I feel so depressed under such weather."

According to a report released annually by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, only a quarter of the 113 key environmental protection cities reached their environmental targets in 2012.

Authorities have increased efforts for transparency. They accelerated the construction of a network for real-time monitoring of air quality, and have made the data available to the public.

NGOs also play an important role in helping people get informed and involved in environmental protection.

He Xiaoxia, director of Green Beagle Institute, said, "We provide these devices to help the public make reliable assessments. It allows them to know more about the environment. All this is free. We also have equipment to monitor noise and magnetic fields. We want to motivate public awareness and promote better protection of the environment."

Ma Jun is one of China's leading environmentalists.

He says the core reason for pollution is lack of awareness and effective measures during China's decades of rapid industrialization and urbanization.

Ma Jun, director of Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, said, "Now, we are too much dependent on the heavy polluting industries, so we need to restructure our economy. With that, we can change the growth model."

Experts say efforts to combat air pollution should be integrated into city planning, economic restructuring and ecological progress campaigns, in order to reduce the city's already strained downtown resources and space.