Commentary: Environmental evaluation a must for assessing local governments

Earth is our home, and we need to protect it. China is putting more importance on dealing with pollution and is pushing local governments to do more.

Local governments will be evaluated on environment protection, resource utilization and public satisfaction with their work, and the results will be a key reference for promoting officials and punishing those who disobey the rules, according to a statement by several senior government departments.

Public satisfaction with green development will also be a major index for assessment.

Central authorities will conduct a final review of local government performance on green growth and ecological development at the end of each five-year plan period.

Local governments will be reviewed on their meeting of green standards outlined in the five-year development plan, and whether they fulfilled central government's major environmental projects .

Environmental pollution has caused many serious problems, impacting on health, the economy and society, even affecting social stability.

Smog has long been part of winter life for Beijingers and for people in many parts of the country. Many have simply given up hope that anything can be done about it. This has to change.

The public cares deeply about the environment, and their feelings must be considered when facing the problem of pollution.

People will now have more say in judging the government, and public satisfaction will be a major index in assessing the governments' efforts to fight pollution.

Official figures on the environment should be publicized. If such figures are drastically different from public perception, local governments should offer explanations, and those explanations should be credible.

China is also considering revising its water pollution law to force local governments to set time limits and make efforts to improve water quality.

Local governments will be authorized to issue tougher pollutant control requirements for water quality standards, according to a draft revised version of the Water Pollution Prevention Law.

Water pollution prevention in key fields, including industrial sewage, groundwater, agriculture and rural areas, as well as pollution from ships, should be strengthened. Endi