SEPA publicized the fulfillment of the program of control over the total polluting volume today. By 1999, the emission of 12 pain pollutants has all dropped lower than the national target.

In 1996, SEPA, State Development Planning Commission and State Economic and Trade Commission jointly drafted the "the program of control over total volume of the main pollutants during the 9th 5-year plan period". The main pollutants include SO2, smoky particles, dust particles, industrial solid wastes, etc.

During the years that followed, the emission of the 12 pollutants was reduced by 43.3%. The 16 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities have met the emission standards, and they are Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Helongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Tibet, Shanxi, and Gansu. The provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) left behind the program targets are Guizhou, Chongqing and Ningxia...