By the end of 1999, emission of the 12 main pollutants had dropped below the quota set for the year of 2000, with an average decrease of 43.3%. As a result, the plan of the total volume control for the year of 2000 has been accomplished ahead of schedule.

Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, and 16 other provinces (municipalities or autonomous regions) have met the emission standards for the 12 major pollutants. In 9 provinces, emission of SO2, smoke, dust, COD and industrial solid waste still surpasses the quota. Three provinces have failed to meet the standard for SO2, 1 province still discharge more smoke than the quota, 3 discharge more dusts, and 1 city has not met the COD emission standard.

Though the data gave promising results, the foundation for the pollution control is not quite solid, and the possibility of bouncing back is there. In addition,the total pollution volume is still high. Therefore, great efforts of pollution reduction is still needed.