Environment fails to get mentioned during question session with Chinese premier

At the opening of the National People’s Congress two years ago, Premier Li Keqiang declared “war” on pollution, pledging to use an “iron fist” to crack down on offenders while vowing to the public that tackling environmental woes was high on the government’s agenda.

But at yesterday’s press conference, none of the 17 questions put to the leader related to environmental pollution. Only a few months ago, in December, the nation’s capital issued China’s first smog red alert, although authorities say air quality in the capital has generally improved, with PM2.5 levels falling about 6 per cent last year against 2014.

The environment may have simply been crowded out by the many other things on Li’s plate: the downward pressure on the economy, labour unrest, social security funding and diplomatic ties – all seem to have become more pressing than in previous years.

Environment minister Chen Jining told a press conference last week that there had been “positive changes” in the fight against air pollution over the past year. China was doing “better” at an earlier stage than Western countries in addressing the problem.

READ MORE: Big questions that went unasked at Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s press conference

The central government has put in place tougher environmental laws and heavily polluting sectors – coal, iron and steel, cement – have begun to decline. Some observers wonder whether these initial successes have made authorities view the issue with less urgency.