A Chinese environmentalist said Tuesday that China is urged to develop new environmental-protection technology so as to improve living condition and build an energy-efficient society.

 

"Many environmental problems expect to be solved with the help of newly-emerging technology," said Sun Honglie, geographer and academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

 

Sun said China lacks original innovation concerning research on environmental-protection technology for China's serious environmental problem.

 

Official statistics show that economic losses caused by environmental pollution accounts for 3 to 8 percent of China's annual GDP.

 

Chinese President Hu Jintao said Monday at the opening ceremony of the China's Fourth National Conference on Science and Technology, "Priority should be given to the development of environmental-protection technology to lessen pollution's impact on economic and social development."

 

The Chinese government is to set the target of quadrupling 2000's GDP by 2020, which means China has to develop at an annual growth rate of 7.2 percent in the next 15 years.

 

Therefore, Sun said, it is necessary for China to change its development mode to balance economic development and environment protection.

 

China has to push for innovation in this regard and to set up an integrated environment database for sustainable growth.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)