Shanghai plans to set stricter ecological standards for Chongming Island next month, which may slow down the island's industrial development and construction, city officials said yesterday.

 

The new standard, called the Chongming Ecological Index, will be based on the overall ecological state of the island, including its air quality, plant coverage, water quality and pollution levels.

 

The index was first adopted late last year, and 22 engineering and industrial projects have been scrapped because they couldn't meet the environmental standard, according to the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, which oversees the island's environment.

 

Academy researchers are working on a new environmental standard which will further reduce industrial emissions, fumes and sewage on the island.

 

The details are not available but it's estimated that stricter standards will be taken to limit infrastructure and industrial development.

 

So far, Shanghai has set up its most advanced climate observation station in the Dongtan area of the island. Its center can measure the density of pollution-causing chemicals in the air, such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

 

"We will provide first-hand climate information to help decision makers draw up environmental protection policies," Lin Yi, an official of Shanghai Chongming Eco-Island Science and Technology Promotion Center, said yesterday.

 

(Shanghai Daily September 5, 2007)