Environmental degradation, increased carbon emissions, accelerated consumption of natural resources and aggravated water shortages in some areas all take a toll on people's daily lives.
Under such circumstances, the Chinese government earlier this year lowered its GDP growth target for the next five years to 7 percent, establishing a common understanding nationwide that a healthy economy is much more important than numerical miracles.
On carbon emission cuts, China in 2006 established a goal of reducing its per-unit GDP energy consumption in 2010 by 20 percent from that of 2005; in 2007, China became the first developing country to formulate and implement a national program to address climate change; two years later, China said it would work to reduce per-unit GDP greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels.
While an effort is being made, the country's current stage of development offers little room to solve environmental problems all at once.
Currently the second largest economy in the world, China's GDP per capita stood at a small 4,382 U.S. dollars in 2010, ranking 91st in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The systematic measures necessary for reducing carbon emissions for China are more complicated than just to close down more power plants.
China must, through close coordination between central and regional governments, strengthen its legal system and strategic planning, accelerate economic restructuring, optimize energy diversification and develop clean energy, all of which take time and money.