The old approach economic growth first and pollution treatments second has largely resulted in the current situation, Qu Geping, president of the China Environmental Protection Foundation, said at a meeting on urban environment and sustainable development in Shanghai yesterday.

Incorrect decision-making about the use of resources is also a culprit, Qu said. As the largest consumer of coal, China has from the very beginning allowed crude coal to be burned before being processed, to reduce its pollutants.

Maurice Strong, environmental expert and first director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said at the meeting that China is now on the right track to environmental protection.

"China is showing its commitment to the challenge," Strong said.