In several recently released local government work reports, enhancing construction of an ecological civilization, promoting ecological environment protection and propelling green development are listed as core tasks for 2018 and the next few years. Moreover, several local governments have released specific measures, goals and tasks of winning the tough battle of pollution prevention and control in the next few years.

Air pollution prevention and control are listed as the core work of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions as well as Shanxi province and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

While Hebei province said it will further strengthen its comprehensive ecological environment protection work, and Shanxi province has pledged to achieve the national tasks of environmental quality improvement and reduce the total amount of key pollutants discharged.

Jilin province plans to create 500"beautiful villages and aims to achieve a 45 percent forest coverage rate within the province.

Hunan province said it will promote the evaluation criteria for green GDP, and strengthen its examination and inspection for greater energy saving and emissions reductions.

Yunnan province plans to introduce an ecological protection red line.

These are necessary measures to transform the mode of development and optimize the economic structure, and show that the local governments are now engaged in the tough battle to control and prevent pollution.