China's Increasing Environmental Awareness and its Broad Implications

In most days of January 2013, many Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai were in an unprecedented smog crisis that saw air pollution indicators reaching hazardous and off-the-chart levels. The government was more tactful this time and reported candidly on the pollution. The new leaders played an important role in the data disclosure. The smog reinforces the government's resolve to de-emphasise GDP growth in its development strategy.