Welfare lottery sales have exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($161 billion) since the draw was launched in China in 1987, the lottery watchdog revealed on March 18.

About 310 billion yuan ($50 billion) has been raised through the welfare lottery, helping fund over 300,000 charity projects and benefit hundreds of millions of people, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

So far the welfare lottery industry employs more than 400,000 people and has created tax revenue of over 20 billion yuan ($3.22 billion), according to the ministry.

Water Risks

A report released by the environmental authority on March 14 estimated that a total of 280 million residents in China are using unsafe drinking water.

The report, issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, was based on a sampling survey of 91,527 permanent residents aged 18 and above in 31 provincial-level regions to evaluate Chinese people's exposure to environmental risks. The survey was conducted between 2011 and 2012.

The survey also found that a total of 110 million Chinese people are living less than 1 km away from at least one industrial site with pollution concerns, such as petrochemical, coking or thermal power plants.

Moreover, about 140 million people live within 50 meters of a main communication artery, the report said.

Climate Report

A new collaborative report has provided practical recommendations for greater cooperation between China and India in addressing climate change.

The China India Low Carbon Study, the first project of its kind, was launched on March 17 in Beijing.

The study examines the main factors in low carbon development—financing, low-carbon technologies and on-the-ground implementation.

The report builds a case for exchange between China and India. It notes that developing nations are more likely to focus on innovation that contributes to local environmental benefits and human development, and calls for more public sector funding for low-carbon technologies.

Under the Copenhagen Accord signed in 2009, China and India have committed to reducing their carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent and 20 to 25 percent, respectively, from 2005 levels by 2020.

Curriculum Reform

A pilot project to improve placement courses in around 100 high schools nationwide began on March 18.

Dai Jiagan, Deputy Director of the Chinese Society of Education, said that the Chinese Advance Placement courses (CAP) will give more choice to gifted and talented children.

The courses cover calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, writing, English, physics, and economics.

Dai said that in China, a dozen elite high schools and universities have joined together to develop CAP courses, but still lack unified standards on courses, teachers training and evaluation of students.

The 100 high schools chosen will be announced later this year.