DEADLY BLAST Rescue teams work around the clock in Pingdingshan, central China's Henan Province, after a coal mine gas explosion killed at least 44 miners on September 8 (ZHAO PENG)

Environmental Spending

China has spent nearly 1 trillion yuan ($147 billion) on ecological conservation and environmental protection over the past decade, said Du Ying, Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, on September 6.

Speaking at an international seminar on ecological compensation in Shizuishan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Du said that more than 700 billion yuan ($103 billion) went to projects to reforest cultivated land, return grazing land to protected grassland, protect natural forests, conserve rivers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and for the south-to-north water diversion program. Another 200 billion yuan ($29.4 billion) was used for pollution control in major river valleys and urban sewage treatment projects.

Developing New Rockets

China has started developing the Long March 6 carrier rocket for its space program, the country's National Space Administration announced on its website on September 4.

Long March 6 rockets will be non-toxic and pollution-free while featuring a number of new technologies used for the first time in China, according to the administration.

Long March 6 rockets are expected to be ready for duty in 2013, the agency said.

Recycling Leader

China is ahead of the world in the recycling of major non-ferrous metals, an area of rapid development, said participants at an international forum concluded on September 7 in Jiangxi Province.

In 2008, China ranked first in the world in the consumption of recycled copper, using about 2 million tons, which comprised 30 percent of the country's total annual copper consumption.

China also used 3 million tons of recycled aluminum, or 20 percent of its annual consumption, and nearly 1 million tons of recycled lead, which made up 25 percent of total domestic consumption in 2008.

The figures place China second in the world in terms of annual consumption of recycled aluminum and lead.

Celebrating Safely

To ensure a safe forthcoming National Day celebration in Beijing, holiday leave for all city firefighters has been cancelled in the lead up to the holiday, said municipal fire control bureau deputy chief Luo Yuan on September 8.

"Nearly 6,000 police officers and 460 fire engines have been put on guard against fire hazards from September 8 up to the National Day on October1," said Luo.

Fireworks will be set off around Tiananmen Square and in other designated areas approved by the municipal government for National Day celebration rehearsals and for the gala itself.

The municipal government ordered all rooftops and balconies of buildings in the vicinity of Tiananmen Square and other nearby areas to be cleared of flammable materials in an announcement on fire disaster prevention and control measures issued on August 28.