The cost of China’s pollution
A tourist wearing the mask looks at the Forbidden City as pollution covers the city on Jan. 16, 2013 in Beijing, China.
China said it will spend about $16 billion in the next three years to curb Beijing pollution and improve its hazerdous air quality.
More from GlobalPost: China announces $16 billion Beijing anti-pollution plan
The news follows a report by the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning – part of the Ministry of Environmental Protection – that said environmental degradation in China cost the country about $230 billion in 2010.
“This cuts to the heart of China’s economic challenge," Alistair Thornton, an IHS Global Insight economist told The New York Times. "How to transform from the explosive growth of the past 30 years to the sustainable growth of the next 30 years.”
Many of China's highly populated cities suffer from some form of pollution, smog being one of the most well known.
In March, 16,000 dead pigs and 1,000 dead ducks were found floating in the South River in Pengshan county. No official explanation was provided, and no one is sure exactly what happened.
More from GlobalPost: 16,000 dead pigs, 1,000 dead ducks found in China rivers
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