The year 2011 saw a whopping 10.3 billion yuan (USD 1.66 billion) go to ecological environmental improvement in Wuhan. More efforts are to be expected in 2012, as Wuhan puts its hands on 3 prominent issues including environmental safety, air quality as well as exhausts and noises, hoping for a PM 2.5 level above average among sub-provincial cities.

On June 5, the 41st World Environment Day, information from Wuhan Municipal Government revealed related plans, including emphasis on relieving safety concerns for the environment, improvement of air quality and prevention of nuisance exhausts and noises, in an effort to build Wuhan into a nationally advanced city that live up to the ecological environment standard included in the "12th Five Year Plan".

For purer water, problem reviews and rectifications will be on the agenda in the drinking water protection district that is expected to meet standards by 2014. A pollution interception system is slated to cover 70 major lakes by 2015 and comprehensive sewage collection and processing will be in place in the central urban area by 2017.

For bluer sky, government regulations on dust pollution will be introduced in 2013. Thousands of buses are scheduled for renewal on a yearly basis, and those yellow-plated vehicles with heavy pollution will be found no more on the streets by 2015.

For more livable cities, a life-long start-to-end accountability system will be imposed to curb chemical pollutions. Sources of exhausts and noises will be called to rectifications within a time limit, with substandard ones shut down compulsorily. The collection and processing of garbage from restaurants in the central urban area are also ordered to meet set standards.

Its learned that more efforts will be dedicated to the goal of 87% share of clear air in Wuhan urban area and a PM2.5 level above average among sub-provincial cities.