While “low carbon,” “efficiency,” and “low emission” were buzzwords at the 2011 National People's Congress, this year's session is more likely to focus on several hot-button issues. These include: whether to ban the practice of harvesting bear bile from living bears, the inclusion of fine particulate matter (a.k.a. PM2.5) in the nation's air quality standards, widening the practice of tiered electricity pricing based on efficiency, a new control system for water resources, how to prevent the widespread use and sale of recycled or “ditch” oil, and waste management in rural areas.
Summarized and translated by Liz Brody