Within the last 5 years, both China's government and its citizens, have realized that, without sustainable development, they will not be able to improve the overall quality of their life. As a result, according to China's Tenth Five Year Plan, over the next five years China will spend more than US$84.3 billion, or about, 1.3 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to curb pollution.

The Chinese government has mandated, that all cities must build sewage treatment plants by 2005. Cities with populations greater than 500,000 are expected to treat 60 percent of their sewage by the 2005 deadline. By 2010, all Chinese cities are expected to treat at least 60 percent of their sewage. Provincial capitals and major tourist cities are expected to treat at least 70 percent of their sewage.

Estimates indicate, that new facilities, with a daily treatment capacity of 50 million to 60 million tons, will have to be built. The investment required for construction be about US$24.15 billion to US$36.23 billion, with yearly operation costs estimated at US$1.21 billion. Another $12.2 billion will be spent to combat air pollution in the major cities.