Official Figures for Major Smog Pollutant Last Year 'Off by Half'

(Beijing) – The government underreported by half last year's emissions of a pollutant from burning coal that plays a major role in the smog covering many of China's big cities, an expert says.

The country emitted 30 to 31 million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) last year, said Luo Jianhua, secretary general of the China Environment Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organization controlled by the government.