NEW YORK -- The recent environmental crises in China underscore the need to improve the mechanisms for preventing environmental disasters and responding more effectively to environmental emergencies. For the past few decades, China has maintained significant economic expansion while greatly improving the health status for the majority of the population. These achievements have been a model for developing countries worldwide.
Unfortunately, gains in the health sector have been offset by the environmental consequences of economic expansion. Sustaining a rapid pace of economic development while simultaneously protecting people's health is one of the main challenges facing Chinese authorities today.
Over the last two decades, China has had an average economic growth of 9.4 percent annually. Over the past half-century, the country has made impressive advances in public health, tackling infectious diseases and demonstrating remarkably good results.