China sets up pollution blacklist

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China's environmental regulator has put 30 companies on its first blacklist of pollution violators.

As Beijing moves to take action on the country's growing pollution problem, the 30 firms will be barred from receiving bank loans.

The companies in question range from food processors to paper-makers and steel manufacturers.

China's emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants have soared on the back of its ongoing economic boom.

It is not known whether the 30 targeted companies will be able to appeal to the State Environmental Protection Administration, or what changes they will need to make before they can be removed from the blacklist.

Impossible targets?

China has set a target of cutting the emission of pollutants by 10% between 2005 to 2010.

However, with China now building about two new fossil fuel power stations every week, Western environmental commentators say it will be all but impossible for it to achieve that reduction.

Earlier this month, a Chinese environment official admitted to British politicians that China was not able "for the time being" to commit to binding agreements to cut carbon emissions.

The deputy director-general of China's Office of Global Environmental Affairs, Lu Xuedu, was speaking to the joint committee on the UK's draft climate change bill.