Last week, we learned air pollution in the city was so serious that Mayor Zhang Jinliang asked civil servants to walk to work on days when the pollution level was very high.

Despite the local government and its people's efforts to improve the environment, Lanzhou remains one of the 10 most polluted cities in the world.

We can easily lay the blame on the city's special geographic and climatic conditions for the serious situation. But that is of little help since we can hardly change the conditions.

If we scrutinize the other two main factors heavy industrial emissions and the use of coal as the main source of fuel, the government has to take the blame.

I do not mean to say that the government has done little to improve. But the fact is, the government has done much harm to the situation by approving more projects, which were not environmentally friendly in this ecologically sensitive region.

It is just a week after Mayor Zhang's call that I have learned from www.gsjb.com, Lanzhou will speed up construction of some heavy industrial projects and chemical plants as well. The city will also build an auto factory with an annual capacity of 100,000 cars.

I find it hard to convince myself that the city government is serious about the environment. Even if all civil servants walk to work in answer to the mayor's call, will the action help reduce the pollution to be caused by these new projects?

When accountability is not in place, there is no way we can check the government's desire for fast growth.

It is clear if the incentive-driven system in which growth-pollution is rewarded by promotion, officials will be encouraged to walk the same path. So why not clear the roadblock and set environment standard for governments at all levels? Green GDP may be a good beginning.

Source：Shanghai Daily