Chinese premier commits to improving air quality

The new Chinese premier Li Keqiang has promised to tackle poor air quality in the country's cities.

Speaking at his first press conference since taking office, Li committed himself to tackling the pollution that has plagued the country's cities.

China's increasing industrialization has resulted in poor air quality, as rapid economic growth resulted in untenable carbon emissions.

Global Post reported that as well as air quality, Chinese citizens have been outraged by incidents that have brought questions about water quality in the country's biggest cities.

More than 12,000 pig carcasses were found in a river that feeds Shanghai water supplies, it added.

Speaking at the press conference, Li said: "This government will show even greater resolve and take more vigorous efforts to clean up such pollution."

The northern cities of China have been particularly badly hit by the increasing levels of harmful emissions.

According to an index maintained by the US Embassy in Beijing, air quality in the city has remained between the "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" levels since early 2013.

Li told the audience that "backward production facilities" will be phased out as part of efforts to improve air quality.

He explained: " We need to face the situation and punish offenders with no mercy and enforce the law with an iron fist.

"We shouldn't pursue economic growth at the expense of the environment. Such growth won't satisfy the people."

In the UK, cities are taking measures to improve their air quality as the European Union put forward proposals to impose fines on regions not meeting environmental targets by 2015.

Cities such as Edinburgh, Scotland are considering the introduction of low-emission zones for heavy vehicles as a result.