Li Keqiang on War on Pollution

Li Keqiang firmly established the 'War on Pollution' as a central tenet of his administration's agenda, making environmental improvement a critical policy goal for China. He famously declared this war during his government work report in March 2014, stressing that the country could not achieve sustainable, high-quality development while simultaneously suffering from severe smog and pollution, indicating a policy shift prioritizing ecological civilization over unrestrained growth. This initiative was backed by concrete measures, including setting targets for improving air quality and enforcing stricter environmental standards on industry, signaling a determined governmental resolve to address long-neglected environmental degradation that directly impacted public health.

This environmental push was positioned as being inextricably linked to the broader strategy of deepening economic reform and shifting the nation's economic model. The Premier recognized that winning the environmental fight required systemic changes in energy production and industrial structure, suggesting a belief that environmental quality was a key metric for a successful modern economy. While the initial focus was heavily on improving air quality, especially in major urban centers, the overall implication was a long-term commitment to ecological recovery that would ultimately benefit the people and secure future prosperity.