China's current drive for economic development has come with a heavy environmental price tag. Resources are being consumed at a rapid pace, and industrial pollution now poses a serious health hazard for many people. At the same time, biodiversity and farmland, which support large portions of the populations in the western regions, are being lost due to deforestation and soil erosion.

Concerted efforts will be needed for China to achieve Millennium Development Goal 7 on environmental sustainability.

The UN Country Team aims to help China to cut the environmental costs of economic success and preserve China's natural heritage for future generations. It is helping the Government to steer a more environmentally friendly development course that balances the goals of economic growth with environmental sustainability. The UN's work in environmental sustainability includes improving energy efficiency and promoting greater use of new and renewable energy sources as well as greener technologies among energy supply companies and end-users.

To slow species loss and conserve the natural environment, the UN strives to keep conservation high on the government agenda and improve biodiversity management. The UN supports the development of environmentally sustainable strategies for agriculture and for land improvement and management.

Finally, the UN is helping China to improve drinking water quality and reach the remaining 25 percent of the population, many of them in remote and minority areas in the west, who still do not have access to safe, clean water. At the same time, the UN Country Team is helping to improve the efficiency of water use overall.

The UN's work in China in this area is coordinated by its Theme Group on Climate Change and the Environment.