5 July 2007
The World Bank allegedly removed inflammatory findings on pollution-related deaths from a report under pressure from the Chinese government.
Nearly one third of a World Bank report on pollution in China was eliminated at the request of the nation's government, The Financial Times reported Monday. The draft allegedly revealed pollution causes some 750,000 deaths in China each year, due mainly to poor urban air quality. The government feared the findings would cause social unrest, the Financial Times attested.
China has denied the allegations. A World Bank spokeswoman in Beijing did not admit or deny the accusations, but said the issue is being discussed, the Associated Press reported.
The report, "Cost of Pollution in China," was created over several years with the cooperation of Chinese government ministries. A draft was released at a conference in Beijing in March and a final version has yet to be finalized.
Resources
750,000 a year killed by Chinese pollution, Richard McGregor, The Financial Times, July 2, 2007 (Financial Times website)
China denies hiding pollution death data, The Associated Press, The New York Times, July 5, 2007 (Associated Press website)
China reportedly urged omitting pollution-death estimates, David Barboza, The New York Times, July 5, 2007 (New York Times website)
See Also
World Bank death-by-pollution figures baseless- China, Reuters, July 17, 2007 (Reuters India website)
China denies loans to polluting firms, The Associated Press, The New York Times, July 5, 2007 (New York Times website)