China Smog to Become Worse

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has warned that unfavorable weather could raise the risk of smog over autumn and winter, and it vowed to improve its emergency response time to ensure the air quality targets of 2017 are met. In a notice posted on its website on Sunday, the ministry said its weather forecast for autumn and winter was “not optimistic”, Reuters reported. The Chinese government has staked its reputation on winning a “war on pollution” launched in 2014 to reverse the damage done to its skies, rivers and soil, and head off public anger about the health impact of smog. Last month, the ministry said it would intensify its pollution crackdown in 28 smog-prone cities in northern China over winter to meet crucial targets for the year.