Chinese lawmakers amending environment protection law

China's top legislature is currently studying a number of amendments to the country's Environmental Protection Law. It comes amid rising public concern over the health effects of worsening air and water pollution. But will the changes be enough to make a real impact on China's pollution problem?

From the air we breathe, to the water we drink.... China's pollution problem is now too big to ignore.

Right now, top lawmakers are examining the third and very likely final draft of an amendment to the country's Environment Protection Law.

This time, experts say, the changes will have "teeth".

"This draft contains some important changes. Previously, the law agreed in principle that we should stop pollution. But some clauses lacked real practicalities, in terms of implementation," said Zhou Ke, member of National People's Congress.

In one of the most ground-breaking changes, the government will now take ultimate responsibility for protecting the environment. That means officials can be evaluated on environmental quality and protection, not just economic growth.

Crucially, they can be held accountable for pollution problems.

Another change will allow greater punishments for polluters, including the threat of criminal prosecution.

China's economic miracle has come at a huge cost.

An over-emphasis on growth and a lack of enforcement of environmental protection laws have not only left the air and rivers polluted. Health, wellbeing and even lives are now under threat.

Media reports about hundreds of "cancer villages" have recently become widespread.... with their existence now acknowledged by the government.

Many people living in these villages are victims of toxic discharge from illegal factories.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has for the first time, recently confirmed that lung cancer can be caused by air pollution.

It's been really a long time since Beijing has seen such clear blue sky. Actually according to the official figures, in the third quarter of this year, over 60 percent of the days here in Beijing are polluted. The environment concerns everyone, and we all hope that this time, we will make a difference.