29 March 2012: The World Bank has approved two Global Environment Facility (GEF) grants totaling US$19.8 million to support reduction of dioxins from the pulp and paper industry and promote eco-transport development in city clusters in China.

One project, on Dioxins Reduction from the Pulp and Paper Industry, will receive a US$15 million grant for China to adopt adopt a series of measures to control and reduce dioxins release from its pulp and paper industry before 2015, including the monitoring and enforcement of a national dioxin standard issued recently, and plans for a long-term national action plan to control dioxin emissions in the wood and non-wood pulp sectors. The project will also seek to demonstrate best available techniques and best environmental practices in four existing non-wood mills that produce straw, reed, bamboo and bagasse.

Another, titled “City Cluster Eco-Transport” project, will provide a US$4.8 million grant to promote multi-modal transport integration in city clusters in a way that enhances transport efficiency, saves energy and reduces emissions. The project will focus on developing comprehensive city cluster transport strategies and guidelines, and will include a pilot demonstration in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) city cluster. [World Bank Press Release]