最近，危险级别的空气污染蔓延到了中国几个主要城市。这个问题表明，中国在治理污染方面还有很多工作要做。但是中国也正在改变对该问题的处理方式。
In the past, local governments, including officials in the capital Beijing, would have denied the problem. But, during the recent period of smog, schools and some polluting factories were closed. Also, the number of cars permitted on city streets was limited.
过去，包括首都北京官员在内的地方政府都会否认这个问题。但是在最近的雾霾期间，学校停课，一些污染工厂停工。此外，允许上路的汽车数量也受到了限制。
Environmental groups say the number of clear days is increasing. More people are paying attention to the deadly effects of microscopic air pollutants called PM 2.5. These small particles can harm human lungs.
环保组织表示，晴天的数量正在增多。更多人注意到被称之为PM2.5的微小空气污染物的致命影响，这种微小颗粒物会损害人体肺部。
During the five-day pollution crisis, state-run Xinhua news agency reports that 15 million face masks were sold online.
新华社报道称，在五天的环境污染危机期间，网上卖出了1500万个口罩。
Recently, China's National People's Congress passed a new environmental tax. The tax affects polluters of air, water and solids. Noise pollution is also among the things that can be taxed. The new law aims to pressure polluters and give the government more enforcement power.
最近，中国人大通过了一项新的环境税。该税种会影响到空气、水和固体污染物。噪音污染也是征税事项之一。这部新的法律旨在对排污企业施加压力，并赋予政府更大的执法权。
Weak local enforcement
地方执行不力
The law aims to deal with the failure of local governments to watch, enforce, and punish polluters. For nearly 40 years, China has been collecting fees from polluters. However, the system did not work well.
该法律旨在应对地方政府未能有效监测、执行和惩罚排污企业的问题。近40年来，中国一直向排污企业征收费用。然而，该制度执行不力。
Under the old pollution fee law, local governments placed more importance on economic growth than the environment.
根据旧的污染收费法，地方政府更重视经济增长而不是生态环境。
Yuan Ying works for the Climate and Energy Unit of Greenpeace East Asia in Beijing. She said a pollution tax is a good step.
袁颖（音译）就职于绿色和平东亚分部气候与能源项目北京办公室。她说，推出污染税是迈出好的一步。
She said the new policy will help cause local governments to make tougher rules for companies that pollute.
她说，新政策将有助于促使地方政府对污染企业制定更严格的规定。
In the past, local officials from China's Ministry of Environmental Protection were responsible for collecting pollution fees and the system was easy to abuse. Earlier this month, state media reported that investigations this year have led to the punishment of more than 3,700 officials for not effectively protecting the environment.
过去，中国环保部的地方官员负责征收排污费，该制度容易被滥用。本月早些时候，国家媒体报道称，今年的调查已经导致了3700多名未能有效保护环境的官员受到处罚。
Now, local tax officials will send the money directly to the local governments, instead of local environmental protection departments. Environmental officials will be responsible for monitoring polluters.
现在，地方税务官员将把这笔（征收到的）资金直接交给地方政府，而不是地方环保部门。环境官员将负责监测排污企业。
War on Pollution
污染之争
For years, China has been criticized for not limiting pollution because of the effect it could have on economic growth. Critics of China include Peter Navarro, the man President-elect Donald Trump has appointed as the head of what he is calling the National Trade Council.
多年来，中国一直被批评不限制污染，因为它可能会对经济增长产生影响。批评中国的包括刚被候任总统川普任命为国家贸易委员会负责人的彼得·纳瓦罗（Peter Navarro）。
These critics argue that weak enforcement is unfair because China uses it to cut costs for its companies. These savings can make their products more competitive.
这些批评者认为，执行不力是不公平的，因为中国利用这点降低企业成本，从而使得他们的产品更具竞争力。
But, in recent years, public awareness and opposition has grown. Pressure to clean up the environment has increased. Chinese leaders see the problem affecting not only the country's water, soil and air, but social stability too.
但是近年来，公众意识和反抗有所增长。清洁环境的压力有所增长。中国领导人认为该问题不仅影响到了国家的水土空气，也影响到了社会稳定。
Too little, too slow
步子太小，来得太慢
The effect of the tax is not yet known. The new law does not take effect until January 2018.
该税种的影响尚不得而知。这部新法律要到2018年1月才生效。
Information released by state media shows that few companies will feel pressure to pollute less. For example, the tax on one ton of dangerous waste is about $144.
国家媒体发布的信息表明，极少数企业才会感到对污染的压力变小。例如，对一顿危险废弃物征收的税费为144美元左右。
Coal mines and users are expected to pay less than one dollar for one ton of waste. And the cost for releasing one kilogram of the chemical sulfur dioxide is about 17 cents.
预计煤矿老板和煤炭用户要为每吨废弃物缴纳不到1美元的税，而释放一公斤二氧化硫的成本约为17美分。
But officials say the increase in money received from the tax will be large. Last year, under the old system, officials collected $2.5 billion from about 280,000 polluters. The new tax law is expected to collect as much as $50 billion during its first year.
但是有关官员表示，通过该税种征收到的资金将会大幅增长。去年，有关官员根据旧制度从大约28万家排污企业中征收到了25亿美元。预计新税法首年将会征收到高达500亿美元。
Greenpeace's Yuan Ying said that based on their estimates the current rate is still too low, especially for coal-burning power plants. She said the current cost to polluters is not enough to limit or pay for the environmental costs.
绿色和平的袁颖表示，根据他们的估算，目前的征收费率还是太低，尤其是对煤电厂。她说，排污企业目前要掏的费用不足以限制他们的排放或支付环境成本。
I'm Alice Bryant.
我是埃利斯·布莱恩特。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)