East Asia & the Pacific

Sep 6, 2012 12:00:00 AM EDT

Water scarcity and pollution is becoming a crtiical issue in China. About two-thirds of China’s more than 600 cities suffer from water shortages and over 100 cities are seriously affected. China’s fast-growing economy, large population, and rapid urbanization have worsened the degradation of its water resources. IFC launched the China Water Efficiency Program to help address this developemnt challenge. Adopting the approach of our successful China Utility-based Energy Efficiency Program (CHUEE), we are seeking to work with Chinese enterprises to conserve water. In this video, Rong Chen, operations officer of the China Water Efficiency Program, talks about why IFC is focusing on industrial water issues and the challenges of addressing water issues in China.