China still faces grave environmental challenges ahead, despite some progress being achieved in 2010.

The State Council's information office has issued a report on China's environmental situation over the last year. Officials say environmental quality has partially improved, but on the whole the problems are pressing. Acid rain, agricultural pollution, a deteriorating ecological system and surface water pollution are some of the major concerns.

In the meantime some environment protection projects have met or even exceeded their targets, such as the reduction of sulfur dioxide with emissions falling 14 percent compared to 2005. However as China starts its 12th Five Year Plan this year, it will be under growing pressure to solve multiple problems.