China faces some huge environmental problems, from polluted air and toxic rivers to finding enough space for landfills. But efforts are underway to turn the tide by cleaning up heavy industry.

As China's economy continues to expand, the demand for energy grows. China is the world's fastest growing consumer of power. The country produces almost 45% of the world's total coal output, using more than half of this to produce electricity. And that plays a big part in China's pollution problems.

But initiatives on a local level are starting to have an impact. At a recent conference in Gansu province, in the North West of China, officials claimed that energy saving projects were already starting to bring benefits to the region. The announcement came following a conference on Resource Saving and Environmental Protection.