Environmental effects on health are a growing concern as air, water and noise pollution are significant contributors to China's total burden of disease. Efforts to address this situation are still in the early phase. Greater collaboration, both on the part of China's government as well as across the United Nations organizations, is required to make progress on environmental health issues.
While China is on track to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especial attention needs to be paid to MDG 7, to ensure environmental sustainability in China. The link between the environment and health has only recently moved up the political agenda, of which the development of a National Environmental Health Action Plan is a strong initial step. WHO will be working with China over the coming years to ensure environmental health remains a priority.