Pollution costing China dearly: Report

The cost of environmental damage soared to almost 1.4 trillion yuan ($222 billion) in 2009 in China, up 9.2% compared to the previous year, a report said.

China has spent 3.8% of the GDP in 2009 to clean up the environment, the China Green National Accounting Study Report 2009 said.

"The damage to the environment not only results in health problems, but in financial loss as well," the Global Times Saturday quoted Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based NGO Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, as saying.

"It's a vicious circle if we continue to strive for economic prosperity at the cost of huge energy consumption and environmental pollution, and it's time we wake up and curb the trend," Ma said.

The average cost of China's resources output is $320 to $350 per tonne, far below that of developed economies, which is between $2,500 to $3,500 per tonne, and it is still decreasing, according to the report by the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning.

"This means we are consuming about 10 times more energy than the developed economies for the same amount," he said.