The Laggard: CHINA (121st rank)

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China ranks 121st - reflecting the strain rapid economic growth imposes on the environment. China's environmental situation has become a focus of debate both within China and across the world. The scrutiny has intensified as China overtook the US as the world's largest carbon dioxide emitter in 2007. The attention only grew as China has struggled to alleviate Beijing's air pollution woes leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games.