BEIJING, Sept. 8 -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaolion Friday underscored the urgency of green development, requiring local officials to address environmental ills.

Although notable progress has been made, there is still a lot of work to do on environment protection, said Zhang at a symposium with local officials on low-carbon development.

An industrial system of green development will strengthen technological support and spread the concept of green growth and green lifestyles, according to the vice premier.

He stressed "proper development" of cities and towns, with more effective treatment of garbage.

Problems such as air, water and soil pollution should be dealt with, and carbon emissions should be controlled, the vice premier said.

After decades of rapid expansion brought smog and contaminated soil, China is steadily shifting from GDPobsession to a balanced growth philosophy that puts more emphasis on the environment.

Measures have been taken to control pollution. A revised environmental protection law and a "river chief" system was introduced. The government has drawn "red lines" in certain regions to strengthen protection.

China is to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and raise the share of non-fossil energy in total consumption to about 20 percent.