China has suspended refinery projects for its two largest oil companies for failing to meet pollution targets, according to China Central Television. The Ministry of Environmental Protection will continue the suspension until China National Petroleum Corporation and the China Petrochemical Corporation meet their pollution targets, as part of a wider crackdown on pollution in China. The two companies have lagged behind on emissions goals, letting their nitrogen dioxide emissions rise despite an order to cut them by eight percent, and failing to meet 10 percent annual reduction goals for sulphur dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide is a respiratory pollutant and leads to formation of ground-level ozone, and sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory problems. China has suffered record air pollution recently, and in August the government announced it would invest $275 billion over the next five years to clean up Beijing's air. For the full story, see http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0903-hance-china-oil-suspension.html.