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Your report on the rise of environmental protest in China (Nature 488, 261–262; 2012) is backed up by findings of the Pew Global Attitudes Project, which indicate that 80% of Chinese people now rate environmental protection as a priority (see go.nature.com/tehbh9).

Landmark cases include spontaneous protests against paraxylene pollution in Xiamen in 2007 and in Dalian in 2011; against garbage incineration at Panyu in 2009; and against waste-water pollution in Qidong earlier this year. So far, people seem more concerned about the impact of local pollutants than about national environmental issues (W. Li, J. Liu and D. Li J. Environ. Mgmt 98, 65–72; 2012).

These protests have raised awareness of environmental pollution among local governments and forced them to address some of the issues.

Environmental protection on a wider scale will demand more concerted action, with strong leadership and organization, and regulations that protect the rights of individuals. It will mean supporting the winners and compensating those who could lose out economically.