By 2020, China’s water resources ministry seeks to slash water consumption per unit of gross domestic product 60 percent, according to UPI.

Lui said water consumption was down 10 percent in 2008 from 2007. Still, two-thirds of China’s cities are dealing with water shortages. Furthermore, 200 million rural people do not have adequate supplies of drinking water.

On top of that, China is suffering its worst drought in 50 years.

Environmental challenges in China are changing the way firms do business, according to this column.