China's economy grew dramatically between 1990 and 2009, but its environmental performance was among the worst in the world, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

While China's GDP grew more than five-fold, its energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions more than doubled, according to the 2012 China Sustainable Development Strategy Report. Consumption of finished steel products and cement increased by 9.3 and 6.9 times, respectively.

Of 72 countries whose environmental performance was evaluated, China ranked 69th. Denmark ranked first, while Vietnam ranked last, according to the report.