The planned government system for measuring companies' environmental protection efforts will spur companies to upgrade their pollution-reduction equipment, the country's top pollution watchdog said.

"The new credit system will encourage companies to make a greater effort in pollution control and help them realize the serious consequences of pollutant emissions," said Zou Shoumin, head of the environmental supervision bureau under the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Since August, the ministry has been releasing monthly pollution-related supervision reports on its website, with details of the pollution and polluters.