The broad measures approved by the State Council include putting strict controls in place for industries that produce large amounts of waste and pollution. It will likely be up to local governments to work out the details.

In a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, the state council approved 10 "tough measures to accomplish tough tasks,'' the council said in a statement on its website late Friday. These include a target to reduce pollution emissions by at least 30% in heavy-polluting industries by the end of 2017.

China's growing middle class has become increasingly fed up with air, water and soil pollution that has resulted from development-at-all-costs policies.