BEIJING-- China's State Council on Thursday called ordered improved, innovative administration in environmental protection, according to a statement.

In a statement published on the central government's website, the State Council listed a series of guidelines on environment-related issues, saying that it will step efforts to address prominent environmental problems that affect people's lives and sustainable development.

The statement ordered strictly implementing environmental impact assessment, vigoroulsy developing environmental protection industry, and ensuring nuclear and radioactive safety.

It called for implementing economic policies beneficial to environmental protection.

The statement also ordered local governments at all levels to attach more importance to environmental protection, noting ecological conditions should be considered in evaluating the performance of local leaders.