China may have become finally aggressive in combating its pollution-riddled air and environment, but it would take at least 18 years for the zooming super-power to realise the fruits of its labor and be finally able to eat it too.

Last week, the Chinese government announced 10 strict measures to fight its growing pollution menace, including stricter controls on coal-burning emissions and road traffic, pushing up the cost of burning fuel as well as forcing energy consumers to use cleaner energy alternatives, among others.

"It is the most aggressive policy effort to address air quality issues in China's history," Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, one of China's best-known environmental advocacy groups, as well as Deutsche Bank's chief economist for Greater China in Hong Kong, wrote in a note. "We believe these measures represent the beginning, rather than the full package, of China's anti-air pollution campaign."

Efforts to improve air quality however "could last for 18 years, before Chinese cities' average PM2.5 falls to 30."

In its report in March, the US-based Health Effects Institute said the sickening air pollution in China contributed to 1.2 million premature deaths and 25 million healthy years of life lost in that country in 2010.

Also included in the measures was the accountability given to local officials to monitor their area's air quality, and forcing key polluting industries to reduce their emissions by 30 per cent within five years.

It is indeed a "milestone in the country's anti-pollution campaign," Mr Ma said.

But while environment experts and even economists lauded China's determined stance, pencil-pushing thoughts and enabling them into action are still two different things.

According to Mr Ma, putting the measures into the necessary corresponding action will be a struggle, if not a great challenge for the growing Asian super power because "the main reason (for pollution) is that the local governments protect polluting industries for the sake of GDP."

"I think that these measures are great, but the challenge is giving the government the motivation to enforce them." More so that in China, incentives are given to local officials whose area's economic growth are ranked above pollution reduction.

Seeing the prevailing system could jeopardise the overall anti-pollution goal of the state, China gave local leaders targets for improving air quality, seen as a "new motivation" to reduce pollution.