Tens of thousands of Shenzhen residents joined ceremonies* marking the opening of the annual environmental campaign across the city on Sunday.

The events, held two days before World Environment Day which fell on June 5, were aimed at enhancing* residents’ awareness about environmental protection.

Guo Yurong, director general of the municipal environmental protection bureau, said more than 100 activities will be held during the next four months.

“Activities include reporting illegal industrial polluters, a No Car Day, tree planting, recycling* used batteries, free lectures and the annual Shenzhen Residents’ Environmental Protection Award,” she said.

The bureau expects more than 1 million Shenzheners to take part in the activities.

According to the bureau, tens of thousands of residents will walk to work or use public transport to mark No Car Day on Friday.

The annual Shenzhen Residents’ Environmental Protection Award will be given in September.

Vice Mayor Lu Ruifeng said local residents play an important part in environmental protection. “Last year, the city arrested 513 illegal industrial polluters based on residents’ reports, accounting for a quarter of the total number of polluters arrested,” he said.

He also praised the city’s six nongovernmental environmental protection organizations, which have some 100,000 members.

“Focusing on ecological* systems and water resource protection, these organizations are important in raising the public’s awareness of environmental protection,” the vice mayor said.