The number and amount of Chinese equity investment deals in the environmental protection and energy-saving sectors declined sharply in 2012 due to slowing economic growth and gloomy capital markets both at home and abroad, according to a report from ChinaVenture Group on Jan 16.

The report said only 27 deals were made in the sector by private equity and venture capital investors, decreasing 43.8 percent year-on-year, and their total investment was $359 million, decreasing 52.2 percent year-on-year.

The largest deal in 2012 was VC firm GGV Capital's 60 million yuan ($9.65 million) investment in Chinese high-polluting oilfield waste treatment service provider Aegis Petro.