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Policy Research Report of Environment and Development 2013

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AND DEVELOPMENT ON ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION CHINA COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL FOR CHINA COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL 2013 Development and Environment Report Research on Policy Environment and Society COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT for Green Development AND DEVELOPMENT CHINA COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Policy Research Report on Environment ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT and Development ENVIRONMENT The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and AND SOCIETY FOR Development (CCICED) was established in 1992 with the approval of the Chinese government as a high-level advisory body consisting of senior Chi- GREEN DEVELOPMENT nese and international experts. Its mandate is to share international suc- cessful experience on environment and development, to conduct research 2013 and to provide forward-looking, strategic and early-warning policy recom- mendations to the Chinese government to support and facilitate China’s implementation of sustainable development strategy and to enhance the building of a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society. CCICED has operated on the basis of five-year phases. Phase 1 (1992– 1996) concentrated on exchange and dissemination of international ex- perience and successful policies, and raising the environmental awareness of policy-makers. Phase 2 (1997–2001) focused on environmental pollu- tion, the relationship between environment and economic development, and strengthening environmental legal and regulation systems. Phase 3 (2002–2006) addressed the integration of environmental protection into the holistic planning of China’s development. Phase 4 (2007–2011) pro- moted the establishment of a new relationship between China’s economic development and environmental protection and explored a new path for optimizing environmental protection in economic development. 2013 Phase 5 (2012–2016) will seek to promote China’s sustainable development and ecological civilization; shift policy research priorities from the relation- ship between environment and economy to environment and social devel- opment, with more emphasis given to regional and global environment as well as the interaction and influence between China and the world; share research findings with the international community; and play a greater role ISBN 978-1-894784-67-2 in building a beautiful China and global sustainable development. Price: ¥85.00 CNY $15.00 CAD CCICED Secretariat No. 5 Houyingfang Hutong Xicheng District, Beijing, China 100035 Tel: +86-10-82268647, 82268659 Fax: + 86-10-82200535 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cciced.net China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development Policy Research Report on Environment and Development Environment and Society for Green Development 2013 CCICED Policy Research Report on Environment and Development Advisory Board LI Ganjie, SHEN Guofang, Arthur HANSON (Canada) TANG Dingding, XU Qinghua, REN Yong Editorial Board FANG Li, LI Yonghong, LI Haiying, ZHANG Mengheng Chris DAGG (Canada), Yichun DAI (Canada) HAN Yang, DONG Lin CHINA COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT Policy Research Report on Environment and Development ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY FOR GREEN DEVELOPMENT 2013 © 2014 The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) CCICED Policy Research Report on Environment and Society for Green Development 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Policy research report on environment and development : environment and society for green development 2013/ edited by the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development ISBN 978-1-894784-67-2 China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) CCICED Secretariat No. 5 Houyingfang Hutong Xicheng District, Beijing, China 100035 Tel: +86-10-82268647, 82268659 Fax: + 86-10-82200535 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cciced.net International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Head Office 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Tel: +1 (204) 958-7700 Fax: +1 (204) 958-7710 Website: www.iisd.org Printed in China. NOTE ON THIS VOLUME The year 2013 was an important year for China’s environment and development. The 3rd Plenary Session of the CPC 18th Congress drew up a comprehensive plan for ecological progress and for building a beautiful China through the process of ecological civilization and mechanisms for spatial development, resource conservation and ecological and environmental protection. The Congress also called for the development of an eco-environmental management system for facilitating integrated control of all pollutants. China’s rapid economic growth has led to a high occurrence of environmental incidents, and environmental pollution and ecological degradation has had a significant impact on social development. The Government will focus, for the near future, on improving people’s livelihood, protecting public interests, and strengthening social management and innovation. Many environmental and social studies have been carried out on prominent and urgent issues and have provided forward-looking, strategic and operational policy recommendations for economic restructuring and social development. In this context, the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) convened its 2013 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the theme of “Environment and Society for Green Development.” Five policy research study teams presented their reports: “China’s Environmental Protection and Social Development,” “Sustainable Consumption and Green Development,” “Media and Public Participation Policies on Promoting China’s Green Development,” “Corporate Social Responsibility in Green Development in China” and “Promoting Urban Green Travel.” In addition, three thematic forums were held during the AGM on the themes “Green Development and Social Harmony,” “Public Participation and Green Development” and “Practice and Innovation of Ecological Civilization Construction”. At those forums CCICED Council members and invited experts shared their perspectives. CCICED policy recommendations were discussed, finalized and adopted at the AGM for submission to the Chinese Government. China is at a critical stage where continuous healthy economic development can only be achieved through transformation and innovation, as pointed out by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at his meeting with CCICED international members and representatives during the AGM. People are making increasing demands for better environmental quality and the Government is making a great effort to strike a new balance between the environment and economic development, said Premier Li, adding that the Earth is the one and the only home to mankind. Recognizing this, China would like to strengthen international cooperation with other countries through information and knowledge sharing and technical and technology cooperation. Zhang Gaoli, Vice Premier and CCICED Chairperson, when meeting with CCICED international members and representatives during the AGM, said that China, as the world’s largest developing country, treats environment and V development issues seriously, and has incorporated resource conservation and environmental protection into basic national policies. China has made a continuous effort to protect the environment in the process of development, and regards protecting and improving the ecological environment as a prerequisite to protecting and improving productivity. The Government will continue to raise the awareness of the need for green development, circular development and low-carbon development. He stressed that sound environmental protection relies on a strong institutional foundation, and that China will accelerate the establishment of a comprehensive ecological management system, reforming and improving the systems governing property rights and the use of natural resource assets, establishing ecological red lines and implementing user-pay and ecological compensation measures. CCICED Council Members recognized that China has reached an important stage in its development, and is addressing the complex challenges of achieving economic transformation, enhancing eco-environmental protection, and ensuring social development. The decisions made at the Party Congress on major issues concerning deepening reforms have sent a positive signal to the international community. These decisions will not only expedite the process of China’s sustainable development, but will also have a far-reaching impact on environment and development globally. This Policy Research Report on Environment and Development comprises 2013 policy research findings, 2013 policy recommendations to the Chinese Government, and a review of policy progress in China’s environment and development during 2012-2013, and is intended to serve as a reference for decision-makers at all levels, experts, scholars and the general public. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Policy Recommendations to the Government of China /1 1.1 Recommendation 1. /3 1.2 Recommendation 2. /6 1.3 Recommendation 3. /8 1.4 Recommendation 4. /10 1.5 Recommendation 5. /11 Chapter 2 Environment and Society /13 2.1 Introduction /13 2.2 International Situation
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