July 11, 2011 Issue 5 of 2011 Publisher: CCICED Secretariat Feedback Link

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■ Keqiang emphasizes the difficulties. Therefore, based on scientific importance of ecological development, it is necessary to act and accelerate the transformation of the improvement and vigorous economic development mode, successfully development of the establish and carry out the environmental energy-conserving environmental plan for the “12th Five-Year Plan” period, 1 protection industry quicken the building of a resource-conserving and environmentally-friendly society. On the afternoon of June 7th, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, Vice Li said, China is very likely to become the Premier of the State Council world’s largest market for energy-conserving visited the “11th Five-Year Plan” and environment-friendly products. As an Environmental Achievement Exhibition and emerging strategic-based market, the the China’s International Environment industry for energy-conserving and Exhibition. During the visit, Li Keqiang environmentally friendly products has a emphasized the importance of ecological bright future. It will benefit not only the improvement and the development of the economy, but also the public. We must adapt energy-efficient industry. to the world’s developing trends, develop a market with cleaner products, cultivate new economical growth points, and to give a new quality and meaning to life. At the same time, China’s protection of the ecological environment asks for enormous demands, which means new opportunities for foreign enterprises.

To further develop the energy-conserving and environmental protection industry, there is a need to combine technological innovation with the institutional one, to guide and encourage all types of enterprises into displaying their strengths, promoting mutual beneficial cooperation to achieve collaborative development, to then enter the world stage, Li stated. Li Keqiang commented, during the “11th Five-Year-Plan” period, China has made Li continued to point out, the frequent remarkable progress in environmental droughts and floods was a wake-up call, we protection. However, the current must obey the laws of nature, and pay great environmental situation is still grim, with attention to effectively protect and rationally heavy loads of tasks, great pressure and utilize water resources, to further strengthen the treatment of water, air, and soil pollution, development of the society, efforts have been while taking severe means of remediation for made to solve outstanding environmental heavy metal pollution and ensuring the issues that affect scientific development and safety of water and food for the public. damage the well-being of the public. Great progress has been made in this regard, Li also said, the existing environmental especially the following four aspects: technology can help better protect the earth, but the concept of environmental protection Firstly, the task of emissions reduction of still needs to be instilled into people’s minds. primary pollutants was accomplished. th To be able to see the beautiful scene of green During the “11 Five-Year Plan” period, SO2 mountains and clean water, blue skies and and COD emissions lowered by 14.29% and 2 white clouds, everybody needs to act, 12.45% respectively, exceeding 10% of the especially the young generation. We need to targets set. learn from all humankind’s achievements, to seize the commanding point of having the Secondly, there is a growing impact of world’s best environmental technology, to optimizing the economical growth and win the race between the global industries, ensuring improvement of people’s livelihood and step onto the frontier of sustainability. by environmental protection. Since 2006, the (Source: CENews) State Environmental Protection Administration (the Ministry of ■ stresses the Environmental Protection since march 2008) importance of exploring new rejected, disapproved and suspended the environmental impact assessment of 822 dimensions for environmental projects that did not comply with regulations, th protection of the “12 Five-Year which involved a investment of RMB 3.2 Plan” trillion. Up to 11 million people/times of environmental law enforcement were On June 7th, the “11th Five-Year Plan” involved, and about 20,000 firms that were Environmental Achievement Exhibition and illegally emitting pollutants were closed. the 12th China’s International Environmental Protection Achievement Thirdly, pollution prevention and Exhibition opened in . Mr. Zhou control in major river basins has been Shengxian, Minister of Environmental intensified. The assessment systems for key Protection made a speech at the opening trans-provincial cross-section water quality ceremony. were established. The results show that, by the end of 2010, 80.9% of the cross-section Zhou Shengxian stated, the “11th water met the standard. Work related to Five-Year Plan” period was a extraordinary explore and establish new mechanisms of five years in the history of China’s joint prevention and control against regional development, it was also a great five years air pollution was carried out. Following the for the cause of environmental protection. success of the 2008 Green Olympics, the task Within these five years, the Chinese to ensure clean air carried onto the government has put environmental successful completion of the 2010 protection in a more important and strategic World Expo along with the Guangzhou position, putting forward the following Asian Games. important strategic ideas: building of an ecological culture; promoting a historical Fourthly, the quality of the environment transformation in environmental protection; continued to improve. The concentration of restoring the rivers and lakes; making permanganate within controlled sections of environmental protection an important issue the national surface water fell by 31.9% of livelihood; and exploring a new path for compared to 2005. Key environmentally environmental protection. Apart from protected cities had a lower average making emissions reduction of primary concentration of SO2 compared to 2005, by pollutants as a main constrained indicator 26.3%. Water quality of the state controlled for the national economy and the sections of the 7 main rivers were better than

level III compared to 2005, raised from 41% consumption and CO2 emission per unit of (in 2005) to 59.9%. GDP will fall by 16% and 17% respectively, SO2 and COD by 8%, ammonia and Zhou pointed out, the "11th Five-Year nitrogen oxide by 10%, compared to 2010. Plan" Environmental Achievement The environment will definitely take a turn Exhibition is a satisfactory answer to the for the better. State Council and the people. The exhibition mainly showed the experiences and staff on Zhou stated, it is important to focus on the front line in environmental protection, four issues to explore new dimensions for the from cadres to workers in all departments, environmental protection during the "12th as well as all the industries that thoroughly Five-Year Plan" period. 3 implemented the scientific development approach, actively building an ecological First is to further develop the culture, truly accelerating the historical environment cause from a new starting point. transformation of environmental protection, For the "12th Five-Year Plan", China's striving to explore a new path for environmental protection is at a new starting environmental protection in China, which is point, a historical one, stepping onto the new of low cost, low emissions, high efficiency path of scientific development, expediting the and sustainability. Held in conjunction was transformation of economic development the China’s International Environmental mode, and improving the public's livelihood. Protection Exhibition, the largest and most It is necessary to plan, review and deploy the influential platform of exchanging work of environmental protection from the technology and displaying cooperation. standpoint of overall development of the Eleven of such exhibition was successfully social economy along with a macro-strategic held since the first one in 1986. Nearly 500 level. Chinese and foreign firms of 20 countries and regions joined the exhibition, bringing Second is to identify the difficulties, and the world's leading environmental promote the coordinated integration between technologies and appliances. This will environmental protection and economic definitely play an active role in helping development. To mainstream the controlling the pollution and promoting the requirements of environmental protection environmental protection industry. into the whole process of social and economical development, making all aspects Zhou commented, this is the first year th of economical development benefit and for the "12 Five-Year Plan". The upcoming improve the environment. There is a need to five years will be full of hope in terms of let the environmental protection actively environmental protection, but it will also be take part in macroeconomic control, to fully a tough and important five-year. According th play the role of optimizing economic to the requirements of the "12 Five-Year development and promote the shift of Plan", the general considerations of economic development pattern as well as environmental protection work would be: economic restructuring. focusing on the theme of scientific development, shift of economic development Third is to break through the important mode and improvement of ecological culture, points to ensure a remarkable progress in to identify the connections among emission the scientific development and the reduction of pollutants, improving the improvement of the public's livelihood. The quality of the environment, risk prevention, key tasks in environmental protection in the and the balanced development between the "12th Five-Year Plan" period's are as urban and rural areas. There is a need to follows: focusing on resolving the explore a low cost, low emission, high outstanding environmental issues that affect efficient and sustainable path for China's scientific development and damage the environment with a focus on solving the well-being of the public, there is need to outstanding environmental issues that affect strictly suppress the construction projects scientific development and damage the with high energy consumption, high well-being of the public. By 2015, the energy emissions, over-use of resources, low-level repeat, and overcapacity. Priority should be reached level II of the national air quality, given to resolving the issue of heavy metal 2.8% lower than that of last year, and 19.0% pollution, POPs (persistent organic lower than the year 2005. However, the pollutants), and soil pollution. overall situation of China’s environment is still quite grim, facing many problems and Lastly is to deal with the hot spots, challenges. further increase the effort of reducing pollution emission. Pollution reduction is a First of all, the surface water in the highlight of the “11th Five-Year Plan”, and country is still heavily polluted. Secondly, the also one in the “12th Five-Year Plan”. With coastal water quality is still slightly polluted. higher objectives, more stringent measures, Thirdly, the national urban air quality is 4 and more intensive requirements as goals, we generally good, but some cities are rather need to put structural emission reduction in hevaily polluted. The areas suffered from a more prominent position, and to continue acid rain remain stable, but acid rain to enhance the emission reduction through pollution is rather heavy. Fourthly, the project and management. To further urban acoustical environment are relatively promote the emission reduction of SO2 and well. Fifthly, the national radiation level is COD, we need to actively use innovative well in general, ionizing radiation and measures, starting from the reduction of electromagnetic radiation levels remained nitrates of coal-fired power plants, stable. Sixthly, parts of the country’s purification of vehicle exhaust gas, as well as ecological function improved, but the the control of agricultural non-point source ecological environment is still a primary pollution. Efforts will be made to accelerate concern. The trend of decreasing biodiversity the emission reduction of nitrogen oxides was not controlled effectively, resulting in and ammonia, and strive to put the work of continued loss of genetic resources. Last, the emissions reduction as the highlight of the rural environmental issue is becoming environmental work for the “12th Five-Year increasingly apparent, the aggregated Plan”. (Source: CENews) emissions of agricultural pollutants are rather high, the situation in some areas took ■ The Ministry of Environmental a turn for the better, but in general the situation remains serious. Protection releases the 2010 Report on the state of the environment in Li pointed out, in the year 2010, the China Ministry of Environmental Protection performed solid work and finished each task On the morning of June 3rd, the State assigned. Council Information Office hosted a press conference, where they released the “2010 Firstly, the target of emission reduction Report on the state of the environment in of primary pollutants was completed by China”. Mr. Li Ganjie, Vice Minister of surpssing the targets set. In comparison to Environmental Protection attended the press 2005, SO2 and COD emissions lowered by conference and answered questions from 14.29% and 12.45% respectively. Secondly, Chinese and foreign reporters. the combined effect of optimizing economic development and environmental protection is According to Li Ganjie, in 2010, parts of becoming increasingly apparent. Thirdly, China’s environmental quality index efforts to prevent pollution in the key river continue to take a turn for the better. basin has been intensified. Fourthly, great Monitoring result of the national surface efforts were made in resolving outstanding water shows that permanganate levels has an environmental issues that damage the average concentration of 4.9 miligrams/litre well-being of the public. In 2010, a special in 2010, 3.9% lower than that of last year, fund of RMB 1.5 billion was allocated for the 31.9% lower than the year 2005. In urban prevention and control of heavy metal areas, the SO2 levels within the air has an pollution. Fifthly, to continuously strengthen average concentration of 0.034 the protection of the rural environment and miligrams/cubic metres in 2010, which the ecosystems. Sixthly, the basic and strategic environmental protection project On the morning of June 3rd, the State made productive results. Seventhly, the work Council Information Office hosted a press of policies and regulations, environmental conference, where they released the “2010 protection planning, monitoring system, Report on the state of the Environment in international co-operation and China”. The report states, in 2010, China’s environmental education were steadily environmental quality indicators continued progressed. Eighthly, supervision and to improve, the targets of pollution reduction management on the safety of nuclear energy and emission reduction has been and radiation improved. Finally, the capacity accomplished, public’s awareness on building of environmental protection has protecting the environment was growing. taken another step forward. (Source: The urban air quality was generally well, 5 CENews) areas with acid rain were kept relatively stable in terms of times of occurrence. The ■ The Ministry of Environmental urban acoustical environment was also generally well. At the same time, however, Protection announces the theme for the report also shows that the national China for the World Environment surface water pollution was still quite heavy; Day 2011 the 7 main rivers of China were slighly polluted; the problem of eutrophication in On May 27th, the Ministry of the lakes (resevoirs) were outstanding; and Environment Protection announced the the coastal water quality was still considered theme for China for the World Environment slightly polluted. Day on June 5th - “Together we build an ecological culture, together we share a green The report states, in 2010, China future”. The theme aims to: raising public discharged 12,381,000 tons of COD, 3.09% awareness on the connection between the lower than the previous year; 21,851,000 tons environment and development, taking of SO2 was emitted, 1.32% lower than the conscious actions in this regard, emphasizing previous year. Compared to 2005, the the importance of an ecological culture, the emission of both COD and SO2 lowered by idea of green development, and the 12.45% and 14.29% respectively, exceeding significance of the public’s participation, the targets by 10%. In 2010, there was a calling upon the whole society to act together increase of new de-sulphurized coal-fueled to contribute for the sake of sustainability. power generation sets with a total capacity of 107 million KW, making the de-sulphurized The UNEP identified the theme of 2011’s thermoelectric power generation sets World Environment Day as “Forests: Nature reaching a total capacity of 578 million KW; at your service”, for 2011 is the International the urban sewage treatment systems with a Year of Forests. This theme stresses the capacity of 19 million cubic metres were set ecological value of forests, striving for up, making a total of 124 million cubic increasing the awareness amongst the public metres. Small thermal-powered units with a regarding forest protection. China echoed total capacity of 72.1 million KW were the UN’s theme and at the same time shutted down, which means that the task of strongly emphasized the signficance and closing 50 million KW of units was finished a urgent issue of establishing an ecological year and a half in advance. culture, to call on everyone to act together, and to establish an environmentally-friendly The report reveals, in 2010, the 7 main idea of development, creating a green future rivers of China were slightly polluted, water together. （Source: CENews） quality of rivers in Zhemin Region and the southwest was relatively better, rivers from ■ 2010 Report on the state of the the northwest had the best quality of all. environment in China shows The report shows, national urban air improvement of environmental quality was generally better than last year. quality seen in parts of China Air quality of 113 key environmentally protected cities mostly improved, cities in compliance with the standard increased by According to the authority, the Plan is a 6.2% compared to last year. strategic, fundamental and binding plan. Carrying out the Plan and promoting the According to the report, by the end of construction of these areas demonstrate 2010, China has built 2588 nature reserves of China’s great change in the way of thinking different ranks and types. With a total area for development and development mode. It is of 149,440,000 hectares, the land nature great innovation of the methods and reserves account for 14.9% of China’s total concepts of regional control. All these have land territory. In 2010, a Central Financial significant meaning for promoting China’s Wetland Protection Fund was set up, with science and technology development as well RMB 200 milion used to subsidize wetlands as speeding up the transformation of the 6 of international importance, wetland nature economical development mode. reserves, the National Wetland Park as well as wetland supervision and monitoring and According to the content of development, ecological restoration. the country’s territory will be divided into three main catagories: the urban area, the The report also points out, the current rural area, and the ecological area. The rural environmental problems have become optimized development areas are urban increasingly apparent, the aggregated areas that economically advanced, densely emissions of agricultural pollutants were populated and with great development rather high. Even though in some areas the intensity, and where the problem of situation took a turn for the better, but resources and the environment is more overall this was still serious issue. In 2010, prominent. Therefore, the process of the Ministry of Environmental Protection industrialzation and urbanization should be and the Ministry of Finance organized 8 optimized for development. For key provinces (autnomous regions and development areas, they must have a strong municipalities), including and environmental carrying capacity for , and to carry out a joint treatment resources, great potential for development, demonstration on the rural environment, and a rather condensed population with a which involved 800 million people of 4000 good economic conditions. These areas villages and 181 counties. The demonstration should focus mainly on the development of made great progress, and the results are urban areas through industrialization and starting to stand out. (Source: CENews) urbanization. The limited development areas are agricultural areas and key ecological function areas. Non-development areas are ■ The National Development and places established in accordance with the law Reform Commission will soon to act as different types of protected areas of publish the National Major nature and culture, and key ecological areas Function Zoning Plans that need special protection, prohibiting any form of industrialization and urbanization. On June 8th, the National Development and Reform Commission announced during Promoting the formation of primary a State Council Information Office press function areas are conducive to the conference that the “National Major followings: promoting a coordinated regional Function Zoning Plans” (the Plan) will be development in line with the people-oriented published soon. The Plan, on the basis of the concept; reducing the gap of basic public development mode, will divide the country’s services and living standards between territories into four areas: the optimized different regions; turning around the development area, the key development area, worsening trends of the ecological the limited development area, and the environment at the source of its problems, on non-development area. This is the first plan the way to achieve sustainable development; of territorial spatial development since the holding back the malpractice of destroying establishment of the People’s Republic of the environment first, and then restore, China. preventing the development of current generation from compromising the ability of the future generations to develop; formulating and implementing a more focused regional policies and a performance evaluation system to make the regional control more targeted, effective, and fair. (Source: Xinhuanet)

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