Chapter
20 - Public Participation in Sustainable Development
D. Participation of Workers and Labour Unions in Sustainable Development
E. Strengthening the Role of the Science and Technology Circle in Sustainable Development
C. Participation of Minority Nationalities and Minority Nationality Districts in Sustainable Development
Basis for action
20.41 There are 55 minority nationalities in China, with a total population of 91.2 million (8% of the total population). There have been 159 minority nationality autonomous districts set up (5 autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, and 124 autonomous counties). These are widely spread throughout areas containing valuable natural resources and subsequently each region plays an important part in the nation's sustainable development.
20.42 Generally speaking, the minority nationality regions are poor. Economic structures and necessary technologies are inadequate and subsequently utilization of natural resources is poor. With increasing modernization and a growing economy, many environmental problems are beginning to emerge.
20.43 It has already been stipulated by law that the minority nationality regions enjoy the right of autonomy, so programs must be created to carry this autonomy into matters concerning sustainable development.
20.44 The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau embraces the largest population of China's minority nationalities. It has large amounts of valuable natural resources, but owing to its harsh natural conditions and to particular historic reasons, the economic development of this area is still limited. Production remains minimal and because of bad management techniques wasteful resource exploitation and environmental pollution are serious. The implementation of the Programme for Comprehensive Development of Nationality Economy and Ecological Environment of the Qinghai -Tibetan Plateau (simply known as Project 9525) will not only contribute to a solution for the environmental protection and sustainable development of this region, but also will provide experiences for other minority nationality regions, and thereby promote sustainable development of all the minority nationality districts.
Objectives
20.45 Efforts should be made to improve legislation concerning minority nationalities such as the laws related to the exploitation of resources, the state supporting policies and popularization of science and technologies and the relevant autonomous regulations in such a way that it promotes the capacity building of minority nationalities and their regions.
20.46 Mechanisms should be set up to allow minority nationalities and minority nationality districts to participate at State or local levels in the process of formulating policies and strategies, concerning sustainable development, as well as in the their implementation.
20.47 Measures should be taken to implement the program for comprehensive development of minority nationality economies and ecological environment of the Qinghai -Tibetan Plateau. This project covers the whole of Tibet, the Haixi, Yushu, Guolou and Huangnan autonomous prefectures in the south of the Qinghai Province, the Ganzhi and Abei autonomous prefectures in the south of the Qinghai Province, the Ganzhi and Abei autonomous prefectures in the west of Sichuan Province and the Diqing autonomous prefecture of Yunan Province. This area measures more than 2 million square kilometres. The implementation of this program will take 25 years, and will be divided into three stages. The respective objectives of the three stages are as follows:
- (a) 1995-1998: The target of this period is to
perform a feasibility study for the program, "Development of New Energy
Resources in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in Support of Sustainable Development
and Environmental Experimentation." To work out detailed implementation
schemes for each item included in the program and to carry out key trial
implementations step by step. During this period,training centres should
be set up to train professionals needed for the program;
(b) 1998-2010: During this period, implementation of the program will be carried out in key regions, with emphasis laid on the development of new energy resources;
(c) 2010-2020: The objectives for this period are to explore the mining resources of the Qinghai- Tibetan Plateau, develop a local industrial system suitable for the particular characteristics of the plateau, develop facilities to accommodate tourism, and to set up a global research base for plateau science.
Activities
20.48 Plans should be made to further improve state-level legislation for autonomy of minority nationalities, so as to consolidate their right to participate in sustainable development into legal forms. Minorities in the autonomous regions should also be allowed to implement state laws and regulations, regarding sensitive environments and natural resource to accommodate unique conditions specific to each autonomous region, and to draw up more specific regulations when necessary.
20.49 Plans should be drawn up for the State to adopt policies in support of the minority nationality regions according to each region's unique conditions and needs. The State should financially support the minority nationality region in the areas of technology, facilities and professional personnel, in order to raise the quality of enterprises in these regions. When developing and managing the resources in these areas, considerations should be given to the benefit of the local people who depend on those resources for their livelihood and substantial measures should be taken to help solve their problems. Programs should be created to give technical and political guidance according to each region's needs. The State can give guidance on the implementation of strategies for sustainable development in minority nationality regions through various kinds of pilot projects.
20.50 Measures should be taken to encourage minority nationalities and minority nationality districts to participate in sustainable development. The right to autonomy of the minority nationality autonomous regions should be fully respected, and its realization ensured. The right of the minority nationalities to manage their land and other natural resources should be protected by law. Their unique ethnic culture should be protected, and their customs and traditions should be respected. National minority citizens should be given a greater role in policy-making concerning economic development, environmental protection, and natural resource utilization in their respective regions. Efforts should be made to train a large number of minority nationality cadres and science and technology personnel. Education should be provided to all minority nationality citizens regarding laws and regulations, and scientific knowledge concerning environmental protection and sustainable development. Education will in turn promote environmental consciousness, and thereby develop a social atmosphere of conscientious environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. Help should be given to the minority nationalities and minority nationality districts to prepare management plans for the conservation of natural resources. Professional advice when given should incorporate minority value systems, traditional knowledge and traditional ways of resource management. Furthermore, support should be given to pollution-free production methods, to promote a pollution-free environment and sustainable development of the minority nationality regions.
20.51 A lead group for Project 9525 and an executive office should be set up under the State Commission of Nationality Affairs, with participants from related ministries and commissions. They should be responsible for macro guidance and regional and provincial coordination, and should carry out international exchanges and cooperation to support the implementation of Project 9525. A system engineering research project on electricity generation and economic development with new energy resources, mainly solar energy, will be carried out on the basis of the present solar energy technology and through international cooperation. Cooperation shall be carried out, with countries such as Japan and the U.S.A., in scientific research related to the exploitation of solar energy at high altitudes, under extremely low temperatures and strong radiation. Cooperation with international science and technology institutions, will allow professionals to be sent to other countries to be trained. Professionals on all levels, working on the project should receive special training, and have a very strong overall understanding of the project, its organization, implementation, item estimation, and management method.
D. Participation of Workers and Labour Unions in Sustainable Development
Basis for action
20.52 Workers in all professions will play a vital role in the realization of the objectives of sustainable development. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions is a mass organization formed voluntarily by Chinese workers and staff members. Its basic social function is to defend the legal benefits and democratic rights of workers and staff members. It mobilizes workers and staff members to participate in development and reform, and to go all out to fulfil the tasks of economic and social development. The trade union is a main channel through which workers can participate in democratic government affairs. The trade union also represents workers in the management of government and social affairs, as well as in the management of enterprises and institutions. It is the duty of the trade union to help the workers expand their ideology and enhance cultural and technical experiences. The trade unions of China have the largest membership in the world, with more than 600,000 grassroots organizations and over 100 million members. The large membership has allowed the union to form a very efficient network system. Due to the important tasks it shoulders in social and economic development, its rich experiences, large membership, extensive network system, and its deep concern in environmental protection and sustainable development, the trade union will be important to aiding China's work towards achieving sustainable development.
20.53 As a developing socialist country, China is not very strong either economically or technically, and subsequently China's capacity for environmental protection is comparatively weak. The Chinese workers and the trade union confront many problems of primary importance in the aspect of employment, working conditions and labour protection of workers, as well as the problems involving the participation in decision-making of sustainable development and promotion of environment and development. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate and promulgate strategies to encourage workers and trade unions to participate in environmental protection and sustainable development.
Objectives
20.54 The main objective is to strengthen the role played by workers and trade unions in the establishment of China's socialist market economy and the promotion of social and economic sustainable development. This in turn will enable workers and trade unions to fully participate in the preparation and execution of China's strategies for sustainable development. The union must promote the development of economy and the mitigation of poverty, widen employment opportunities, aid in guaranteeing the realization of a safe, clean and healthy community, working environment and natural environment.
20.55 Efforts should be made to realize the following objectives by the year 2000:
- (a) To make proposals to the government to formulate
substantial strategies for the rational utilization of labour resources
and the realization of full and sustainable employment. More job opportunities
should be created. All workers and staff members should be guaranteed the
right to employment and social welfare, and efforts should be made to maintain,
within 4%, the number of workers on the waiting list for employment. By
the year 2000, the employment of the urban population, of 60 million should
be solved, and arrangements should be made for a portion of surplus rural
labourers to transfer to non-agricultural sectors;
(b) To actively seek legislation which guarantees labour protection in the areas of employment, wages, improved working conditions, social security, and quality of living standard;
(c) To improve and gradually bring to perfection the supervision system concerning professional safety and industrial hygiene. To improve the trade union's system of supervision over labour protection. Efforts should be made to provide all labour union groups, in all industrial enterprises, with supervisors, so as to reduce professional accidents, injuries and diseases. Studies on and information concerning labour protection should be strengthened, and proposals and countermeasures be made in time;
(d) To strengthen the workers' democratic management, democratic participation and democratic supervision during the course of the ongoing establishment of a socialist market economy. To promote and improve the workers' conference system in enterprises. In state-owned enterprises, a collective contract system should be promoted to guarantee the workers' right to employment, wages and safety. A democratic management and participation system for workers in collectively-owned city enterprises, township enterprises, and in joint-venture enterprises should also be established;
(e) To strengthen the cultural and technical training of workers. Professional education and education on safety and health care will be especially important to raise workers' safety and environmental consciousness.
Activities
20.56 Programs should be prepared by all levels of the government and the industrial sectors, to ensure that workers and trade unions can participate in the formulation, execution and assessment of policies and programs concerning environmental protection and sustainable development. Measures should be taken to ensure that workers and their delegates have access to information materials, to assure that they can participate efficiently in the democratic supervision of enterprises and/or communities. These activities envision the following objectives:
- (a) To strengthen trade union organizations,
particularly those in enterprises, in order to improve trade unions' working
mechanisms concerning employment, labour safety, health, mitigation of
poverty of workers in urban areas, and professional eduction and training.
The objective of raising the level of work of the trade unions should be
accomplished by introducing advanced international experiences and technical
means;
(b) To prepare labour legislation, in regard to issues concerning participation, supervision, and implementation of laws for professional safety and hygiene, in order to assure that workers' benefits and rights are protected by law. As to important issues involved in the process of legislation, which bear significant influence on workers' benefits, regular investigation and research should be done, and proposals and suggestions be made to the legislative departments and related government authorities accordingly. The labour legislation process may be promoted through the joint efforts of national legislative bodies, and worker and trade union deputies who participate in government affairs. The trade union should participate in the research and preparation of such laws as Labour Act, Lowest Wages Act, and Regulations on Labour Protection. The trade union, with its rights and functions endowed by law, can make efficient supervision over the procedure of preparation and implementation of the laws and regulations;
(c) To organize the workers to take part in the formulation and implementation of the nation's social development program, socialist economic policies, and various issues of reform measures. The participation mechanism must be improved so that participation of workers and trade unions can become a regular and legal system;
(d) To mobilize workers and staff members and grassroots trade unions to participate in the formulation and implementation of the nation's environmental protection policies and programs. In fields which involve community environment, work environment, and professional safety and hygiene, a supervision mechanism should be established for workers and trade unions, and their right to participation should be protected;
(e) Measures should be taken to ensure worker participation in the environmental protection and environmental assessment of their workplace. Worker delegates and trade unions should be able to participate in the examination and acceptance of the safety and hygiene facilities of key projects. A principle should be set that without the acceptance of the trade union, the project involved should not be put into operation;
(f) To enable the trade union to take part in environmental protection and sustainable development of local communities;
(g) The above-mentioned activities should be coordinated with the Chapter 3.
20.57 Measures should be taken to provide non-trade union workers as well as trade union workers with more opportunities to receive education and training, so as to raise their cultural and technical quality and professional capability with the following final objectives.
- (a) To further improve the mechanism by which
the trade union can participate in the management of education, and improve
the conditions of various professional schools. The means of education
and training should be modernized, and workers and staff members should
receive education and training in environmental protection, safety and
hygiene, and technical areas. Training for worker delegates should focus
on raising their capacity to participate in the policy making of an enterprise.
The training for labour union members should focus on building their capacity
levels;
(b) To speed up the development of the Workers' Safety and Information Training Centre of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Cultural and technical education and training of workers and staff members should be pursued through educational institutions as well as through the broadcast and television medias. Pilot programs may be carried out to help raise the cultural and technical quality of workers;
(c) Efforts should be made to encourage international cooperation in education and training programs on issues which are of urgent need.
20.58 Plans should be made to develop economic entities affiliated with trade unions, in order to create more employment opportunities and welfare for the workers.
20.59 Efforts should be made to cooperate with international organizations and seek international assistance in information, technology, capital and personnel working conditions. International academic activities should be encouraged, and plans may be prepared for worker or trade union delegations to visit developed countries, and gain from them advanced technical and management experiences in labour and environmental protection.
E. Strengthening the Role of the Science and Technology Circle in Sustainable Development
Basis for action
20.60 The realization of sustainable development is a national task in which greater contributions from the science and technology sector will play an especially important role. Measures should be taken to improve the participation of the science and technology sector and improve coordination and cooperation between this sector, the decision-makers and the public.
20.61 Currently there is a lack in the complete participation of the science and technology sector in sustainable development decision-making. Furthermore, no effective tie between the science and technology sector and the decision-makers has been established. The principle of sustainable development calls on the strengthening of the cooperation between the science and technology sector and decision- makers, so that preparation and implementation of strategies for sustainable development are carried out under the most advanced scientific and technological conditions. Therefore it is necessary to establish the regulations and channels for close contact and cooperation between the science and technology sector and the decision-makers, to give play to the China Science and Technology Association and other scientific and social organizations, to provide policies and financial assistance to the science and technology sector, and to ensure their participation in important decision-making of sustainable development by means of a regular system. On the other hand, the science and technology sector, especially various scientific and social organizations, should stress the study of sustainable development, and provide results of their research to decision-makers in time.
20.62 But in the present science and technology system, the contacts and cooperations between the science and technology sector and the public are still confined, and the information exchanges are not so effective. In view of this, the science and technology sector is responsible for obtaining the public's opinions and disseminating the knowledge and technology of environmental science, via diverse channels, in order to improve the public awareness in sustainable development. The science and technology sector should become an effective means of coordination and cooperation between the Government and the public.
20.63 Science and technology are absolutely necessary to guide China in the relatively new concepts of sustainable development. This calls for a new professional moral standard among experts in the science and technology sector.
Objectives
20.64 The policy-making procedures in environment and development should be made more open and more public. Cooperation between the science and technology sector and decision-makers should be defined and regulated.
20.65 A mechanism should be formed to ensure exchange of information on environmental protection, sustainable development and other areas of common interest between the science and technology sector and the public. This exchange will ensure that the public is correctly informed and kept up to date on important policy decisions and programmes, so that the implementation of new government policies and programmes will receive more public support and supervision.
20.66 Regulations for science and technology concerning sustainable development should be prepared or revised. Special emphasis should be placed on the important mission of science and technology in coordinating environment and development. In order to gain public support, such regulations should be open to review by the general public as well as the science and technology sector. It should be stated clearly in the regulations that science and technology research activities should be in accordance with the needs of sustainable development.
Activities
20.67 With regard to sustainable development, the following measures should be adopted by the government to strengthen the contact and cooperation between the science and technology sector and the decision-makers on all levels:
- (a) To explore ways to ensure that the country's
science and technology activities are better adapted to address the issue
of sustainable development. To formulate appropriate science and technology
policies, so as to channel science and technology activities into the nation's
overall strategies for sustainable development;
(b) To prepare programmes to include the participation of the science and technology sector in the decision-making process concerning sustainable development. Such activities should be systematic, scientific, open, and consolidated into legal forms;
(c) To establish and improve the nation's science and technology consultative council and other relevant organizations, and widen the scope of their activities. A science and technology consultative system should then be established in decision-making departments on all levels;
(d) To take measures to increase the input of science and technology in the government's decision making process, so as to ensure that up to date scientific and technological knowledge is utilized to the greatest possible extent while drawing up decisions on sustainable development;
(e) To keep regular contact between the decision-makers at all levels and the science and technology sector. The decision-makers should listen to the opinions of experts in various specialties.
20.68 Measures should be taken by the government to carry out international exchange and cooperation, so as to promote the participation of the science and technology sector in drawing up the policies concerning sustainable development:
- (a) To include the cooperation of the science
and technology sector in governmental negotiations, via certain appropriate
mechanisms, while drawing up international or inter-regional agreements;
(b) To actively put forth scientific and technological suggestions to the United Nations or other international organizations, in order to ensure that the latest findings in science and technology are included, in a timely fashion, into the policies and strategies concerning sustainable development;
(c) To promote the establishment of a regional cooperation mechanism on science and technology to satisfy regional needs for sustainable development.
20.69 When participating in the formulation of the nation's strategies concerning sustainable development, the science and technology sector should actively make proposals and suggestions for the major activities in sustainable development and also participate in the implementation of sustainable development programmes.
20.70 The science and technology sector should make suggestions on major issues concerning environment and development for decision-makers and help them to draw up appropriate development plans and policies, implement and improve these relevant plans and policies.
20.71 The government should work out a mechanism to disseminate the achievements of science and technology research and put them into production for everyday use. This should be accomplished in the following ways:
- (a) To enforce nation's regulation concerning
the dissemination of scientific and technical achievements. To ensure legal
rights of technical developers and disseminators;
(b) The government should take measures and adopt policies to promote the dissemination of scientific and technical achievements;
(c) The science and technology sector should work within its ranks to disseminate the fruits of its research. Scientific and technological development personnel should directly take part in the dissemination work, or in development projects, or give guidance through pilot projects;
(d) A coordinating mechanism should be established to promote the development of industries closely related to sustainable development.
20.72 The following activities should be carried out to strengthen the contact between the science and technology sector and the general public:
- (a) By drawing up plans to strengthen the ties
between the science and technology sector and the industrial sector. Scientific
and technological development, innovation and dissemination should be included
in the industrial development strategy;
(b) To strengthen the ties between the science and technology sector and farmers. Sustainable development should be a guiding principle for agricultural activities and for life and agricultural production in the rural areas in general;
(c) To promote the tie between women and the science and technology sector. To enhance the scientific and technical quality of women, and let women in the science and technology sector play more important roles.
20.73 The science and technology sector should take measures to facilitate dissemination of informational materials on sustainable development. These measures should be carried out in the following manner:
- (a) Forms of the media, such as the broadcast,
television and newspapers should be used by science and technology sectors,
especially various scientific social organizations to disseminate information
concerning the environment and development;
(b) An environmental tourism program should be established to spread the idea of sustainable development through tourist education;
(c) To establish various kinds of environment and development consultative organizations to provide public services;
(d) To improve participation of non-government organizations for environmental protection and sustainable development.
20.74 Efforts should be made to strengthen international cooperation as well as cooperation between government institutions, the science and technology sector and the public in general, to achieve the goal of preparing a scientific and technological regulation on sustainable development which aims to reduce and/or eliminate environmental deterioration. This regulation should be in coordination with the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, while still taking into consideration China's existing regulations and generally accepted moral codes.
20.75 The new moral standard requires that the concept of sustainable development should be taken as the basis of judgement, and the human race as a whole should be the main object of consideration in the evaluation of any policy-decision. What we mean by the human race not only includes the present generation, but generations to come; and what we mean by environment is not only that within the boundaries of a nation, but the global environment. The new code of conduct renders the science and technology sector society's conscience, pushing it to follow the dictates of sustainable development. This sector must therefore strive to acquire a greater environmental consciousness, and form a new moral standard concerning man and nature. The attitude of the science and technology sector will, to a greater extent, influence decision-makers and the public, and consequently, play a more active role in environmental protection and sustainable development.
20.76 The morals of the consultative agencies dealing with the environment and development should be established and strengthened. To develop a common value system for both the science and technology sector and the public, new behaviour principles which lead to the building of a harmonious relationship between human beings and nature should be established, so that the basis for unified action will be laid.
20.77 Examination and revision of laws and regulations, either state or local, should be carried out, and certain work regulations should be included into the nation's codification.
20.78 Programs should be prepared to be carried out on a wider scale, education and training concerning the moral aspect of environment and development, and such activities should be given priority in classroom education and research work.
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