Chapter 1
Introduction
Section 3 Progress and Achievements in Priority Areas
1.4 China has a fairly good foundation for carrying out her national strategy for sustainable development. In the early 1980s, the Chinese Government adopted control of population growth and protection of the environment as two of her basic State policies, and identified these as strategic priorities in her overall national economic and social development. At the same time, while working out and implementing plans for combating poverty, controlling pollution of rivers, and carrying out government-funded housing projects, the Chinese Government has made efforts for actively accelerating the reform of the economic system, transforming the mode of economic growth, and promoting the advancement of science and technology. Moreover, in order to co-ordinate economic and social development with population, natural resources, and the environment, a series of strategic principles and measures have been followed, including synchronising the planning, implementation, and development of economic construction, environmental protection, and urban and rural construction.
1.5 Containing the population growth rate while improving the competence level
After a long period of unswerving efforts, the rate of population growth in China has been reduced to a point significantly lower than the average level of other developing countries in the world. The momentum of the excessively fast population growth has been largely contained, thus reducing population pressure on the environment. As a result, citizens are enjoying marked improvement both in health and in education. Women have especially benefited from these achievements with respect to education, employment, and social participation.
1.6 Reinforcing the efforts for combating and alleviating poverty
In 1994, China drafted and started to carry out the "Seven-Year State Plan for Aiding the 80 Million People Who Still Live under the Poverty Line and Eliminating Poverty in China by the End of This Century ", which seeks to resolve, in about seven years, the problem of food and clothing for the 80 million people living in poverty-stricken rural areas. After three years of hard work, by the end of 1996 the number of poverty-ridden population in the nation had dropped from 80 million to 58 million (The current Chinese standard for eliminating poverty in rural areas is that net per capita income is not less than RMB 500 yuan at 1990 constant prices).
1.7 Carrying out comprehensive environmental improvement in cities and stepping up housing construction for the urban population
In the process of urbanisation, and in accordance with national requirements, China has accelerated construction of infrastructure, made adjustments in allocation of industry, and stepped up the control of industrial pollution in the urban areas. As a result, the quality of infrastructure and the environment surrounding urban areas have been improved. There has also been significant progress in urban housing construction.
1.8 Strengthening management of the land in order to allow for long-term growth in the rural economy
Since the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992, China has revised the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Water and Soil Conservation" and the "Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China". It has also promulgated the "Basic Law on Agriculture of the People's Republic of China", the "Water Law of the People's Republic of China", and the "Law of the People's Republic of China Concerning the Popularisation of Agro-Technology", and intensified law enforcement relating to agriculture. The protected areas of basic farmland have been delineated, management of farmland and of rural environment has been strengthened, and protection of agricultural resources, especially arable land, has been intensified, thereby abating the deterioration in the agriculture ecosystems. By carrying out a strategy of revitalising agriculture through reliance on science and technology, a unique method of eco-agriculture development within the Chinese context has been developed, the growth pattern of agriculture has been changed, and ecological farming has been popularised. With increased investments in projects of water and soil conservation and irrigation systems, China has achieved consecutive good harvests for several years despite many natural disasters. All these efforts have promoted the sustainable development of the economy in rural areas.
1.9 Popularising cleaner production, preventing and treating industrial pollution, and promoting changes in the patterns of industrial growth
These policies are being implemented through re-adjusting the industrial structure; accelerating technological innovation and renovation in enterprises; compulsory abolishing those procedures, technologies, equipment, and products that cause serious pollution and consume too much energy and resources; and also through popularising cleaner production. In industrial pollution control, therefore, three strategic transformations have begun: whole process control, integrating concentration with total amount control, and linking centralised control with decentralised treatment. A number of pollution treatment projects have also been completed. As well, several experimental models of cleaner production have been set up. Meanwhile, preferential policies have been adopted to encourage intensive and efficient use of resources.
1.10 Upholding the principle of attaching importance to energy development and energy conservation, with emphasis on energy conservation, to reduce consumption of energy and prevent environmental pollution
To this end, China is formulating the "Law of People's Republic of China on Energy Conservation". In addition, the nation has intensified her efforts at renovating the energy conservation technology in industry, abolished a number of backward mechanical and electrical technologies which consume too much energy, and adjusted energy pricing.
These and other related policy measures have contributed to the rise in the utilisation ratio and the reduction in energy wastage. Meanwhile, the popularisation of clean coal technology in coal-fired power plants has been promoted, the use of small-sized unit has been discouraged, and residents and enterprises have been encouraged to use coal briquettes to reduce pollution of the environment. Also, exploitation and popularisation of new energy sources and construction of small-sized hydropower plants have alleviated the shortage of energy in rural areas.
1.11 Cultivating new forestry resources and continuing with the forest eco-engineering projects
Since 1990, China has scored new achievements in the nation-wide afforestation drive, including an additional 24.10 million hectares of man-made forests, 12.74 million hectares planted by air-seeding, and another 26.26 million hectares of protected young forests in mountain areas. Partly due to these efforts, the nation's forest coverage has risen from 12.98% to 13.92%. Twelve provinces (regions) have basically covered all the forestable hills and mountains with planted trees and have completed different phases of "forest eco-engineering projects", including the "shelter forest systems", namely those in the "Three Northern Regions" (northwestern, northern, and northeastern China), along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, along China's coastal areas, in the Taihang mountains, and of the farmland shelter systems in the plain areas. Since 1995, moreover, new shelter forest systems have come into being in the drainage basins of the Huaihe River, Taihu Lake, Zhujiang River, Liaohe River, and middle reaches of the Yellow River.
1.12 Rational development, management, and protection of freshwater resources
In 1994, the Chinese Government successively carried out the water protection programmes of the "Three Rivers and Three Lakes" (the Huaihe River, Liaohe River, Haihe River, Taihu Lake, Dianchi Lake and Chaohu Lake). At the same time, tremendous efforts have been made in restructuring industry. One strategy was the closing down of a large number of small-sized heavily-polluting enterprises, such as small paper-mills, tanneries, dye-houses, and electroplating workshops. Water conservation model projects in agriculture, and flood control programmes on major rivers have been enhanced. A series of large- or medium-sized irrigation works for regulation and comprehensive management of freshwater have been built up. In the areas of western China where there is a shortage of water, such as arid areas in Xinjiang and Tibet, a number of large projects for water development and management have been established in co-ordination with the work of combating poverty. Such programmes have, within five years, succeeded in supplying safe drinking water to 0.174 billion people in those areas of China.
1.13 Strengthening the management of marine resources and enhancing the protection of the marine environment
Environmental monitoring and law enforcement has been enhanced by establishing and improving the legislation systems for control of marine pollution, protection of ecosystems, and management of energy utilisation. With the adoption of fallow regulations, marine fishing resources have been protected. Through the delineation of marine natural reserves, marine ecosystems and species in imminent danger have been effectively preserved. Enhanced systems of ecological monitoring have improved management of pollution in coastal areas. In addition, China has implemented a strategy to revitalise the sea by application of appropriate science and technology. This includes actively developing marine industry by launching experiments on sustainable use of marine resources.
1.14 Rationally utilising atmospheric resources and strengthening relevant monitoring, evaluation, and planning
Rational utilisation of atmospheric resources is important basic work in the formulation of plans of national social and economic development and regular economic activities. To this end, the "Outline of Atmospheric Resources Management" has been formulated. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have made great efforts in atmospheric resources monitoring, regional planning, and experimental projects for the utilisation of atmospheric resources. Research is being conducted in the "Three Northern Regions" on the utilisation of potential agroclimatic resources for agriculture. In Qinghai and Inner Mongolia, the exploitation and utilisation of atmospheric resources has been further promoted with the establishment of pilot projects on the comprehensive utilisation of wind and solar energy.
1.15 Developing facilities for natural disaster mitigation and prevention
In April of 1989, the Central Government of China established the China Committee on the IDNDR (International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction). Local governments at different levels have also set up agencies to co-ordinate activities and worked out specific plans for natural disaster mitigation and prevention across the nation and in priority areas. The development of a number of projects was accelerated and the capability for quick response to natural disasters has been improved through establishment of systems for monitoring, forecasting, and communication. Every year, the Central Government appropriates special funds and delivers relief food and large quantities of relief materials to disaster-stricken areas. Consequently, the essential needs of disaster victims are timely met, and the chances of epidemic diseases spreading have been reduced. China has moreover actively taken part in international cooperation and exchange in the context of IDNDR, and this also helps to alleviate the adverse impact of various natural disasters on social and economic development.
1.16 Implementing relevant international conventions to control air pollution
The "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution" was revised and promulgated, under which a license system to control discharge of air pollutants is being experimented with, step by step, in cities. Central heating systems and gas facilities have also been developed. In order to protect the ozone layer, no new projects producing ozone-depleting chemicals have been allowed since December of 1993. Also, since 1995, a license is required for existing plants to produce chloroflurocarbons in order to limit the quantity of CFCs. In the industry of electrical home-appliances, the manufacture of substitute refrigeration substances and products has progressed from lab research to experimental production-line manufacturing in several instances. In the aerosol industry, the shift to chlorofluorocarbon substitution is nearing completion. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change". China has taken an active part in the activities related to the Convention and has made her due contribution. In accordance with the relevant provisions in the Convention, China has submitted a preliminary list of technology transfer requirements and is now preparing her initial national communication in line with the relevant Convention provisions. Taking an active attitude, and in light of her country-specific conditions, China is making efforts to abate the growth rate of her greenhouse gas emissions, though her per capita emissions are still rather low.
1.17 Making efforts to change solid wastes into useful and environmentally sound resources
In October of 1995, China promulgated the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes". Under this law, increased efforts are being made in the utilisation of solid wastes, application of waste-minimising production methods, strengthened monitoring, and improved management security of radioactive materials. In the process of carrying out the "Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-Boundary Transfer, Disposal, and Treatment of Hazardous Wastes," China has not only strictly controlled the entry of hazardous wastes, but has also tracked and, in accordance with the Convention, dealt with many cases of illegal importation of foreign hazardous wastes.
1.18 Protecting biodiversity and implementing the Convention on Biodiversity
The nation has formulated the "China Action Plan for Protecting Biodiversity" and "National Report on Biodiversity", and has improved the national legislation, regulations, and management rules regarding biodiversity, as well as capacity building in this regard. A network of China's nature reserves has been set up, thus improving capability for protection of ecosystems. A series of rescue programmes for species in imminent danger of extinction has also been introduced. In order to actively implement the Convention on Biodiversity, the Chinese Government has established the National Co-ordinating Group, which is responsible for implementing the relevant provisions of the Convention and for promoting international cooperation in biodiversity protection.
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