Chapter 2 Formulation and Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy Section 2 Drafting of China's Agenda 21 2.4 The UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in 1992, approved the global Agenda 21 and requested member countries to formulate their own strategy, plans, and measures concerning sustainable development according to their specific national conditions. Premier Li Peng, on behalf of the Chinese Government, made a solemn commitment at the Conference to implement Agenda 21 and other related documents. Immediately after the Conference, the Chinese Government decided to establish a Leading Group and an affiliated office, under the direction of the State Planning Commission (SPC) and the State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC), to engage in the formulation of China's Agenda 21 and the associated Priority Programme. At the same time, the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21, under the direction of the Leading Group and its office, was established to be responsible for the daily management work concerning China's Agenda 21. Box 2-1 The Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 To facilitate the implementation of China's Agenda 21 and the sustainable development strategy, the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 (hereinafter referred as "ACCA21"), under the direction of the State Planning Commission and the State Science and Technology Commission, was formally established in May of 1994. ACCA21 undertakes the daily management work concerning the implementation of China's Agenda 21. Its mandates include: To advise the Chinese Government on sustainable development strategies, policies, and programmes; To participate in international sustainable development activities as representatives of the Chinese Government; To serve as a clearinghouse for sustainable development priority projects in China; To promote sustainable development in Chinese Experimental Sustainable Development Communities; To provide consulting services to the industrial sectors on environmentally sound technologies; To develop and host in China the UNDP-sponsored Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP); To provide training for government agencies and industry; and To conduct strategy research and publish educational materials in support of sustainable development.   I. Formulation of China's Agenda 21 2.5 In August of 1992, 300 specialists from 57 commissions and ministries under the State Council, brought together by the State Planning Commission and the State Science and Technology Commission with the support of the UNDP, began the process of formulating China's Agenda 21. In March of 1994, after many concrete discussions, amendments, and active participation by related state ministries, agencies, and people from all parts of society, China's Agenda 21 was finally completed. On March 25, 1994, the 16th Executive Meeting of the State Council passed "China's Agenda 21 - White Paper on China's Population, Environment, and Development in the 21st Century". China's Agenda 21, based on China's specific national conditions and paying attention to population, environment, and development, sets up a strategic goal of sustainable development that can promote coordinated development of economy, society, resources, and environment. China's Agenda 21 endeavours to: improve the quality of development and scientific and technological advancement while maintaining rapid economic development; promote overall social progress and establish a social basis for sustainable development; bring pollution of the environment under control so as to improve the ecosystem and rationally use natural resources; and gradually incorporate into the legal system those mechanisms which promote overall coordination of decision-making for sustainable development. 2.6 In July of 1994, the State Council issued a notice to all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities encouraging them to implement "China's Agenda 21 - White Paper on China's Population, Environment, and Development in the 21st Century". The notice pointed out that China's Agenda 21 should be regarded as the guiding principle in formulating the mid- and long-term plans of China's national economy and social development. It also demonstrated China's earnest implementation of the principles drafted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Box 2-2 Brief Introduction to China's Agenda 21 China's Agenda 21 consists of 20 chapters and 78 programme areas. These can be categorised into four parts: 1. Comprehensive strategy and policy of sustainable development China's Agenda 21 provides background information and expounds China's urgent need to draft and implement the strategy of sustainable development. It also puts forward the strategic goals, priority programmes, and major actions that China should use in drafting its sustainable development strategy, lawmaking concerns, and related implementation. It also emphasises the significance of, and principles on, drafting economic policies that can promote sustainable development and promote international cooperation on environment and development. Emphasis is placed on enhancing the capacity building of sustainable development through establishment of relevant management and information systems, improving funding mechanisms, intensifying education, and advancing science and technology. Special efforts should be made to encourage women, children, minority nationalities, workers, and scientific staff to participate in sustainable development activities. 2. Social sustainable development This part is composed of population, individual consumption, social service, poverty eradication, hygiene and health care, sustainable development of human settlement, disaster preparedness and mitigation, etc. The most important elements of this part are family planning, population control, and improving competence levels. The above mentioned requirements can be achieved by guiding people towards moderate life patterns and healthy consumption, promoting poverty eradication, enhancing the level of people's hygiene and health care, strengthening the management of urban utilisation of land so as to guide infrastructure construction, promoting the development of building sectors, and improving people's living environment by supplying adequate housing to all people. 3. Sustainable economic development In China's Agenda 21, rapid economic development is regarded as indispensable for poverty eradication, enhancement of people's livelihood, and strengthening of overall national strength. This part contains economic policies on the sustainable development of agriculture, industry, transportation, telecommunications, and sustainable energy production and consumption. 4. Rational utilisation of resources and environmental protection This includes sustainable utilisation and protection of natural resources, protection of biodiversity, prevention of desertification, disaster mitigation and prevention, protection of the atmosphere, such as control of air pollution and acid rain, and sound treatment of solid wastes.   II. Characteristics of China's Agenda 21 2.7 China's Agenda 21, which is based on China's specific national conditions and takes the global Agenda 21 into consideration, embodies the characteristics of China's sustainable development strategy: In China's Agenda 21, economy, society, resources, and environment are taken as an inseparable whole: It not only deals with the problem of environmental protection in economic and social development, but also systematically explains the interactions between sustainable development of economy and that of society. A comprehensive, long-term and progressive strategic framework, and related countermeasures concerning sustainable development, was established which will make a new starting point for China's progress into the 21st Century . China's Agenda 21 defines a new concept of development. China is a developing country and the most important task facing China is the promotion of economic development, the key to which is to coordinate social sustainable development with sustainable utilisation of resources and environmental protection. Great efforts were made to bring China's Agenda 21 in line with China's national conditions, and to shift from the conventional mode of development through a phased, regulated transition with an emphasis on moving from an extensive economic development model to an intensive model. In China's Agenda 21, the coordination of population and development is considered the key priority. The enormous population exerts great pressures on China's economy, society, resources, and environment. Taking these into consideration, China's Agenda 21 advocates that, while continuously carrying out a policy of family planning and controlling population growth, great efforts should also be made to advance educational systems, improve grassroots health care systems in urban centres and rural areas, promote social insurance systems, etc., so as to improve people's living standards. In the meantime, this huge resource can be used as an advantage in promoting the development of tertiary industry and increasing employment volume. Within China's Agenda 21, China's strategic view on environmental and resources protection was outlined. Generally speaking, China is not a country rich in natural resources. In the long run, a shortage of natural resources and continued population growth will greatly hinder China's economic development. China's Agenda 21 serves to remind present generations of the grave consequences of the resource crisis. Economic and legal instruments which lay equal emphasis on resources protection and utilisation should be implemented in order to reduce material consumption and increase efficiency. From now until the 21st Century, China's major challenges in the field of environmental protection will arise from those problems caused by industrial and agricultural development and the urbanisation process. The key countermeasures lie in the co-ordination of industrial policies, environment policies, scientific management, and application of suitable technologies. Emphasis should be shifted from remediation of polluted environments to comprehensive environmental management, from controlling the density of pollution to controlling a combination of density and the total amount, and from extensive adjustment to a combination of extensive and intensive adjustment. Great efforts should also be made to promote the development of cleaner production, eco-farming, and comprehensive utilisation of resources so as to gradually increase efficiency. In China's Agenda 21, significant attention was paid to the coordination of China's national environment and development strategy with the global environment and development strategy. Related strategies, measures, and action plans were made on such issues as global climate change, damage to the ozone layer of the stratosphere, biodiversity protection, prevention of trans-boundary transfer of hazardous wastes, land erosion, and desertification. As the Chinese Government pointed out: "China's environment problems are part of the problems facing the global environment. China is deeply conscious of its obligations and the role it should play in protecting the global ecological environment, and is willing to undertake international responsibilities and obligations, and engage in international cooperation that is in line with China's level of development". This is a clear manifestation of the Chinese Government's deep historical commitment to undertake due obligations and responsibilities to the international community and its consistent dedication to the common causes of all humanity. In China's Agenda 21, some important measures were put forward from the perspectives of mechanism, legislation, education, science and technology, public participation, etc., in order to create a conducive atmosphere and provide an opportunity for China to participate in international cooperation concerning sustainable development . The formulation of China's Agenda 21 and its associated Priority Programme paved the way for international cooperation and laid a foundation for its incorporation into the strategic plan of national economy and social development. III. Implementation of China's Agenda 21 2.8 The implementation of China's Agenda 21 will greatly drive China towards sustainable development and adequately solve problems concerning environment and development. However, this implementation requires efforts from the whole of society and should be carried out by means of planning, regulations, policies, publicity, public participation, etc. The implementation of China's Agenda 21 can be divided into four main sections: consideration of economic structure adjustment and transformation of the economic development model; gradual integration into national economy and social development plans; the strengthening of capacity building for sustainable development by enhancing people's understanding in this regard; and promotion of international cooperation through various channels by formulation and implementation of the Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21.   Text Browser Utilities: [ACCA21 Home Page, National Report on Sustainable Development Home Page, Back, Next] For more information about ACCA21 contact: web@acca21.org.cn Address: 109 Wanquanhe Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100089, People's Republic of China Telephone: +86-10-82636193, +86-10-82634400 Ext.2401 Fax: +86-10-82636192