Chapter 2 Formulation and Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy Section 3 Integration of China's Agenda 21 into Social and Economic Development Plans   2.9 Planning is an important means of achieving macro-control for China's economic and social development. Thus, the fundamental measure for implementing China's Agenda 21 is to integrate the sustainable development strategy into social and economic development plans, policies, and programmes at all levels.   I. The Formulation of the National Social and Economic Development Plans Should Be Guided by the Concept of Sustainable Development. 2.10 In order to adequately play the role of governmental macro-control in the implementation of China's Agenda 21 to its full effect, the State Planning Commission and the State Science and Technology Commission, by the request of the State Council, gave priority to the incorporation of China's Agenda 21 into state planning. In July of 1994, with the support of the UNDP, the "Research and Training Programme on Incorporation of China's Agenda 21 into the National Social and Economic Development Plans" was undertaken for two years. This programme, taking into consideration the overall development strategy and in view of the "Ninth Five-Year Plan and Long-Term Objectives for the Year 2010", puts forth a series of counter-measures and suggestions: Actively promote shifts in the economic development model and take economic efficiency as the core of economic work. Establish a sound production mechanism by means of reforming the economic structure, so that it can utilise resources, reduce energy consumption, and increase efficiency. Favourable prices, taxation, and preferential loan policies should be adopted in fields that are conducive to the society and environment, such as pollution control, clean energy development, utilisation of waste material, and natural resource protection. Emphasise the importance of science and technology, and re-invigorate the country through science and technology, thus laying a better foundation for sustainable development. Great efforts should be made to integrate rational utilisation of resources with environmental protection, and to develop such expertise and products that can economise on resources and minimise pollution. Establish and improve economic policies, regulations, and financial and taxation systems with the aim of bringing them into line with the sustainable development strategy. Great importance should be attached to research and formulation of measures and action plans concerning sustainable development, to its education, publicity, personnel training, law enforcement, and supervision . Protect resources and the environment through economic instruments. Compensatory mechanisms for natural resources utilisation and environment taxation policies should be formulated, to strengthen state administration of natural resources and their reasonable distribution, and improve the related utilisation system so that it can utilise and protect resources. Pricing systems of resources should also be reformed to promote the sustainable utilisation of resources and the implementation of related policies that are conducive to transforming waste into useful resources. Persist in the coordinated development of the regional economy and environment, and bring regional advantage into full play to gradually reduce the regional development disparity. Favourable policies that are conducive to narrowing the regional development gaps should be formulated, and attention should also be paid to promote the development of China's interior and western areas, and the model of urbanisation shifted to suit China's national conditions. Emphasise sustainable development education to enhance public consciousness in this aspect and promote their participation. Full advantage should be taken of such mass media as radio, TV, and newspapers. As well, various schools, institutions, and universities should be mobilised to spread knowledge about sustainable development, especially among women and children. The national strategy should be drawn up so as to establish related mechanisms for public participation and to maximise the role of public participation in sustainable development. Evaluate economic and social development policies from the perspective of sustainable development. Integrate the sustainable development strategy into national, local, and enterprise's development plans. The sustainable development strategy should be embodied in industrial policies and regional planning. In the "Report on China's National Social and Economic Development", the part on sustainable development was also expanded and amended to incorporate China's Agenda 21 into the planning programmes of government authorities at various levels in a phased and comprehensive way .   II. Specific Manifestations of Sustainable Development in the National Social and Economic Development Plans 2.11 Taking China's Agenda 21 as a guiding document in the drafting of the "Ninth Five-Year Plan and Long-Term Objectives for the Year 2010", the State Planning Commission, and various departments and bureaus under its jurisdiction, embarked on related research programmes and personnel training. Due consideration was also given to suggestions and plans from related fields and sectors. 2.12 In the meantime, government authorities under the State Council began to engage in formulation of various sectoral Agenda 21s and Action Plans which were suited to their specific areas and requirements. For example, the Ministry of Forestry formulated the "Forestry Action Plan for China's Agenda 21" which deals with sustainable development of forestry. The State Oceanic Administration drafted "China's Ocean Agenda 21", China's National Environmental Protection Agency formulated "China's Agenda 21 for Environmental Protection", the Ministry of Water Resources drafted "China's Agenda 21 on Water Resources", etc. Other government authorities have also formulated programmes of action according to their specific conditions and in line with the country's Ninth Five-Year Plan. 2.13 Beijing Municipality, Hubei Province, and Guizhou Province were selected at the local level to integrate, on an experimental basis, China's Agenda 21 into their economic and social development plans. As a result, specific suggestions were made from the perspectives of law, policy, arrangements, institutional and financial mechanisms, etc. so that a sustainable development strategy which can be implemented at the local level can be developed. Box 2-3 The Sustainable Development Strategy as Reflected in the Municipal Development Programme of Beijing 1. Formulate local policies and regulations that can promote Beijing's sustainable development. 2. Establish due economic structure and industrial systems in line with its position as being the capital of the country and an international metropolis. 3. Increase the contribution of science and technology to economic activity. 4. Control the size of the metropolitan area, adjust its development and layout, and develop middle- and small-scale satellite townships so as to improve people's living condition. 5. Adjust the energy structure and increase its efficiency. 6. Accelerate the pace of the progress in solving the water shortage problem and protect the basin area of drinking water supplies. 7. Improve the environment quality. 8. Develop medical and health care systems so as to improve people's health. 9. Promote the capacity building for sustainable development by means of education and publicity. 10. ncrease investment in disaster preparations and enhance the capacity for dealing with natural calamities. 11. Attach importance to sustainable development demonstration projects.   III. Attaching Importance to Environmental Protection and Promotion of Sustainable Development 2.14 In July of 1996, the State Council held the Fourth National Conference on Environmental Protection in order to implement the sustainable development strategy. Subsequently, the "Decision of the State Council on Issues Related to Environmental Protection" was drafted and a specific sectoral five-year national plan for China's environmental protection was ratified. Box 2-4 Main Contents of the "Decision of the State Council on Issues Related to Environmental Protection" 1. Policy-makers should have a clear understanding and be responsible for improving the quality of environment. 2. Regional environmental problems should be resolved in an earnest way and lay emphasis on key projects. 3. Emerging pollution sources should be strictly controlled. 4. The pace of resolving the lasting environmental pollution problem should be accelerated by setting a deadline. 5. Effective measures should be adopted to prohibit the transfer of waste to other regions. 6. Natural reserves should be protected and utilised in a sound way so as to maintain the ecological balance. 7. Environmental economic policies should be improved and funds for environmental protection should be increased. 8. Environmental law enforcement should be enhanced and its supervision strengthened. 9. Research on environmental sciences should be promoted and the development of China's own environmental industry should be greatly enhanced. 10. Public consciousness on environmental protection should be enhanced by means of education and publicity.   2.15 The objectives of this sectoral five-year plan concerning environmental protection are: By the year 2000, establishment of a relatively complete environmental management and law systems in line with the socialist market economy. Efforts should be made to bring the trend of increasing environmental pollution and deterioration of the ecological environment under control, and to improve the quality of the environment in those cities and regions with grave pollution problems. This will promote the emergence of model cities and regions with rapid economic development and a sound environment. By the year 2010, further improvement of the implementation of the sustainable development strategy. This means that environmental law systems should be well established and the whole country's ecological deterioration should be brought under control so that a clear improvement of the environment in urban and rural areas can be achieved and a series of cities and regions with rapid economic development and a sound environment will emerge. 2.16 In order to implement the sections in the "Ninth Five-Year Plan and the Long-Term Objectives for the Year 2010" relating to environmental protection, China formulated the "Programme on Controlling the Total Amount of Major Pollutants during the Ninth Five-Year Plan" and "China's Trans-Century Green Project". "The Programme for Controlling the Total Amount of Major Pollutants during the Ninth Five-Year Plan" states that, in order to meet the environmental goals set in the Ninth Five-Year Plan, strict regulations should be made to control the total amount of 12 major pollutants. The "China Trans-Century Green Project" is specifically targeted at areas and river basins with critical pollution problems and fundamental environmental problems. Its primary focus is on the water pollution of three rivers (the Huaihe River, Haihe River, and Liaohe River), three lakes (Taihu Lake, Dianchi Lake, and Chaohu Lake), and acid rain in southwestern, central, southern, and eastern China, as well as air pollution in 30 key cities. "The Ninth Five-Year Plan and the Long-Term Objectives for the Year 2010 on Land and Water Conservation" attaches great importance to the land and water conservation projects of the seven major river valleys. In 33 key areas, land and water conservation projects of national level should be established to halt increasing land erosion, and efforts should be made to preserve an additional 650 thousand square kilometres of land, by the year 2010, by curbing soil erosion. 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