1 - 10 PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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1. Project Summary and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This project seeks to promote sustainable development by jointly producing and exchanging the publications, films, TV programs and audio-video products. It also tries to create an atmosphere to raise the general public awareness of sustainable development through these mediums. In particular, it increases the youthís understanding and ability to participate in environmental protection and sustainable development.

This project is based on programme area 6B of China's Agenda 21, and is related to programme areas 2A, 2B, 6C, 6D, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D and 20E.

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2. Background

After the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, the Chinese Government formulated the first national strategy of Agenda 21 in the world. At the 4th Session of the 8th National Peopleís Congress in March 1996, sustainable development was adopted as a national strategy. This shows the Chinese Governmentís resolution to prioritise sustainable development. However, because as much as 50% of the agricultural population in China is poorly educated (this ratio is as high as 70% in a few remote, mountainous regions), some areas in China remain underdeveloped and impoverished. Among the workers and staff in large to middle state-own enterprises, only 3% went to a college or a university while 80% have below elementary school level education. This status hinders the new technical achievements from being converted into economic benefits. And this is because many advanced techniques and equipment are not fully utilised. The result is that some enterprises are high in energy-consumption but poor in quality, low in productivity and economic benefits. Moreover, it resulted in environmental pollution and a waste of great resources. All these constraints hinder the sustainable development in China. Therefore, in order to achieve sustainable development, China must raise the level of education and increase the public participation in sustainable development.

The present promulgation of sustainable development via broadcasting, films, TV, newspapers and other media still remain limited. Through the information sharing of sustainable development with other countries, China will have the latest information on sustainable development in the world. The international community can be informed of the progress of sustainable development in China. The mutual exchange of publications, films, TV programs and audio-video products will enrich the content of propaganda for sustainable development. It will raise the publicís ability to participate and promote the sustainable development in China and the world.

In recent years, countries all over the world attached great importance to the public participation in sustainable development and understanding of sciences and technology. A national activity of promoting science and technology was carried out in Britain in 1994, and was widely supported. In particular, the press and news media played a very important role in this activity. The American Scientific Promotion Association put forward the "2061 Project," which aims at developing the present youth into ìScientific Americans" who can think scientifically and creatively in the 21st century. South Africa, India and Japan also take raising the public scientific level as a prerequisite for economic prosperity and social development. As a result, they have similar activities to promote scientific knowledge.

The ìOutline of Popular Science Promotion Plan in the Ninth Five-Year Plan"(draft) has put the sustainable development as one of its key contents. This is the action basis for the project.

The State Council issued Proposals on Strengthening Popular Science Promotion in 1994. The First National Meeting on Popular Science and Technology was held in February 1996, where a joint conference on popular science work was established. Eleven sectors including the State Science and Technology Commission, Promulgation Department of Central Committee and China Science and Technology Association participated. It shows that Government has given science one of its top priorities. The meeting also provides an organising basis for the implementation of this program. China is not only vast in territory, but also has diverse species of animals and plants. The zoos and botanical gardens in many large cities have rich experiences in producing specimens, interpretations and exhibitions. Therefore, they are ideal promotion centres for science and sustainable development, and will provide favourable conditions for international co-operation.

3. Objectives

3.1 Long-term Objective

To raise the public awareness on sustainable development, familiarise them with the national strategy for sustainable development, and cultivate a new generation that is qualified enough to continue sustainable development in China.

3.2 Immediate Objectives

• To publish a series of popular science books to raise the public, and especially the youthís, awareness and participation in sustainable development;
• To set up an information network and products exchange system for sustainable development. The project plans to promote exchange and sharing of international publications, films, TV programs and audio-video products on sustainable development;
• To build educational parks which will strengthen public understanding and participation in sustainable development through looking, listening, and functioning independently.

4. Outputs and Activities

4.1 A series of popular science publications on sustainable development

• To carry out questionnaires and solicit contributions for survey on public awareness and understanding of sustainable development in China; And to work out a report on these;
• To publish cartoon books on China's Agenda 21 for children;
• To organise popular science writers to compile a series of books on different subjects of sustainable development, including mankind and the nature, and biodiversity. The books should be of lively styles suitable for both adult and youth.

Monitoring Indicators: an investigation report on public awareness and understanding of sustainable development, cartoon books on China's Agenda 21 for Children, picture-story books of mankind and nature, juvenile books on biodiversity and a series of popular science books on subjects of sustainable development.

Implementing Agencies: State Science and Technology Commission, China Science and Technology Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Time Schedule: January 1997 - December 1998

4.2 Training for the youth on awareness and knowledge of sustainable development

• To perform an investigation on the Childrenís Palaces, Science and Technology Museums, Zoos and Botanical Gardens, and natural reserves in China, and to propose strategic approaches to developing training materials and compiling of training materials;
• To carry out systematic training on sustainable development for young pioneers counsellors and students in normal universities (colleges), as well as training at different levels (province, city, county);
• To organise young pioneers counsellors to go abroad for investigation and study;
• To organise summer camps and social-awareness practices in key cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Nanjing) for juveniles on different subjects of sustainable development.

Monitoring Indicators: popular science training materials on sustainable development for youth, training 2000 young pioneers counsellors and normal students in normal universities (colleges), organising 20 summer camps on different subjects of sustainable development, over 50,000 youth taking part in summer camps or training on different subjects of sustainable development.

Implementing Agencies: State Science and Technology Commission, China Science and Technology Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Time Schedule: January 1997 - December 1999

4.3 Joint production and sharing of publications, films and TV programs on sustainable development

• To carry out multilateral- or bilateral co-operation to jointly produce films and TV programs and multimedia on biodiversity and resources protection and utilisation, and natural disaster prevention;
• To establish an exchange system of mass media and publications with related international organisations and institutions, and to carry out co-operation in copyright transfer, film and TV technology;
• To hold film exhibitions, demonstrations and other information programmes, to provide a film week on mankind and nature and to prepare for promotion week and month on sustainable development.

Monitoring Indicators: setting up a computer system to process relevant information, exchanging at least one film or TV program, and appointing at least one promotion day for sustainable development

Implementing Agencies: State Science and Technology Commission, China Science and Technology Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Time Schedule: January 1997 - December 1999

4.4 Jointly naming and setting up popular science centres for sustainable development

• To renovate and set up popular science centres for sustainable development at Beijing Botanical Garden, Zhongshan Botanical Garden in Nanjing, Huazhong Botanical Garden in Wuhan, Huanan Botanical Garden in Guangzhou, Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden in Yunnan, and Xingrong Tropical Garden in Hainan;
• To hold exhibitions about life evolution, global change and biodiversity, prepare and construct landscape models of tropical rain forests, arid prairies, Mediterranean sea, ecological oceanographic and agricultural perspectives, sponsor activities with the theme of natural disaster reduction;
• To add visual and video-audio material on sustainable development to the China Museum of Science and Technology.

Monitoring Indicators: at least five subjects on sustainable development for each base; the juvenile visitor to exhibitions ratio over 60%, at least one new set of video series and slides on sustainable development in the China Museum of Science and Technology.

Implementing Agencies: State Science and Technology Commission, China Science and Technology Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Time Schedule: January 1997 - December 1999

5. Inputs

5.1 Chinese Inputs

Chinese inputs will include costs related to social investigation; training; construction of demonstration areas, including field construction and exhibit preparation; basic installation; domestic experts and staff.

5.2 International Inputs

International inputs will include expenses for international experts; personnel training abroad and international investigation; publications and training materials; media exchange; and computer equipment.

5.3 Budget

The total investment for this project is US$ 2.75 million, of which US$ 1.4 million will come from state investment, and US$ 1.35 million is expected from international grants.

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Table 1. Budget by Item (in million US dollars)

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Table 2. Budget by Output (in million US dollars)

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6. Benefits

This project will raise the public awareness and encourage the community to participate in social activities involving sustainable development. Youth who master science and technology and have an understanding of sustainable development will become a main force in science and sustainable development in the next century. It can also help the Chinese to understand international sustainable development, pollution-free technology, foreign culture and customs, etc., which can improve the international co-operation and exchange.

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7. Risks

China is a developing country with a population of over 1.2 billion, of which 900 million live in the countryside. The Chinese range in understanding sustainable development is broad because of the differences in housing conditions, cultural background and knowledge levels. In order to meet the needs of different levels, the series of popular science books should be easy to understand. The project can still be initiated in the event funds are unavailable at the time, and activities can be adjusted gradually. However, this will have a smaller social impact than expected. Overall, the project can increase public awareness on sustainable development through China's own news media.

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