China's Sustainable Development Programme
(SDNP/China)

Prepared by:

The Division of Information Network
Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21
August, 1995

This draft of the feasibility study on China's Sustainable Development Networking Program (CSDNP) was prepared in Chinese by Professor Yang Weili, Department of Electronic Engineering of Tsinghua University and Dr Zhou Hongchun of ACCA 21; the English version was completed by Ms. Emily Yeh, of MIT (S.M.); and the draft was finalized by Dr Wang Qiming, national coordinator of CSDNP as well as the Division Chief of the Information Network of ACCA 21.

Contact address:
Division of Information Network Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21
109 Wanquanhe Road, Haidian District Beijing, 100080 P. R. China
Telephone: +86 10 62588128, 62610335, 62564400-2401 Fax: +86 10 62588127 E-mail: web@acca21.edu.cn

Abstract

This feasibility study on China's Sustainable Development Networking Program examines the current status and future prospects for CSDNP in China. It reviews the UNDP concept of SDNP as well as the concerns raised by the prefeasibility study of China's SDNP, and elucidates a way in which the concept can be successfully implemented in China. General principles for CSDNP, ways in which the network can serve needs of different users, and the roles that the host organization and various stakeholders can play are discussed. Furthermore, technical and organizational aspects of network feasibility are explained.

The Division of Information Network of ACCA21 has been chosen as a host organization for CSDNP. Also, an Interim Steering Committee and funding mechanisms have both been established. The opportunities for more participation and an increasingly open atmosphere for information sharing in China were also considered, with the conclusion that CSDNP is both needed and feasible, contingent upon UNDP support through seed funding.

I. Introduction

1.1 Sustainable Development Networking Program (SDNP)

The successful implementation of sustainable development is predicated upon access to reliable information which informs decision making by government institutions at all levels as well as active participation by the general public. This goal can only be achieved through open and rapid information access and exchange among different segments of society. Unfortunately, however, most developing countries not only lack access to information resources about sustainable development, but also face a variety of obstacles which prevent this ready exchange and sharing of information.

Following the United Nation's Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a global Sustainable Development Network Program (SDNP) in order to facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21. This international program allocated seed funding for national programs which would improve information exchange through strengthening communication systems between users and sources for sustainable development, and creating, in the long run, a stable and self-sustaining environment for national information networks.

1.2 Major Principles of SDNP

The UNDP has articulated nine major principles for the implementation of SDNP at the national level.

(A) Participation UNDP encourages participation from all segments of society, from the national to the grassroots level, including government agencies, academic and research institutions, commercial enterprises and non-governmental organizations (NGO);

(B) Seed Funding The financial and operational self-sufficiency of each country's SDNP is especially important given that UNDP resources will be available for only a limited period of time.

(C) Using Available Resources SDNP aims not to establish new network infrastructures, but rather to build wherever possible on existing networks, linking sustainable development networks with domestic and international partners.

(D) Promotion of Sustainable Development In addition to environmental protection, the scope of information sharing in SDNP will include topics relating to natural resource utilization and socially sustainable development, ie poverty alleviation, population stabilization, etc. Ultimately, the goal is to focus on any and all aspects of sustainable human development.

(E) National Connectivity SDNP emphasizes the broad collection and dissemination of integrated and comprehensive information on sustainable development at a national level rather than focusing specifically on the establishment of a series of databases.

(F) National Needs As a consultative process among national institutions, each SDNP is to be managed at the national level, in order to serve the needs of the entire nation.

(G) Capacity Building SDNP fosters capacity building through the establishment of a host organization which not only handles day-to-day management of SNDP operation but also provides training programs.

(H) Agenda 21 SDNP should facilitate the formulation for a strategy for Agenda 21 in each developing country and promote the implementation of its action plan.

(I) Appropriate Technology SDNP should use only those information technologies appropriate for the level of human and technical resources, particularly existing network infrastructures, available in the respective countries.

1.3 Principles for China's Sustainable Development Networking Program (CSDNP)

CSDNP is China's proposed Sustainable Development Networking Program. It seeks to follow the basic principles and spirit of the UNDP's Sustainable Development Networking Program while also addressing China's specific institutional, social, technical, and environmental needs and concerns in the area of sustainable development.

1.3.1 Primary Objectives of CSDNP

(a) To introduce and connect Chinese governmental agencies, academic institutions, enterprises, NGOs, and the general public to various sources of international information on sustainable development via Internet.

(b) To develop information services which can facilitate the implementation of China's Agenda 21 at the central and local levels.

(c) To make available domestic sources of information to the international community via Internet.

(d) To carry out comprehensive training programs which will assist in the implementation of CSDNP.

1.3.2 Users of CSDNP

Among the potential users of CSDNP are the following:

(a) Government agencies CSDNP provides information which can facilitate and rationalize macro-level decision making for various governmental stakeholders. Furthermore, coordination and integration of government policies and plans will be strengthened through the exchange of information within government agencies.

(b) Academic and Research institutions CSDNP will rely upon domestic research institutions to make existing databases increasingly available by creating information catalog, standardizing the format of databases, promoting information sharing, and strengthening primary data analysis and processing capabilities. In particular, the creation of metadata is an important first step in approaching information sharing. Metadata refers to information about what information exists, where and how it can be obtained, what price if any needs to be paid, etc. It will serve as both a pointer to and catalog of existing data.

(c) Productive enterprises CSDNP will promote economic sustainable development by meeting industrial and commercial demand for information about clean production, 3R technology, and environmentally sound technology transfer.

(d) NGOs Currently there are very few NGOs in China which play the same social role as their Western counterparts. However, the number of NGOs is expected to increase very rapidly in the future. Thus, they have the potential to play a tremendous role in CSDNP, both in terms of information use and financial support for its operation.

1.3.3 Selection of Appropriate Technology for CSDNP

The technology selected for CSDNP's backbone network facilities should make full use of existing public networking systems and telecommunication resources, and some special purpose networks. In fact, many new specialized networks are being built as China's nationwide information systems continues to develop rapidly. The new Golden Bridge project is a good example of a network which in the future can be connected with CSDNP at low cost. CSDNP's design is forward looking in its inclusion of such projects.

CSDNP will be compatible with international network protocols and interface standards (such as TCP/IP) in order to ensure easier connectivity and access. In addition, the technologies selected in this initiative operation will leave room for future expansion, upgrading, and integration with other systems. As a result, CSDNP will not only serve national connectivity needs, but it will also be ready for step by step performance improvement.

To ensure the continued and best use of these information resources, CSDNP must respect intellectual property rights, conform with copyright and patent regulations, and follow reliability and safety standards as set by national security legislation.

User demand is an essential factor in the consideration of which information resources and other applicable technologies are to be developed and promoted by CSDNP.

The management node and coordinating institution of CSDNP should be chosen in a way which allows technical exchange, cooperation, network construction and information usage both domestically and abroad to improve and expand.

II. Review and Analysis of the Framework of CSDNP

2.1 Review of the Prefeasibility Study of CSDNP

In early 1993, two American experts employed by UNDP, Barbara Finamore and Husayn A. Anwar, submitted a prefeasibility study based on a two-month investigation of the feasibility of SDNP implementation in China. After discussions with major institutions in Beijing, the investigators concluded that despite China's commitment to sustainable development and interest in the SDNP concept, there were still a variety of institutional constraints which stood in the way. In particular, there expressed concern about the lack of an information sharing culture in China as understood in the UNDP SDNP model. For example, the authors cited a lack of communication and information exchange even within the line ministries. Other concerns included questions of the financial sustainability of an SDNP given the size and complexity of Chinese needs, and the willingness to follow the paradigm of a strong individual coordinator, independent secretariat, and a Steering Committee comprised of all major actors. Finally, the report stated that while the technical capability to support SDNP was demonstrated, possible problems might arise from the lack of a national network. At the time, Internet was available only in a few locations such as Beijing, making a national linkage to the international network difficult.

Based on these findings, the authors recommended that China's next step should be to select an appropriate host organization for SDNP, select a Steering Committee, and identify priority topics. The report concluded that the SDNP concept as formulated by UNDP headquarters might not be feasible at the time in China, given the lack of an information sharing culture. In addition, the report proposed one alternative; namely, a traditional capacity building project to provide SDNP to a group of universities and/or NGOs. Finally, they suggested that the UNDP allocate more funds to China for SDNP, that the concept and financing be reevaluated, and a feasibility study be completed.

2.1.1 Changes Since 1993

There has been a great deal of progress, both technical and institutional, in China since the writing of the prefeasibility report. These include the establishment of the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21, increased information sharing within the government, and a proliferation of available information network resources.

(a) Agenda 21

As stated in "China's Agenda 21 - China's 21st Century Population, Environment, and Development White Paper" (or "China's Agenda 21"), coordination among departments of the State Council and local authorities in China has been become much stronger in the past few years, especially in the area of sustainable development implementation strategy. First, the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 (ACCA21) has been established under the State Planning Commission and State Science and Technology Council to act as a leading group responsible for coordinating more than 50 line ministries in the State Council. It has already drawn up the first national sustainable development program in the world -- China's Agenda 21. Through more than years of experience, the staff members of ACCA21 have greatly increased their capacity to handle various affairs. They now have the capacity to efficiently and solidly implement CSDNP in a down-to-earth manner in China. This administrative centre, which is discussed in detail in section 2.2.1, has established many international and domestic ties amongst institutions with similar interests.

(b) Technical Progress

China has made great progress in the construction of telecommunications infrastructure. For example, the Golden Bridge project, part of the Three Golden projects, is expected to establish a nationwide network by the year 2000. Furthermore, by the end of 1996, China Educational and Research Network (CERNET) will connect 100 universities and research institutions across China, and open 64 or 128 Kbps information channels connecting Asia, Europe and the United States. Other organizations such as the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), the Ministry of Chemical Industry, and the Institute of High Energy Physics in the Chinese Academy of Sciences are all setting up their own information networks which are currently connected as well to Internet.

(c) Information sharing

The authors of the prefeasibility report regarded the reluctance towards information-sharing within the Chinese government itself as an important barrier to SDNP. However, this institutional structure is showing signs of change. By the end of 1995, there will be complete inter-access and information sharing capabilities among seven line ministries (the Ministries and State Bureaus of agriculture, forestry, seismology, geology, oceanography, meteorology, and water conservation). Furthermore, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has already set up a Chinese National Resource and Environment Database for use by the government and by various research institutions. GIS information is available from this database. Similarly, CAS, the State Planning Commission, and the Commission for the Integrated Survey of Natural Resources (CISNAR) plan to establish a database on Resources, Environment, and Ecology in China. It will make available data on land change, land use, climate change, environmental protection, etc. These and other activities indicate that, within certain boundaries, information sharing in China is already becoming easier. Institutionally, it is not feasible to implement a complete information sharing culture all at once. Instead, the approach taken by CSDNP will be to view it as a gradual, step-by-step process. Increased access within the government has already begun. Over time, this can be expanded to the private sector, NGOs, etc.

(d) Interim Steering Committee

Another major concern raised by the prefeasibility study was whether a fair Steering Committee could be established. In fact, China has not only chosen a host organization, but also an interim steering committee, and has commissioned this feasibility study. The host organization for CSDNP is the Division of Information Network under the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21. Currently, the steering committee consists of seven members with broad representation from a variety of sectors, including the government, NGO, and academia. In the future, membership will be broadened to include members from other organizations as well, including a member from the SPC, MPT, private sector, NEPA, and possibly the State Bureau of Statistics. More details about the interim and finalized steering committees is presented in Sections 5.1 and 5.2. Finally, the CSDNP is currently under the leadership of one national coordinator, as suggested by the UNDP model.

2.1.2 CSDNP vs A Traditional Capacity Building Project

The authors of the prefeasibility study suggested that if China could not reach consensus on the basic focus, structure, and objectives of an SDNP, an alternative would be to fund a traditional capacity building project to bring an SDNP-like information network to one or more universities and NGOs. However, not only has China achieved the needed consensus on the basic organization and focus of CSDNP, but it is also strongly believed that a traditional capacity building project would not be appropriate for China's present needs and capabilities.

As conceived by the UNDP, the emphasis of each country's SDNP should be placed on building connections at the national level. In China, NGOs and academic institutions have neither the scope of national influence nor access to information at the national level that the government holds. This is especially true given the extent of power and the sheer size of the Chinese government in comparison with other sectors. Furthermore, academic and research institutions do not have the scope of technical infrastructure available to the national government. The Chinese government generally has much more up-to-date information and organizational know-how than any other sector. Therefore, a capacity building project giving network connectivity only to these other organizations can have only very limited influence. This is not in accordance with the UNDP's goal of spreading the SDNP concept to as wide an audience as possible.

In addition to academia's lack of infrastructure, the latest information, and power as compared to the Chinese government, another disadvantage of an SDNP-like network located in these non-government organizations is their vested interest in the information. Each NGO, academic or research institution has specific interests and goals, thus making an SDNP located in their jurisdiction more likely to be focused on their specific interests. In addition, academic institutions in China still hold a great deal of their information confidential limitation, which constrains an information sharing project in their auspices. By contrast, the location of CSDNP headquarters in the Division Information Network of ACCA21 guarantees that the host of CSDNP will be neutral as far as the scope and distribution of information goes. As a very small organization with limited allowance of research or databases of its own, ACCA21 has no vested interest in CSDNP other than helping it serve the needs of users from a wide range of sectors.

2.2 Choosing a Framework for CSDNP

Several different frameworks were considered as possible structures for CSDNP, very similar to the ones considered by Development Alternatives (explained in the Feasibility Study for India's Sustainable Development Network). These options are explained below.

2.2.1 High Speed Backbone

This option entails the construction of a high speed backbone which would transport sustainable development network information between different nodes. However, this does not follow the UNDP principles of building upon existing networks. In addition, it would be prohibitively expensive, and was thus rejected.

2.2.2 Host Organization as Daughter Network

Viewing the CSDNP host organization as a daughter network, ie taking the framework of CSDNP to be a user network, would constrain users of CSDNP to be on a certain net. Although this option does have the benefit of being built on existing resources, it limits severely participation in sustainable development because it involves only one organization. Thus this option was also rejected.

2.2.3 Host Organization as Mother Network

Modelling CSDNP as a network provider would facilitate participation from information providers and users. However, this framework again relies on resources that do not already exist. Thus, it will be very expensive to build and not feasible for China's SDNP.

2.2.4 Mediator or Middleman Approach

This option conceives of the host organization of CSDNP as a mediator between information sources and users, and as an intermediary between government agencies and other non-governmental organizations of all types. This clearinghouse approach is based on the idea that a lot of information about sustainable development already exists all over China, but what is lacking is a way for users to know what other information exists and where to find it. The strengths of this approach are that it is relatively inexpensive, works with existing information and resources, and avoids a monopoly of information by a party interested in only one type of information. The disadvantage of putting the host organization in the role of middleman or administrative node is the extensive staff requirements that might be necessary to process and put all of the information from various sources on CSDNP. At the present time, the host organization is very small.

2.2.5 Association of Existing Networks

In this framework, the host organization should simply function as a facilitator among different already existing networks. The advantages are that this system uses existing resources and information, is decentralized, requires relatively little hardware, and is relatively inexpensive. The major disadvantage is that there is no guarantee that existing and appropriate networks will join.

Taking these considerations into account, the host organization decided that the most appropriate form for CSDNP is a combination of (2.2.4) and (2.2.5), mediator and facilitator. In essence, the host organization will act as a central administrative node or hub, which facilitates information exchange between various networks and acts as a middleman between users and sources of information, and between government and non-government organizations. As such, it is a relatively inexpensive option and takes full advantage of existing resources. Moreover, it guarantees participation to the full extent possible in China through ACCA21's intimate tie with the government. Finally, as a mediator the host organization can encourage exchanges and recruit and link a broad spectrum of organizations and individuals interested in sustainable development through CSDNP.

III. Analysis of Institutions, Policies and Information Requirements Related to CSDNP

3.1 Institutions and Policies

The implementation of CSDNP will face the dual challenge of meeting the extensive information requirements from each ministry of the State Council and local government bodies while also overcoming the obstacles which presently prevent such information exchanges. On the one hand, agency independence and the division of responsibilities among state government departments contributes to each department's lack of necessary data for informed decision-making. Information sharing is often prevented by the fact that their programs are often either overlapping or completely disjointed. On the other hand, the lack of information channels prevents scientific research results produced by certain institutes from being used by both decision makers and the general public.

3.1.1 Government Agencies, Policies, and Legislation

Virtually all of the ministries, commissions and agencies in China's vast bureaucracy have offices at each of the five levels of administration: central, provincial, municipal, county and township/enterprise, each with their own systems.

(a) The National People's Congress (NPC) and Sustainable Development Legislation

The National People's Congress, China's highest legislative body, is responsible for enacting and supervising the implementation of laws. In particular, the NPC has paid a great deal of attention to the legislation of sustainable development. Thus far, China has issued four environmental protection laws, eight natural resource protection laws, more than twenty legislative regulations relating to pollution prevention, and three hundreds and twelve environmental standards. Furthermore, China has signed over twenty international agreements relating to natural resources and the environment. Relevant national laws, however, have not been established or completed. Thus, there are still many gaps in the field of sustainable development in China.

To this end, the Planning Law, Atomic Energy Law and population, science and technology, and investment laws will be included in over 150 projects in the five-year legislative plan (1993-1998) of the Eighth National People's Congress. In the field of environmental protection, laws governing solid waste pollution control, noise pollution control, and radioactivity pollution control, hazardous chemical production control should be formulated. Moreover, laws regarding atmospheric pollution prevention, water pollution prevention, ocean environmental protection, and general environmental protection will be revised. Five of out of eight resource protection laws (fishery, grasslands, water, mineral resources, and forestry) will be also revised and new laws on land use planning, desertification and others topics will be issued.

(b) State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC)

The State Science and Technology Commission is responsible for formulating science and technology (S&T) development plans, policies, and regulations; selecting and implementing national key S&T research projects; coordinating S&T development work at the provincial and local levels, and managing national S&T research projects and special scientific and technological plans. A representative from SSTC is one member of the two leaders of Leading Group for ACCA21.

(c) State Planning Commission (SPC)

The State Planning Commission (SPC) formulates national economic and social development plans, supervises their implementation at the national and macro-level, and drafts related regulations. After 1992, SSTC and SPC organized all agencies of the State Council to formulate and publish "China's Agenda 21", which will play a key role in guiding China's efforts towards integrating environmental protection and development. SPC also has another member of the two leaders in the Leading Group of ACCA21.

(d) State Economic and Trading Commission (SETC)

The State Economic and Trading Commission is responsible for the formulation and implementation of laws, regulations and codes for large and middle sized enterprises, determining key projects to guide technological reform in these enterprises, and implementing projects in such areas as clean production and renewable energies.

(e) National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA)

The National Environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for environmental legislation and implementation, was given independent agency status in 1988 from the Ministry of Construction during the State Council's organizational reform. Environmental laws and regulations are enforced and implemented primarily by over 2,300 local Environmental Protection Bureaus, most of which have set up their own environmental monitoring stations and institutes for supervision, research, training and education.

Although NEPA is currently not represented in the immediate circle of CSDNP, ie, the Division of Information Network and Interim Steering Committee, it is expected to play a very significant role in CSDNP in the future. NEPA has a wealth of relevant data on environmental protection, environmental economics, and the ecological sciences. Once it is connected to CSDNP, NEPA's research will be more readily available to other sectors, to the benefit of both NEPA and the public. Currently relations between NEPA and many sector ministries and bureaus is characterized by lack of cooperation and/or overlapping research and jurisdiction. However, this situation is expected to improve to one of mutual cooperation once NEPA joins CSDNP, after about one year of trial operation. NEPA will be an important CSDNP stakeholder.

(f) Sector Ministries

Sector ministries such as the Ministries of Coal Mining, Chemical Industry, Transportation, Aviation, Metallurgy, Light Industry, Communications, Machine Building, Textiles and Railways are also responsible for environmental protection within their respective areas of jurisdiction. Although generally underfunded, the departments or offices at each level of government in these ministries are responsible for monitoring activities in state enterprises within their sectors. Environmental protection is becoming an increasingly important standard by which the performance of each ministry is measured.

(g) Ministry of Construction

The Ministry of Construction is responsible not only for the human environment, but also for urban infrastructure, water supply and drainage, sanitation, municipal solid waste management, urban traffic control, heating and gas supply, energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, and natural disaster alleviation.

(h) Other Institutions

A number of other institutions sharing responsibility for environmental protection include the Ministry of Public Health, the Chinese Medicine Administrative Bureau and the National Nuclear Safety Administration. Although each plays useful role in environmental protection, the coordination among these organizations and NEPA is lacking.

The Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Water Resources, and Geology and Mineral Resources, and the State Land Management, Oceanographic and Meteorological Bureaus are dedicated to natural resource management and protection in China. These institutions generally have their own environmental protection bureaus, but the coordination among China's resource ministries, and NEPA is often characterized by a lack of cooperation, duplication of efforts, and barriers in information sharing. Areas of overlapping responsibility include the management of nature reserves, endangered species protection, and control of industrial pollution in rural areas.

3.1.2 Academic and Research Institutions

China has established many educational programmes in the environmental and ecological disciplines. At present, 71 universities and colleges and 41 polytechnical schools offer a total of 15 undergraduate majors and 86 seminars in the environmental sciences and technologies. Over 8000 students matriculate each year from such programs. Furthermore, there are 107 departments offering Master's degrees in environmental science and 38 universities and research institutes offering doctoral degrees in 14 environmental majors. There are also a number of postdoctoral positions available in these fields. Despite the rapid growth of these programs, there is still room for the development of more interdisciplinary curricula in the areas of environmental economics, management, engineering, law and public health, and all aspects of natural resource management.

In more than 600 universities and colleges in China, there are about 200 carrying out environmental research, 15 of which have departments, institutes or research centers of environmental engineering or science. They employ more than 1200 full-time research fellows, 30 percent of whom are at a senior level. A number of key academic institutions have developed strong research and education programmes in various environmental and developmental fields.

(a) Peking University

Peking University's China Sustainable Developmental Research Centre specializes in the natural and social sciences, with divisions in atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, aerodynamics, ecology, environmental law, planning, management and impact assessment. It carries out sustainable development projects in cooperation with SSTC, NEPA and the Beijing municipal government.

(b) Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University's Institute of Environmental Engineering is a leading institute of environmental engineering in China, with a staff of 14 professors and 22 associate professors who research, among others issues, global climate change and hazardous waste disposal.

(c) Beijing Normal University

The Environmental and Resource Centre of Beijing Normal University specializes in environmental impact assessment and environmental education, performs research work on natural disaster prevention in cooperation with the Chinese People's Insurance Company, and offers training for teachers on the national and global environment.

(d) Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) plays a leading role in the fields of ecology, natural resource management and sustainable development. CAS includes 123 institutes, over 40 of which do research in the areas of environment and natural resources. For example, the CAS research Centre for Eco--Environmental Sciences, with a staff of 516, promotes cooperation among environmental chemists, ecologists and geoscientists to solve ecological and environmental issues at the regional, national and global scales.

3.1.3 Non-Governmental Organizations

Non-governmental organizations in China consist primarily of professional academic, scientific or industrial associations affiliated with government ministries. Dozens of such NGOs exist in the field of environmentally sustainable development. For example, there is the Chinese Society for Sustainable Development with its four special committees; the Chinese Environmental Science Association; the Chinese Association of Environmental Protection Industries, which promotes exchanges between the government and environmental protection industries; and the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, an umbrella organization for all professional scientific societies and associations in China.

In the field of natural resource management, the list of NGOs includes the China Wildlife Conservation Association, with a membership of over 30,000; the Ecological, Zoological, Botanical, Geological, Oceanographic, Meteorological, Geographical, Land, Soils and Forestry Societies of China, which carry out academic and educational programmes; the China Research Society of Natural Resources; the Soil and Water Conservation Society; the Chinese Association of Ecological Environmental Protection for Agriculture, and so forth. These NGOs are involved primarily in promoting academic, scientific and technological exchanges and increasing public awareness of sustainable development issues. These NGOs will occasionally evaluate proposed projects or policies upon government request, but they generally do not seek to influence environmental policy or participate in decision making. They are for the most part dependent on governmental organizations for funding, office space, and legitimacy, and are often located in the parent ministry's building and can be found on its organizational chart. This situation may change as China's economic reform policies force many NGOs to become financially self-sustaining and finally independent of their governmental host organizations.

A number of international NGOs have been involved in environmental and natural resource conservation projects in China. For example, the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWFN) has been working with the Ministry of Forestry for over ten years and has formulated forest actions together with China's Agenda 21. In October of 1994, WWFN held an international workshop for wetland protection in Hunan Province with 15 ministries of Chinese government. China has also established close ties with the World Conservation Union (WCN) and the International Crane Foundation, as well as dozens of professional scientific associations, such as the World Engineering Association and the International Association for Water Quality. Some international NGOs have also opened offices in China.

3.1.4 Commercial Sector

Most enterprises in China are state--owned and directly managed by sector ministries. However, the non-state-owned enterprises (locally-owned, private businesses), which now constitute a third of China's total industrial output, are still developing quite rapidly. By the year 2000, the industrial output of non-state-owned enterprises is expected to be half of total national industrial output. Township and village enterprise managers pollute to varying extent, often due to the lack environmental protection consciousness and lack of awareness regarding available technologies for environment protection. As a result, township and village enterprises can easily become large-scale polluters in China.

China has a small but growing environmental products and services industry. Currently it is insufficient for meeting the demands of environmental protection.

3.2 China's Agenda 21

3.2.1 The formulation and Implementation of China's Agenda 21

After the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in June, 1992, the Chinese government established in accordance with the promises of the Conference and with UNDP support, a leading group supervised by the State Planning Commission and the State Science and Technology Commission (leading group) and including leading units of the State Economic and Trading Commission and the National Environment Protection Agency (vice leading group). This group has in turn organized more than 300 professionals from the relevant departments of 52 ministries, commissions, and agencies to formulate "China's Agenda 21" and its relevant priority projects. China's Agenda 21 was formally used by the 16th executive meeting of the State Council on March 25, 1994 as a national sustainable development strategy. The establishment of the Agenda is considered a post-Rio milestone in the field of environment and development and has thus stirred up quite a response from the international community.

In order to effectively implement China's Agenda 21 and to widely seek financial and technological support from the international community for the first tranche of priority projects, SPC, SSTC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP, with the approval of the State Council, held a "High Level International Round Table Conference for China's Agenda 21" on July 7--9, 1994. One hundred and seventy foreign participants from governments and embassies of more than 20 countries, 13 UN organizations and international financial organizations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and more than 20 foreign enterprises were in attendance. There were also over 200 Chinese participants from the central and local governments, scientific research institutes and academies, and commercial enterprises. In only one year, the leading group has made great progress not only in seeking international cooperation for undertaking the priority projects of Agenda 21, but it has also established an extensive set of relationships with international organizations concerned with sustainable development.

Currently UNDP assisted Phase II project is healthily going on, in which the main theme is how to integrate the strategy of China's Agenda 21 into the national economic and social development plans, particularly the Ninth-Five Year Plan (1996-2000), and the Phase III of the UNDP assisted project is under formulation preparing for the initiation of local Agenda 21 implementation as well as conduct of the research on sustainable development indicator systems in China.

3.2.2 The Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 (ACCA21)

Supervised by the leading group of China's Agenda 21, the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 was approved by the Chinese National Council of Staff to be responsible for the day-to-day work in formulating and implementing China's sustainable development strategy. Its main functions include:

(a) Formulation and implementation of China's Agenda 21 and its priority projects;
(b) Selection and proposal formulation of priority projects;
(c) Acting as information consultants and providing information services;
(d) Education and training for sustainable development and raising awareness of these issues in the public domain.

The hierarchical position of the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 is shown in an organization chart in Figure 1.

The Division of Information Network in ACCA21 will be the host organization for CSDNP. As such, it will have access to some financial help from other ACCA21 projects. One important feature of ACCA21 is its size. As a rather small group of individuals (currently twenty), ACCA21 has no vested interest in the information kept by CSDNP and instead can serve as a mediator between users and sources of information, and between the government and other sectors.

Currently, the Division of Information Network, as part of ACCA21, has already started building the technical infrastructure needed for CSDNP. In particular, they have recently achieved connections to Internet through Tsinghua University Network (TU net) and Peking University Network (PU net). The work that must follow, once funding is secured, is to develop more sophisticated techniques for using Chinese language for communication on the network. Currently Chinese characters are entered as graphical data, but this system lacks the ability to modify transmitted information. Research at Tsinghua with ACCA 21 is now being undertaken to change Chinese characters into codes. More importantly, the Division of Information Network is well on its way to building a technical infrastructure for hosting CSDNP.

3.3. Analysis of Information Sharing Resources

3.3.1 Computer Resources

By the end of 1994 China had an estimated 2,500,000 large, medium, and mini-computers, PCs, registered information systems and databases more than 800, and 3,000,000 computer professionals. As China's economy continues to expand, these numbers will rise quickly, as will the demand for data communication services and connectivity.

China's financial sector consists of seven large banks, insurance companies and internal investment centers. By the end of 1994, the system included 80,000 PCs, 500 host computers, and 30,000 computer professionals. More than 40,000 PC's serve the energy sector, which invests over 300,000,000 Yuan for buying computers annually, and employs 20,000 computer professionals. The railway sector, which owns 20,000 PCs and more than 600 computers, invests more than 100,000,000 Yuan in computers each year, and the State Planning Commission has over 5,000 PCs. Its annual investment for computers is more than 100,000,000 Yuan. The State Planning Commission (SPC) has over 5000 PCs and National Customs annually invests 10,000,000 Yuan to upgrade computer facilities. About US$200,000,000 in foreign funds have been promised for developing computer capabilities in next five years in China.

Among the over 300 information systems registered at the First National Fair on Electronic Information Application were systems dedicated to economics, education, tele-communications, science and technology, government investment, tourism, and library services. There is already quite a wide variety of computer systems available in China.

3.3.2 Key Information Systems

(a) Bureau of State Statistics (BSS)

The Bureau of State Statistics is possibly the most complete and comprehensive repository of statistical data in China. BSS is heavily computerized, and is capable of data collection, analysis, and modelling. The information generated is used by the government in planning and decision-making at the highest level. BSS has also established a node in China and is planning to establish additional ones in Europe and the United States. Other government agencies do not have ready access to this information, although it appear that they have a great interest in obtaining original data from BSS. The availability of data to international organizations is also constrained because so much of the information databanks is confidential. When provided by BSS, the information is on magnetic media or hard copy and is very costly.

(b) National Information Centre (NIC)

The National Information Centre was established in 1987 and is administered by the State Planning Commission (SPC). The centre's databases, which provide the Chinese government with macro-policy and economic information, include data on China's natural resources, national regulations, international macroeconomic data, enterprise law, national investment, international funds, China products, and commodity prices. The national natural resources database has 12 catalogues which include land, water, biological, mineral, marine, tourist, labour, economic and basic facility resources, meteorological data, and natural disaster information.

(c) China Science and Technology Information Centre (CSTIC)

The China Science and Technology Information Centre, affiliated with SSTC, provides international and domestic information retrieval services through on--line satellite communication. The available databases include DIALOG, BRS, DRBIT, STN, ESA-IRS, ECHO, PFDS, PATASTAR, FRTECHNIK. The Domestic Information Retrieval Service (DIRS) provides national computer information retrieval network services using CHINAPAC and PSTN. More than 100 terminals have been connected to this system, which provides access to international and domestic databases. This system is connected with Stanford University via the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, but has an output capability of only 64Kbps information channel.

(d) Environmental Management System (EMS)

The Environmental Management System of China, administered by NEPA, gathers information at the national (NEPA), provincial (EPBs), municipality (city), county (EPBs) and township/enterprise levels. The data gathered by EMS includes data from monitoring heavy polluters, which is compiled and transferred to provincial and national authorities by hard copy and magnetic media.

(e) Environmental Statistical System (ESS)

The Environmental Statistical System of ChMwa gathers data in 27 provinces, 3 municipalities, 400 cities, 2000 counties and 8700 enterprises including data from 3000 heavy polluters in various sectors. Environmental statistical data includes 17 different categories and 200 indexed data items dealing with issues such as environmental protection, discharge, pollution control, wastewater treatment operations, accidents, conservation, major construction, and so on. The system is partially networked at the provincial and national levels but most information transfer is achieved through magnetic media.

(f) World Data Centre

The World Data Centre (WDC--D), located in Chinese Academy of Sciences, is part of a worldwide information network affiliated with the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). WDC--D encompasses nine centers which collect geophysical, astronomical, meteorological, oceanographic, geomagnetic, environmental, renewable natural resources, glacial, seismological and global change data. The information is processed and stored in CAS and exchanged on a barter basis with other data centers throughout the world. The information, however, is not available to other Chinese groups within or outside CAS unless they are members of ICSU and agree to exchange information.

3.3.3 Available Databases and Information Sharing Resources for CSDNP's Trial Phase

CSDNP's trial phase will begin with a certain level of opening access to the information from six databases and resources which have already expressed their willingness to participate in the project. These six are NIC and CSTIC, described above, and Cast, the Zhongguanchun network, the Institute of Geology of State Seismological Bureau, and the Chinese Natural Resource Comprehensive Investigating Commission, detailed below.

(a) The Cast China Economic Monitoring Centre (Cast)

Cast is a non-governmental economic research and consulting organization created in April 1993 by the Developmental Research Centre of the State Council, BSS and Economic Daily Agency to monitor Chinese economic performance. As such, it has accumulated a great deal of data, with primary databases including the "Chinese macroeconomic dynamic database", "Basic databases of 2400 counties and cities of China" and a number of professional databases. Included in the database are indicators of real growth, growth rates, and various indices. It is compiled in C language, which will facilitate acquisition of unclassified data and its transmission to users via modem.

(b) National Computing and Networking Facility of China (NCFC)

The interconnection of Tsinghua University Network (TUnet), Peking University Network (PUnet), and Chinese Academy of Science Network (CASnet ) forms the Education and Research Network in the Zhongguanchun Area (NCFC) of Beijing City. Aside from providing e-mail, telnet, ftp, netnews, library, and other information searching services, NCFC also provides the following information sharing resources:

- The Basic Condition Database on Major Universities in China (connected to CERNET);
- The Social Education Information Database in China (The State Education Commission);
- Books, Information and Reference Materials Database (Beijing Library, Tsinghua University Library, Peking University Library, Library of Chinese Academy of Science and other libraries of universities and colleges);
- Database of Specialized Institutes and Major Information Centers in Key Universities (for example, Earth Science Database, Remote Sense Database in Peking University);
- Databases of the Subordinate Institutions of the Chinese Academy of Science (such as databases on population, national resources, geography, geology, remote sensing, atmospheric pollution, atmospheric physics, natural environment, botany etc.).

(c) Institute of Geology, State Seismological Bureau

The National Working Group on Natural Disasters, created in 1988 under the sponsorship of the SSTC, SPC, and SETC, includes professionals from seven ministries: the Ministries of agriculture, forestry, seismology, geology, oceanography, meteorology, and water conversion, with the secretariat located in the Institute of Geology. It is among these seven ministries that complete information sharing among government departments will first occur. The comprehensive database, compiled with Foxbase standards, on natural disasters and natural disaster history includes ten catalog of information: geological settings, time, place, scale, case, damages, economic loss, and social disturbance of natural disasters. Also, the database will network with the disaster databases of the seven ministries, using SYBASE. Figure 2 describes the way in which the seven line ministries are linked through network.

Figure 2. Suggestion of networking within 7 line ministries as well as the linkage to the more comprehensive commissions for information sharing.

This interdepartmental information sharing project is being undertaken by SSTC with the help of ACCA21. Not only will there be complete database sharing capabilities among the seven ministries, but the metadata of this information will be made completely available on CSDNP through the work of ACCA21's Division of Information Network. This project, which should be completed by the end of 1995, will be of great value to both research institutes and decision makers alike. In addition, it represents an important step towards the fostering of a more open atmosphere for information sharing within the government and hence, throughout China.

(d) Information Commission for the Integrated Survey of Natural Resources (ICISNR)

Since it was established 45 years ago, ICISNR has been carrying out comprehensive surveys of China's natural resources. Through this work, it has collected a large body of information, which can categorized into three types: primary data, processed data (ie, averaged data), and commercially available data accessible by the public. This information is stored in several major databases including a comprehensive survey of Tibet's natural resources, a loesses plateau survey of west China, a survey of the hilly regions of south China, a map of spatial information (scale 1:1 million) about China's landuse, and spatial information on the geographical information on China's grassland and forest distribution. This data has been gathered and processed using Oracle and Sybase software.

In addition to having these natural resource databases, ICISNR also houses China's Ecology Research Network (CERN) which was constructed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. CERN provides information from 29 ecological monitoring stations and covers a variety of topics including agriculture, forestry, oceanography, grasslands and inland lakes. These are located in 5 branch centers (biology, soil, moisture, air, and bodies of water). CERN's construction and maintenance involves the participation of 21 institutions within the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

(e) Others

As part of CSDNP implementation, the Administrative Centre of China's Agenda 21 will establish a series of professional databases which includes information resource catalogue data (metadata) as well as databases of sustainable development information, priority projects and professionals. The centre will also directly management and operate CSDNP.

CSDNP will provide available information, including periodically published information on the economy, society, environmental protection and resource use, to those members of the international community who wish to understand the progress and process of China's sustainable development.

3.4 International Environment Information System (Infoterra)

In June of 1977, China officially joined the United Nations Environment Program's (UNEP) Infoterra. The Ecological and Environmental Research Centre of Chinese Academy of Science serves as Infoterra's Chinese node.

3.4.1 Review of General Operation

Infoterra is a worldwide network for environmental information exchange. It was set up by UNEP to facilitate the full use and exchange of scattered information around the world. In addition, Infoterra also provides multi-level information services for environmental management, decision making, planning and scientific research.

The Chinese contact node of Infoterra has developed 181 data sources on the environment (1983), and has worked towards providing services to domestic and international users on environmental information. The online inquiry system on the Infoterra Database was set up in April 1981. By 1983, the "China Environment Documents Database" was established, and service provision to users through personal computer systems began in 1988. In order to facilitate information sharing on the environment, the node established fixed exchanges with relevant institutions abroad. The United States, Japan, Sweden, Britain, France, Italy, Germany and some Asian countries have all provided relevant information to China.

3.4.2 Experiences and Lessons

Organizational reform and the reduction in government financing have created a shortage of funds with which to operate Infoterra, despite the principle that the "national connecting node should be supported by the host government". This inadequacy of basic facilities -- there is only one microcomputer available -- made it difficult for Infoterra to communicate with the international community. In fact, the lack of funds and basic facilities created a situation in which China could only deal with domestic and international inquiries manually, with a turnover of only 100-120 inquiries each year. Thus, the application rate was very low.

The operational experiences of Infoterra demonstrate that without the necessary equipment, and without proper management and operations, it is impossible to realize the objective of ensuring information sharing. This should be remembered as we implement CSDNP.

IV. Technical Support for CSDNP

4.1. Analysis of the Existing Public Network

Along with rapid economic growth and policies of reform and openness, China's development has been marked by a great emphasis on the telecommunications and information network infrastructure. China has invested over 60 billion RMB in the information industry, which is now growing at an annual rate of over 50%. Various communication networks which have been established in China form the basis for the implementation of CSDNP.

4.1.1 Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN, PABX)

Program controlled telephone/data exchange networks have developed rapidly in China. The capacity of PSTN is currently at 56 million lines, or a penetration rate of 3%, with a annual growth rate of 70%. Of these there are 21.22 million main lines. By the year 2000, the capacity should reach 114 million lines, or a density of 8-9% (30-40% in cities), and 93 million main lines. China will establish an integrated switching telecommunications network through which every family in the city and every village in the countryside will have a telephone, and through which data communications via modem will be readily accessible..

Aside from normal voice and fax transmissions, this network can transmit low speed digital data through the analogue voice channel via modem or through a 2B+D digital channel via a terminal adapter. This technology will thus make a CSDNP connection accessible and convenient for remote and scattered users.

4.1.2 Public Packet Switching Data Network (CHINAPAC)

Set up in 1993, CHINAPAC consists of 8 remote multiplexer/concentrators, 30 packet assemblers/dissemblers and 30,000 access points which enable connections to 21 provinces and 267 cities. The system provides international connections to 18 countries including 36 international public data networks. There are plans to expand CHINAPAC's reach to over 90% of China's counties by the year 2000.

The existing CHINAPAC framework is shown in Figure 3.

The X.25 protocol has been adopted because it allows users to access remote hosts for data exchange by means of a local phone call. However, the normal transmission rate of 9.6Kbps is quite low, and there is a relatively large timing delay.

4.1.3 Digital Data Network (DDN)

Established in 1994, this network connects more than 600 cities with 60,000 access points, and nearly all the counties in the coastal region. It is connected with 44 networks in 23 countries and regions. By the year 2000, it will cover 60% of the country's cities. DDN is a new digital network model which uses a low error optical fibre channel. It does not have X.25 disadvantages, namely less reliable error control, low speed, and large timing delay. DDN provides a high speed (64-2048 Kbps or higher) and high quality digital network for terminal to terminal connections. One disadvantage of applying DDN for communication is the cost of the operation charge (at present, around RMB 3,000 Yuan per month of the rent for the individuals) which is accounted rather costly. Figure 4 provides the state-of-art connectivity of DDN framework in China up to the end of June of 1995.

4.1.4 Optical Fibre, Satellite, and Digital Microwave Backbone Network

This backbone network will form China's primary "information highway". In 1995, 22 large capacity optical fibre communication main lines will be built to interconnect every provincial capital (except Lhasa, Tibet). At present, more than ten lines have been completed, including the longest Asia-Europe optical fibre line (Shanghai-Xi'an-Lanzhou -Urumqi-Yinin, 16,000 km in length) which was completed in March of 1995. Furthermore, China had already built 58,000 km of optical fibre main lines and 44,000 km of digital microwave lines by the end of 1994.

China plans to build a grid (8x8) of backbone optical-fibre networks (110,000 km) by the year 2000 which will cover most of the country. Including the satellite and digital microwave communication network, there will be a total of 2.4 million long-distance circuits. This network will also provide high quality and high capacity digital communication for CSDNP and will be connected with other networks. Figure 5 illustrates the backbone network.

Figure 5. China's communication backbones diagram

4.2 Analysis of Existing Specialized Networks

4.2.1 The "Golden Series" Network Project

In order to promote the use and application of information network technology and to build a basis for the future "information highway", the Chinese government has decided to implement the Golden Series network, consisting of the Three Golden projects. The Golden Series project includes the Golden Bridge project (finance, economy), the Golden Card project (money, bank), the Golden Gate project (trade, customs), the Golden Tax project (tax), the Golden Sea project (macro-decision-making), the Golden Intelligence project (education, science), the Golden Enterprises project (enterprises), the Golden Agriculture project (agriculture), the Golden Bee project (manufacture), and the Golden Hygiene project (medical treatment, hygiene). For example, the Golden Bridge project covers 400 cities nationwide and links more than 100 specific networks in different sectors and areas. The project will also make full use of existing PDN, DDN, PSTN, satellite, digital microwave and CATV nets. It will link databases of the national economic management sector, 10,000 large-scale and middle-scale enterprises, major national engineering, scientific and educational bases, and will be connected with international networks. The access points use the X.25, X.21, V.24, V.35, G.703 or 2B+D and 30B+D protocols. In the first stage of the project, the data transmission rate will probably be 144 Kbps-2048 Kbps. As the amount of information expands, the system will be upgraded to a higher speed and broader bandwidth.

4.2.2 National Computing and Networking Facility of China (NCFC)

Beijing's NCFC is connected by optical fibre with a 10 Mbs transmission rate. It adopts the prevailing TCP/IP standard, and is connected with PDN and DDN through a router. In May of 1995, it was connected with Internet via SPRINT at 64 Kbps (See Figure 6). PUnet (Peking Univ.) and TUnet (Tsinghua Univ.) use different network architectures, including FDDI (100 Mbps), LAN (10 Mbps), and PABX etc., and are connected into a continually growing, comprehensive information network. CASnet is gradually becoming connected to scattered institutes. The scale of NCFC has been expanding since 1992. At the present time 3,000 computers in different institutes have been linked to NCFC, and with expected growth to 8,000 by the year 2000.

4.2.3 China Education and Research Computer Network (CERNET)

Based on NCFC, CERNET was set up in 1994 and spans the entire nation. CERNET consists of three levels: the backbone net, area net, and university net; and is divided into seven area nets: Beijing, Northeast China, East China, South China, Northwest China and Southwest China. The network management centre is located in Tsinghua University. Each area net links the university and institutional nets in that region. Area nets are interconnected by DDN at a speed of 64--2048 Kbps with all nets adopting TCP/IP. University nets use FDDI or ATM as a backbone, and there are LANs in each building. Remote or scattered users access the backbone through PABX. By the end of 1995, all area nets should be interconnected and 100 key universities will be linked to CERNET. By 1996, there will be 300 universities on the net. and by the year 2000, 1000 universities and 3000 institutions will join CERNET and be linked with Internet via SPRINT.

Figure 7 illustrates CERNET network connectivity.

4.3 Consideration of General Framework and Program of CSDNP

The main architecture, interface and protocol of CSDNP should be designed and constructed in accordance with the level of demand and economic capacity. In the initial stage (or first period), the general framework and program of CSDNP will be as follows:

(1) Set up a three level network which includes the network centre, area networks and information resources points/users;

(2) Use high speed dedicated lines (64--2048K bps) from the public networks (for example, DDN) to connect the network centre with area networks;

(3) Use public networks (DDN, CHINAPAC, PSTN/PABX) and other net equipment to connect CSDNP with major national networks (CERNET, NCFC, "the Golden Series Network");

(4) Connect INTERNET and CSDNP through the network centre, using existing international ports (NCFC, CERNET, MPT). These connections should be 64K bps or higher;

(5) Scattered users may dial to CSDNP via modem, PSTN/PABX. The speed will not be higher than 19.2K bps;

(6) The network will adopt TCP/IP and other protocols and standards which are used by Internet, CERNET, and NCFC;

(7) CSDNP will consider the use of ATM or higher speed lines (E3-34M bps) for network connections in the future.

The general framework is shown in Figure 8.

The backbone net will make full use of public digital data nets (DDN) to connect the network centre, area nets and main information source points at a data transmission rate of 2.4--48K bps or N x 64 K bps (n= 1-31), usually 64 K bps or 2048K bps. Users may now join CSDNP through several different methods: two analog lines, two (or four) lines analog + modem, base-band transmission, base-band transmission + TDM multiplexer, voice and data multiplexer transmission, 2B+D terminal adapter and PCM digital transmission, etc. (See Figure 9). Users can apply to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication for a connection according their needs. V.35, G.703, V.24, and RS-422A can also be used in the network.

Because the MPT has already set up a large scale DDN, the network centre, area nets and main information source points can apply to join DDN and use this high-speed public digital data network to form the backbone net of CSDNP. Users can also enter the net through the X.25 public packet data net (CHINAPAC) in places where DDN is not available. The Administrative Centre of China's Agenda 21 will set up a network centre with all basic functions needed by CSDNP, and will have Ethernet (LAN) with Client/Server functions, workstations, servers and routers, all of which will adopt TCP/IP.

The transmission rate of the LAN is currently 10M bps and will be upgraded to 100M bps in the future. The LAN uses a hub to connect PCs to the server, and it is connected to DDN via a 64K bps baseband modem through a router. The LAN can also use an Access Server or a modem pool with a speed of 19.2K bps to connect PSTN and PABX for scattered users in places where PDN and DDN are not available. The users can connect to the network centre via direct dialling or PPP calling.This architecture is shown in Figure 10.

At present, this LAN is temporarily connected to INTERNET via CERNET. In accordance with an agreement between the MPT and SPRINT Inc. signed in November 1994, the LAN will connect Internet through SPRINT-LINK in the future. Applications for IP addresses to the Internet Asia department should begin to be made.

Figure 10. LAN network within ACCA 21 office building

V. Organization and Operation of CSDNP

5.1 The Interim Steering Committee

An Interim Steering Committee has been set up by the Chinese government to facilitate the development of CSDNP. Professor Gan Shijun, Director General of the Department of Social Development, SSTC, is the committee director. Its members are Professor Sun Honglie former Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Science; Professor Liu Peizhe, Director General of the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21; Mr Zhang Jiayuan, Secretary of the Chinese Society for Sustainable Development; Professor Chi Huisheng, Vice President of Peking University; Professor Ma Zongjin, Director of the National Working Group on Natural Disasters; and Mr He Jin, Division Chief for Social Development of UNDP, Beijing.

Professor Gan Shijun heads the Office of the leading group for China's Agenda 21 and was the Secretary General of the High Level Round Table Conference for China's Agenda 21 in July 1994. He was responsible for designing and coordinating the White Paper on China's Agenda 21 and is in charge of national science and technology in the fields of social development. He is also experienced in international cooperation, having organized the Beijing Ministerial Level Conference on Environment and Development in 1991 and having prepared China's government document for UNCED in 1992. He has close contacts and good personal relations with many international activists in the area of environment and development, and thus is an appropriate choice for director of the Interim Steering Committee.

Professor Sun Hongle is the former Vice President of Chinese Academy of Science, Vice President of International Unit of Scientific Commission and the member of global Earth Council. He has also done a great deal of work on information exchange within the institutes of Academia Sinica and promoted information exchange and sharing in China.

Other members of the Interim Steering Committee represent a broad range of interests, including government management departments, non-governmental organizations, scientific research institutions and universities. They will form the core of the future and finalized Steering Committee of CSDNP.

5.2 The Steering Committee of CSDNP

The National Steering Committee (NSC) of CSDNP will be formed by modifying and adding a number of members who represent key interests in CSDNP to the current Interim Steering Committee. Final membership will be around 12 people. The following members will be included.

(1) An officer from the State Planning Commission who is in charge of information management. This will ensure access to information from the National Information Centre (NIC) so that basic country data and information on macroeconomic policy, legislation, regulations, and government activities are made available;

(2) An officer from the State Economy and Trade Commission in charge of enterprise information. This will ensure that the major enterprise database (COMEDY) can be accessed as a independent file by the international business community through internet. This will facilitate the purchasing of goods and the efficient selection of cooperative partners in sustainable development;

(3) An officer from the National Environment Protection Bureau in charge of environmental information. This will not only facilitate of Chinese environmental information into the net, but will also make easier information collection on environmental protection;

(4) An officer from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication in charge of telecommunication management, in order to facilitate interconnections of CSDNP to the entire country;

(5) A member from state-owned enterprises in order to encourage the flow of enterprise information;

(6) A member from private enterprises.

This organizational structure has been designed to promote information exchange and sharing on sustainable development in China.

5.3 Executive Unit

The executive unit of CSDNP is the Division of Information Network of ACCA 21 being under the leadership of Steering Committee and the direction of the leading group of China's Agenda 21, responsible for collecting sustainable development information and disseminating information to the government, academic institutes, and enterprises. The Administrative Centre of China's Agenda 21 has chosen the College of Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University as the technical support unit for CSDNP. They are responsible for CSDNP architecture design.

5.3.1 Division of Information Network of the Administrative Centre of China's Agenda 21

The Division of Information Network bears primary responsibility for CSDNP and will act as its centre. As such, it is responsible for information collection, storage and dissemination. It will build databases for sustainable development, expert consultative information, priority projects, etc. One important aspect of their work will be handled by experts in the Division who handle day-to-day work, and help network units solve technical problems such as international standards, data and image transmission.

The UNDP has supported a Phase II project to help the Chinese government execute China's Agenda 21 through Capacity 21 Funding. As part of the Phase II, sent two technicians to a one month training course on SDNP technology at CIESIN in the University of Michigan. These technicians are now familiar with computers and are skilful in handling communication problems. This will help the Division of Information Network train its LAN operators and personnel for information retrieval.

The organization of the Division is shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11 Draft diagram of CSDNP organizations

5.3.2 College of Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University

This college consists of Departments of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, Automation, and an Institute of Microelectronics. It has 29 research groups, 23 laboratories, and 4 key national laboratories and research centers. They are very strong in education, research, development and training. In addition, there are many experts in technical research, equipment development, system design, and engineering design in the fields of communication, microelectronics, computer, and information network in the college. Since 1987, they have participated in and overseen planning and construction of TUnet and NCFC, from which they have gained a great deal of experience. Since 1994, the Centre for Network Engineering has also been entrusted by the State Education Commission and the State Planning Commission with responsibility for the construction of CERNET. CERNET will link major universities and institutes, and will be connected with Internet via its own channels. Their experience will provide vital expertise and technical support for the implementation of CSDNP.

5.4 Implementation and Management of CSDNP

The implementation of CSDNP is new in China and hence faces several obstacles. First, the lack of an information-sharing culture will significantly affect the implementation of CSDNP. This is already changing slowly, and more work must be done in this respect; attitudes towards information must change from viewing it as private, department, and area property, to something that can and should be shared. Such institutional and cultural changes can only occur gradually. However, the creation of CSDNP not only relies on such changes, but can also act as a catalyst for them to occur.

Furthermore, certain databases residing in different sectors have not followed international standards and are thus inaccessible to other people. A concerted effort is needed to modify their format to make them compatible with the network. In addition, techniques and software for image transmission, net information retrieving, and program management must be developed. These changes cannot occur overnight. Therefore, CSDNP operation should be divided into several phases.

5.4.1 Test-Running Phase

In the first phase of CSDNP implementation, a telephone line was rented to connect computers in the Division of Information Network of the Administrative Centre of China's Agenda 21 with the networks of Tsinghua University and Peking University via a 19.2K bps modem, and with Internet through NCFC's optical fibre. This was completed in June of 1995, and the LAN of the Administration Centre will be completed by the end of 1995. This LAN will use twisted lines to link 15 station points, connect to DDN, access the education net of Tsinghua University through a router and a HUB, and network with Internet through three 64 K bps channels.

The human resources of Tsinghua University and Peking University will be used for software development, net information management and processing, with additional support from ACCA21 specialists. The USA's CIESIN will help the Administration Centre build a data and software management node in their first phase of cooperation.

During this trial phase, the UNDP will invest US$300,000 and the Chinese government will contribute 4 million RMB over a period of 3 years.

5.4.2 Normal Operation Phase

After the 3 year trial phase, CSDNP operation will be hopefully financed by both government investment (1 million RMB per annum) and commercial and other means (see next section). Because the construction of many government department databases is funded by SSTC and SPC, both SPC and SSTC will provide these bureaus (such as the Bureaus of Oceanography, Seismology, National Information Centre, etc) with a strong incentive to share their information through CSDNP. However, the result of this institutional structure is that ACCA21, also partially under the guidance of SSTC and SPC, cannot charge these same bureaus for their use of CSDNP. Therefore, intergovernmental information sharing through CSDNP will be free of charge. Instead, money to support use of CSDNP by any branch of the government will come directly through the 1 million RMB per annum promised to CSDNP.

This lump sum government investment will be used for the following :

(a) To provide sustainable development information or sources to different levels of the government for decision-making. This information includes material on environmental quality, laws and regulations, environment regulation documents, population, health and hygiene, inhabitable environment, natural and artificial disasters, natural resources, etc.;

(b) To maintain and upgrade communication equipment.

(c) To develop key software techniques for CSDNP, for example, image and text compression and transmission, data base standardization, and CSDNP decision-making management software. .

5.5 Financial Self-Sustainability

The basic purpose of CSDNP is to encourage information sharing, to facilitate implementation of China's Agenda 21, and to promote the sustainable development of China. As such, CSDNP will be nonprofit in nature. Given this, one important concern raised in the prefeasibility study was the question of CSDNP's financial self - sustainability. There are in fact six channels through which funding for CSDNP may come after the trial period. However, the three years are needed to gain experience and seek out these sources of funding, after which it is predicted that financial self-sustainability can be achieved. These sources are as follows:

5.5.1 NGOs and Commercial Enterprises

Whereas information sharing within the government will be free, a small fee will be charged to the NGO and private sector to contribute to CSDNP operation and maintenance. This fee will be determined according to international standards of cost recovery for network linking time, equipment maintenance, and fees for international database retrieval. Currently the number of commercial enterprises and NGOs with access to networking technologies is quite limited, but this situation is changing rapidly. As China's economy continues to grow, more and more commercial enterprises and NGOs will have the ability and desire to access CSDNP. As this happens, the private and NGO sector will be able to help support the operation of CSDNP.

5.5.2 Other ACCA21 Projects

Some of ACCA21's other projects, such as the foundation of an Environmentally Sound Technology Transfer Centre, will be able to raise money from users by commercial means. Their revenue will not only cover the operation and administration of these projects, but may also be used in part for CSDNP expenses.

5.5.3 Fees from Specialized Researches

All of the information about Agenda 21 that ACCA21 is providing on the net will be free of charge. However, if clients, especially commercial enterprises, approach ACCA21 with very specific tasks, they may be charged a fee. For instance, if a local industry hires ACCA21 to research and obtain a specific clean technology from foreign sources, they will be charged for this service. This revenue will also partly cover operation and administration of ACCA21 itself, as well as CSDNP.

5.5.4 Consultancy Services

Currently Agenda 21 has established a network of over 300 experts in the various fields relating to sustainable development. When clients come to Agenda 21 looking for the consultancy services of these experts, they must pay a fee. These funds may help cover CSDNP costs.

5.5.5 Funding Agencies

The Division of Information Centre will investigate the possibility of seeking aid from domestic and international funding agencies such as the China Environment Fund, UNIDO, or the European Union which is already investigating an opportunity to support an international training centre together with ACCA21.

5.5.6 Training Courses

ACCA21 will offer technical training courses on both the national standards needed for connections to CSDNP, and on broader Agenda 21 issues. Course tuition fees constitute yet another possible source of funding for CSDNP.

As stated above, there are still many unknowns (ie, number of users, etc) at this stage of CSDNP development. More details regarding available funding for the financial operation of CSDNP will be forthcoming in the next three years of trial operation. It is hoped and expected, however, that financial sustainability can be achieved.

VI. Participatory and Information Sharing Aspects of CSDNP

UNDP support for CSDNP is predicated upon the participation of a wide spectrum of institutions from different sectors of society and the agreement of participating institutions to open up their information resources. The question of participation and access for China's SDNP was raised as an important issue in the prefeasibility study.

There is little question that the traditional institutional and social structures of China have not been conducive to open participation. However, things are changing, especially with economic liberalization and ongoing economic and social reform. Opening information channels within China not only requires the participation of various sectors, but further fosters a participatory atmosphere. Thus, CSDNP can begin to function in this time of increasing participation and change. In particular, there are two tiers of openness and participation as conceived by CSDNP.

6.1 China's Agenda 21

All information about the implementation of Agenda 21 will be made available and free of charge to the public by the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21. This includes newsletters, annual reports, progress reports on the implementation of Agenda 21 projects, and guidelines for local agenda 21 preparation. Various research, including the ongoing work on indicators for sustainability, may also be made available to the public. This tier thus represents a level of full participation from all sectors of society, because any individual, NGO, government organization, or business can access this information and comment on it to ACCA21. This will be especially conducive to increasing public awareness and creating space for dialog about sustainable development in general, and the implementation of China's Agenda 21 in particular.

Furthermore, certain institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences will want to put their information onto CSDNP, to be made available for all interested parties. CAS has already reached an agreement with ACCA21 to make information from their evaluation and monitoring centre freely available. As more institutions see the benefits of allowing public and other sector participation and access to their work, more are expected to volunteer their information.

6.2 Information Coordinated by ACCA21

Currently the vast majority of information in China resides in two places: the government, and academic and research institutions. For the most part, commercial enterprises are not yet computerized, which makes network information sharing quite difficult for, although they are eventually expected to play a very large role in CSDNP. For now, however, the best place to start promoting information sharing is in the government.

The information coordinated by Agenda 21, much of it from various government ministries and bureaus, thus constitute this second level of information sharing. For political and institutional reasons, it is impossible for all information from the government to be made freely available. This is true of any government around the world, and particularly of China.
Instead, CSDNP will start by making metadata available. Simply informing the public and other sectors about what information is available and where it can be found significantly increases the prospects for participation in sustainable development policy. This is a very important first step in the right direction.

One final aspect of increased participation is the freeing of information sharing within the line ministries. By starting this political and institutional change towards a more participatory atmosphere within a certain scope, CSDNP can facilitate a smooth transition towards later changes on a larger scale.

VII. Budget Estimate

In 1996-1998, the total investments to CSDNP will be US$ 300,000 and RMB 4,000,000 Yuan in which 1 million RMB input will be added to the government cost share for the use of procurement of facilities of CSDNP, and the rest Chinese RMB input, ie, 3 million RMB will be the investment in kind for the CSDNP office infrastructure, staff recruitment and office facilities, and so on. The details are as follows:

7.1 International funds requested for the construction of the CSDNP management node

(1) Computers and Node Software	Units	Cost (in US Dollars)
Server/Sun Series	1	18,000
Personal Computer	7	16,000
Maintainace Contract		4,000
(2) Net Equipment
HUB/D-LINK DE-816	2	700
Router	1	6,000
Terminal server/3com access server	1	2,000
Base-band modem/ASM-20 (64K bps)	2	4,000
Modem Pool/Multitech (19.2K bps)	5	2,400
Net Adaptor/3Com 3C509	10	1,000
Connection and Installation		3,500
(3) Input and Output Equipment
Scanner	1	1,200
Fax	1	1,000
Laser printer	2	2,000
Tape driver	1	1,500
CD-ROM	6	2,200
OCR	1	1,500
Multimedia card	5	1,500
(4) Database and Application Software		4,600
(5) Computer Room and Facilities		6,000
(6) Others		3,900
Total		83,000

7.2 Domestic and International Networking and Communications

International funds for networking and communications

Components	Total
(1) Project Personnel:
Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)	15,000
International Consultant (IC)	10,000
National Professionals	30,000
Project Formulation	26,000
Sub Total	81,000
(2) Training and Workshop
Curricula Development	16,000
In-Service Training	40,000
Workshops	20,000
Out-Country Meetings/Conferences	20,000
CIESIN Training	11,000
Sub Total	107,000
(3) Equipment/Networking/Research
Non Expendable Equipment	83,000
Internet Networking	42,000
Research on Key Technology	15,000
Sub Total	140,000
(4) Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous	20,000
Sub Total	20,000
COMPONENT TOTAL	348,000

Domestic government cost share for CSDNP (in US dollars):

Components
Total
CSDNP Connectivity
68,000
Research on Key Technology
40,000
Operation Fee
20,000
COMPONENT TOTAL
128,000

The total budget is added up to all together US$476,000, and broken down to the consumption over a period of three fiscal years. The details are as follows:

International Catalytic Funds for CSDNP (in US dollars):

	1996	1997	1998	Total
Project Personnel/Formulation	41,000	24,000	16,000	81,000
Training/Workshop	47,600	42,800	16,600	107,000
Equipment/Networking/Research	112,000	16,000	12,000	140,000
Miscellaneous	6,000	8,000	6,000	20,000
Total	206,600	90,800	50,600	348,000

Domestic government cost share funding for CSDNP (in US dollars):

	1996	1997	1998	Total
CSDNP Connectivity	10,000	30,000	28,000	68,000
Research on Key Technology		20,000	20,000	40,000
Operation Fee	6,000	6,000	8,000	20,000
Total	16,000	56,000	56,000	128,000

28,000

VIII. Summary and Conclusions

CSDNP as conceived by its host unit and administrative node, the Information Division of ACCA21, strives to be consistent with the UNDP principles for SDNP while also creating a system which can be realized within the boundaries China's institutional, political, and social structure. We acknowledge that an information sharing culture is crucial to sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda 21, and that thus CSDNP must also be open to all participants. The options are thus to try to institute an immediate change to these conditions; to create these conditions over time; or to not implement CSDNP. The desire, demand, and need for CSDNP in China have already been clearly demonstrated in the prefeasibility study and throughout this report. Furthermore, the authors of this study believe very strongly that a change in the institutional structure in a country such as China cannot be instantaneous. Therefore, the remaining option, and the one adopted by ACCA21, is to slowly create an atmosphere of open participation and access in the implementation of sustainable development. The first phase of this process is threefold: to foster information sharing among certain branches of the government, to allow complete and open access to general information about the progress of Agenda 21 implementation; and to create catalog of information (ie, metadata) on other existing data and make these accessible to all sectors of society. Each of these three steps is feasible and included in the current plans for CSDNP.

ACCA21 is a small organization whose primary role will be to serve as a coordinator for the entire nation's implementation of Agenda 21 and as a mediator between information users and sources. As such, it has no vested interests to protect its own information or resources. Furthermore, ACCA21 has already begun the first step in fostering information sharing through its coordination of six institutions (NIC, CSTIC, Cast, Zhongguanchun network, State Seismological Bureau, and the Information Commission for Integrated Survey on National Resource) which are willing to share their information and put their metadata onto CSDNP.

Once the trial phase involving these six organizations on CSDNP has been completed, the Division of Information Network will continue the work of expanding the network to other valuable stakeholders and resources such as NEPA. Furthermore, ACCA21 and its Division will act as a centre for international information gathering, and disseminating it for nationwide use.

UNDP financial support is needed to fund the development of network connections for these six institutions in the trial phase of CSDNP. Although their databases have already been established, work is still needed on system connectivity, and also on such problems as better methods for using the Chinese language across large networks.

The metadata approach adopted by CSDNP is an innovative tool which will make it technically as well as politically easier for various organizations to agree to begin information sharing.

The Division of Information Network of ACCA21 will take on the role of mediator or middleman for CSDNP. That is, it can serve as an effective link between sources of information and their users, as well as between various government branches and all non-government sectors of society. Its size and organizational structure are well suited to this purpose.

ACCA21's intimate tie with the government also makes it a much better choice as a host organization for a Chinese SDNP than a traditional capacity building project in academia or NGOs would be. Academic and research institutions are generally much narrower in scope, have less access to newer technologies and information, and do not have the ability to reach all segments of society that a governmental organization possesses. Given the need for an SDNP in China, ACCA21's Division of Information Network is an appropriate host organization.

The Interim Steering Committee for CSDNP has already been formed, consisting of a broad representation of stakeholders who have already agreed that information should and can be widely shared. This Interim Committee, and the future finalized Steering Committee, will be consensus organizations which will decide how and to what extent information from various databases on CSDNP can be made public on the net.

The authors of this feasibility study predict that CSDNP can become financially self-sustaining after the trial period. Currently, the Chinese government has promised 4 million RMB to CSDNP over the next three years, of which 1 million is a government cost share (ie, which can be released to the project only if UNDP funding is secured). After this, the Chinese government will contribute 1 million RMB per annum. In addition to this, there are six other possible funding mechanisms to achieve cost recovery after three years. However, given the newness of this project, the next three years will be a very important time for ACCA21 and the Division of Information Network to gain experience and further research the question of future funding.

In the past two years, a great deal of technical and institutional change has occurred in China.

Internet connectivity and hardware availability are now far more conducive to the construction of a nationwide network for sustainable development than they were a few short years ago. In addition, the general atmosphere is changing to one of increased participation and openness, especially with ongoing economic reform. Thus, we believe that the time is ripe for the formation of China's Sustainable Networking Program. Problems certainly exist, for example in the areas of NGO and individual participation, and finance; but these are far from insurmountable, and can be tackled one by one. The next step for China, then, is to begin the trial period for CSDNP: coordinating the information to be shared by the six institutions, continuing to establish the technical infrastructure, making public information on Agenda 21 through ACCA21, and bringing in more stakeholders such as NEPA into the process. We believe that CSDNP is feasible, and that it will serve an increasingly urgent demand to develop China sustainably.

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