CA21 Update - Progress on China's
Agenda 21
CA21 Update No.5 March 20, 1996
Brief News
Madame E. Claussen, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States met Mr. Gan Shijun
Madame E. Claussen, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States met Mr. Gan Shijun
At the invitation of the U. S. climate change country study group, Mr. Gan Shijun, Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology for Social Development of the SSTC, attended a seminar on an action plan for climate change in Washington D. C. from 11-15 March 1996. Mme E. Claussen, assistant secretary of State met Mr. Gan Shijun during the seminar. Among those present were Mr. R. Pomerance, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State and Mr. R. K. Dixon, Director of the climate change office of the State Department.
Mme. E. Claussen expressed her appreciation for the formulation of China's Agenda 21 by the Chinese Government. Sustainable development has been adopted by China's National People's Congress as a national strategy, a similar move to which, Mme. Claussen expressed, would be very difficult to achieve in the United States. She also expressed interest in collaborating with Chinese governmental sectors on key issues, and suggested that China not follow the US's example,but rather should take into consideration the impact of energy and other major projects on the environment prior to the project approval. Mr. Gan briefly introduced Chinese Government structure as related with the environment, environmental legislation, and China's vigorous implementation of China's Agenda 21. He also hoped that China and the US should cooperate on environment and development on their mutual benefits. Furthermore, Mr. Gan gave a brief introduction to the Second High-Level Round Table Conference on China's Agenda 21 to be held in October of this year, and invited Mme. Claussen and others from the US Government and business circles to attend the conference, and participate in the implementation of China's Agenda 21.
In addition, Mr. Gan Shijun visited Mr. James G. Speth, Administrator of UNDP in New York to discuss the implementation of China's Agenda 21 and preparation for the Second High-Level Round Table Conference on China's Agenda 21. (Wang Weizhong, SSTC)
China's Legislation for Sustainable Development
Legislation enforcement is the most important insurance for achieving sustainable development in China.
In the three years since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, China has drawn up and revised many laws and regulations for sustainable development, including the following:
Regulations for the protection of wild animal and wild aquatic animals, water and soil conservation, fire relief in grassland, natural reserves, water protection in the Huaihe River(provisional), measures for the enforcement of water licenses; a decision of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on the revision of atmospheric pollution control in the PRC, and laws on energy-saving and solid waste control and disposal.
In the light of plan made the eighth plenary section of the People's Standing Committee and by the State Council, China will enact and revise laws and regulations for sustainable development, including the following laws: on mineral resource (revision), noise control, toxic chemical management, natural resourceconservation, prevention and control of desertification, comprehensive resource use, oceanic development and management, flood prevention and control, environmental protection (revision), water pollution prevention(revision), oceanic environmental protection (revision), grassland (revision), and forestry(revision). There are also regulations of wild plants conservation, environmental monitoring and management during construction. (Liu Chunhua, Legal Bureau of State Council)
SFPC Implementing China's Agenda 21
As a governmental sector responsible for population planning and management, the State Family Planning Commission (SFPC) has paid a great deal of attention to implementing China's Agenda 21. SFPC is working the harmonization of population, social, economic growth and the environment, and natural resource utilization. Major activities carried out by SFPC since 1994 are as follows:
1. In October 1994, SFPC organized and held a conference on the coordinated development of population, economy and society. Mme. Peng Peiyun, State Councillor and Minister of SFPC, decision-makers from 17 provinces and 23 counties and demography experts were in attendance. Conference proceedings was published following the meeting.
2. A national meeting for sharing experience in family planning was held in October 1995. Topics discussed were the coordination of family planning with economic growth, poverty alleviation, and ethical behaviour and values.
SFPC outlined a population of target of less than 1.3 billion people by the end of the century, and less than 1.4 billion by the year 2010 in their Ninth-Five Year Plan and Long-Term Target for the year 2010.
Research and development of a contraceptive vaccine is one project of the Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21 (first tranche), and has been conducted by the Institute of Family Planning of SFPC, the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Research Centre of Reproduction and Immunology under the SFPC. The contraceptive vaccine has been proven safe through clinical test, and is now being developed into a practical product.(Zhang Erli, SFPC)
Eco-Forestry in China
Since the Chinese Government decided to construct the first shelter- forest-belt in north China in 1978 (called the "Three-North" system), China has gradually constructed large scale of shelter-forest-belts in regional and watershed areas, which have greatly improved environmental quality in parts of China, as well as achieving enormous ecological, economic and social benefits. In addition to the Three-North shelter forest system, Shelter Forest under construction also include ones along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, one along the eastern costal zone, in the farmland of plains, in a project for greening the Taihang mountain, and for preventing desertification.
In addition to the six large-scale projects listed above, four others will be built during Ninth-Five Year period. These are the shelter belt along the middle reaches of the Yellow River, along the valley of Huaihe River and Lake Tai, along the Zhujiang River valley, and along the Liaohe River valley. Currently, building the belts along the Yellow River, Huaihe River, and Lake Tai are underway.
These ten shelter-forest belts will undoubtedly improve China's regional ecological environment during the Ninth-Five Year period.(Office of Environment project, MOF)
China Stresses Nature Reserves
Establishment of natural reserves is one of the top priorities in the "Action Plan of Forestry for the Implementation of China's Agenda 21". Eighty nature reserves protecting forest system, wetlands, and wild animals and plants will be set up during the Ninth-Five Year Plan period; of these, 35 will be national reserves. By the end of this century, there will be a total of 600 natural reserves, including 100 national ones, conserving a total of 60.59 million hectares. From 2001 to 2010, an additional 100 natural reserves will be set up, of which 50 will be national ones. By the year 2010, there will be 700 natural reserves, of which 150 are national, protecting a total of 70.68 million hectares. By the year 2050, the total number will reach 800 and 180 national reserves. (Office of Environment Protection, MOF)
China's Environmental Protection Equipment Industry
China's environmental protection equipment industry is a pillar for implementing environmental and ecological protection. By the end of 1995, there were 2310 factories, 200 institutes in China producing 27,000 sets of environmental monitoring and protection equipment, with an annual turnover of 8.45 billion RMB. Thus far, China has the capacity to make five kinds, 261 series and 3200 varieties of environmental protection machines, including equipment for controlling air pollution, solid waste disposal, noise control, and environmental monitoring.
Development of environmental protection Machinery is one of priority project of China's Agenda 21. Department of Machinery Industrial Management, Ministry of Machinery Industry, established the "Environment and Resource Equipment Development Centre", and "China Association of Machinery Industry for Environmental Protection" to speed up the adjustment of industrial structure and production structure, the establishment of a research base, a design and pilot project base and production centre. This will help promote the development of the environmental protection machinery industry. International technological cooperation and exchange, importing foreign technology, and investment constitute another important focus of MMI. (Li Siyu, Environment Protection Centre, MMI)
Sichuan Implementing Family Planning Policy
Sichuan's immense population is a major obstacle to its development. Since 1990, the third fertility peak has occurred with higher fertility rate than that in any other province. It is expected that population in the province will reach 120 million by the end of the century, and 140-150 million by the middle of next century.
Under such serious population pressure, the Sichuan Government has been implementing its population policy, and pays attention to population management and education, and changing traditional concepts. The Government provides services for family planning, maternal and child health in the whole province. Moreover, education, science and technology for the development of human resources have been strengthened for family planning. Sichuan's goals are to limit annual fertility to no more than 11K, and the total number of population to no more than 120 million by the year 2000 and less than 130 million by the year 2010. It is expected that by the middle of the next century, when population reaches 140-150 million, zero population growth can be achieved. By the end of this century, youth illiteracy will be eliminated in 85% of the province, and compulsory education will be implemented.
Environmental Protection, Pollution Control in Guizhou
In 1994, ten cities and one district in Guizhou province recognized the mayor as being responsible for environmental protection goals, and the mayor signed a responsibility contract to fulfill these goals.
Furthermore, in Bijie district, the responsibility was also promoted at the county level through demonstration points. Each city and district carried out seriously duty of environmental protection and carried out its environmental protection duties. Guiyang city, for instance, strengthened the protection of air and water sources. Through their work, forty thousands of family now use coal gas, fifty thousands use electric heating and seventy thousands using liquefied petroleum gas. On eleven city streets, each and every family now uses natural and liquefied petroleum gas. This city is focusing on water pollution by large users and treating water for domestic use in rural areas.
Township enterprises have developed quickly throughout the whole province. Governmental sectors relevant to environmental protection at different levels encouraged the township enterprises to develop economy. They strengthened programme management, extended compatible technologies and reduced pollution. Guizhou province has also paid attention to improving industrial structure and distribution, disseminating cleaner technologies and production, developing industries for environmental protection, and raising enterprises performance. During the Ninth-Five Year plan period, Guizhou will implement "Five-two-two programme", that is, transforming fifty large and middle scale enterprises, 20 high and New Technologies pilot projects, and 20 large scale projects in enterprises. They will conduct research and develop new highly efficient, minimally polluting, and efficient technologies in order to prevent pollute to water and air, promote technological advance, and raise level of environmental engineering. Guizhou will also pay more attention to research on environmental problems, adjust industrial distribution process and production links so as to prevent pollution through life cycle analysis. Emphasis will be shifted from end-of-pipe to whole process measures. They will also reduce the waste discharges per unit of economic output, and raise the efficiency of energy and resource utilization. The environmental protection industry will be given a high priority during the adjustment of industrial structure during the Ninth-Five Year period. A large number of practical equipments for environmental protection and green products are being developed in the province.
Revision and Expansion of the Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21
The Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21 (First Tranche) has drawn a great deal of attention and participation from the international community since it was formally released in July 1994. According to the latest statistics, 36 percent of these priority projects have been initiated, 33 percent are undergoing intensive negotiations, while international partners have not expressed interest on the remaining 31 percent.
As 1996 is the first year of the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, central ministries and provinces have formulated their respective development plans. The plans have put forward many new programmes and projects which have not been included in the Priority Programme.
The Priority Programme was the first of its kind. Due to the absence of any model to follow and as well as because of time constraints, there is still much room for improvement in the first tranche of the Priority Programme. For instances, inadequate attention has been paid to commercial cooperation; and some of the project activities are vague, unrealistic, or difficult to operationalize.
In order to implement as many priority projects as possible during the 1996-2000 period, the Leading Group on China's Agenda 21 decided to advise and supplement the Priority Programme. Some of the current project proposals are being reviewed and revised; new demonstration sites will be added. On Furthermore, up to 30 new projects, which are both priorities of national economic and social development and hot points of international cooperation in the field of sustainable development, will be selected and added to the Priority Programme. The focus of new projects will be capacity building and demonstration projects which are both environmentally friendly and economically viable.
Through more than half a year of effort, we have developed a set of generic and sectoral criteria for the selection of projects to be included in the Priority Programme. The project proposal format has also been revised based on lessons learned from the First Tranche. All these preparatory activities will undoubtedly lead to better quality and better conditions for the implementation of the Priority Programme.
At present, the revision and expansion of the Priority Programme is well underway. Within the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21, a 10 member working group and 16 member expert group have been set up expressly for this purpose. International experts will be invited to review the new proposals in early June, and the final revised and expanded Priority Programme will be made available in July 1996. It will no doubt significantly advance international collaboration, in particular collaboration between Chinese enterprises and the international business community.
Editor's postscript
CA21 Update is a bulletin issued by ACCA21 to report progress on CA21 implementation; important initiatives on strategies, policies, measures, and action plans for sustainable development; and international cooperation on the implementation of CA21 to the domestic and international communities.
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Edited by the Administrative Centre for China's
Agenda 21
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