CA21 Update - Progress on China's
Agenda 21
CA21 Update No.8 November 20, 1996
Brief News
Establishment of State Steering Committee for ISO1400 Accredutation
Establishment of State Steering Committee for ISO1400 Accredutation
The "State Steering Committee for Environmental Management Systems Accreditation of China" was established on July 12, 1996 by the National Environmental Protection Agency and the State Technology Supervision Bureau. It is mainly responsible for:
- formulating management stipulations and methods for the accreditation of environmental management systems in China;
- examining and approving the plans for environmental management system accreditation;
- checking, approving and issuing accreditation documentations and processes for environmental management system;
- considering the management methods of accreditation certificates and markers;
- auditing and approving the major international cooperation affairs on environmental management systems;
- following the international practice, and related laws, stipulations and practice on environmental management and accreditation management in China.
It is also responsible for guiding and managing the identification of accreditation institutions and registration of staff, and supervising and checking implementation of accredited general and specific policies, plans and methods for environmental management systems.
The establishment of the "State Steering Committee for Environmental Management System Accreditation of China" marks the accreditation of ISO14000 in China is off to a healthy and orderly start. It indicates that environmental management in China will be close to international standards. (Kang Ren, China's Environment News)
Wetland Conservation and Sustainable Management in China
Wetlands are a specific ecosystem with many functions, an important natural resource and a crucial component of living environments for human beings. China is rich in natural and artificial wetlands which cover an area of 63 million hectares, with many rare waterfowls and habitats. Since accession to "the Convention on Wetland of international importance" in 1992, China has made a great progress on wetland conservation.
The Ministry of Forestry (MOF) specifically sets up the Research Centre and Monitoring Centre for Wetland Conservation and Utilization. Some studies and resource investigations on wetland conservation and utilization have been carried out. In order to strengthen this work, 130 wetland nature reserves have been established, covering an area of 37.52 million hectares in total. Many training courses on wetland conservation have been held, and a group of professional personnel on wetland conservation have been trained under the assistance and cooperation with many international organizations, such as the World Wild Fund for the Nature (WWF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Asian Wetland Bureau (AWB), the International Union Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and the International Crane Fund (ICF).
From 1996 to 2000, wetland conservation and management in China will focus on wetland resource surveys, setting up a monitoring network and an information system on wetland types, wetland area, wetland biological resources, wetland development and utilization, wetland research achievements; determining the priority wetland regions to be protected; formulating and implementing an action plan for wetland conservation in China, setting up 18-20 new wetland reserves; actively encouraging the scientific study on wetland resource protection and sustainable management; strengthening management institutions for wetland protection; and actively carrying out international cooperation on wetland protection. (Office of Environmental Protection, MOF)
Jilin Province Actively Implements China's Agenda 21
A working meeting on implementing China's Agenda 21 was hosted by the Jilin Province Government in Changchun City from June 12 to 13, 1996. About 120 representatives attended this meeting. These included leaders from Spatial Planning and Regional Economy Department of the State Planning Commission; heads of related committees, offices and bureaus of Jilin Provinces, responsible mayors of Cities, Prefectures; responsible directors of local planning commissions and land offices.
Jilin Province has integrated the implementation of China's Agenda 21 into the important agenda of all-level governments, and has started to formulate the "Action Plan of Jilin's Agenda 21". Following the requirements of the State Planning Commission and the State Science and Technology Commission, this province has begun to carry out preparation work on sustainable development evaluation on construction and import projects.
In recent years, Jilin Province has focused on a series of engineering projects on the control of pollution sources and reconstruction of ecological environments. These include an engineering project on control of urban pollution in the Songhua River valley. Other projects include a district heating pipe network, gas pipe network engineering in major cities, as well as the control, modification and migration of industrial waste gas pollution sources in urban areas. In order to protect regionally natural ecology, Jilin Province has concentrated on ecological projects in Changbaishan forest in the east. It has also begun an ecological project for soil fertility recovery on black earth in the central plain, an ecological project on saline-alkali lands in the west, and a project on the: "Three Lake" reserve of Songhua River. (Li Xin)
Controlling Quarrying to Protect the Environment
Jiangyin City is a comprehensive experimental community for sustainable development of Jiangsu Province. In 33 hills, covering an area of 30,000 mu, quarrying has been a rural industry for many years. Due to lack of overall planning and efficient measures, the once beautiful landscapes were destroyed by quarrying, the environment has deteriorated. This has led to a negative influence on investment conditions.
In recent years, in order to implement the China's Agenda 21, Jiangyin City issued the "Resolution on controlling quarrying, protecting ecological environments" and "A notice about controlling quarrying and strengthening the protection of ecological environments". The city government has defined a three-step plan for protecting ecological environments: the first step is that quarrying at hill fronts of 15 mining enterprises should stop along highways in three years as this destroys the landscape. The second step is that quarrying work of all mining enterprises must cease by the year 2000. The third step is that all front hills and two-layer mines must be under control. The city government has set up a leading group for quarrying control, and corresponding management groups charged by heads of townships have been erected in 13 townships with hills. In order to ensure that quarrying control is successful, the city government has decided to establish a fund for quarrying control. After the notice was issued, all 13 relevant townships signed their own target documents with the city government. The city TV station and newspaper also carried a series of reports on this action. The work of quarrying control and environmental protection is being carried out well in Jiangyin City. (Office of Jiangyin CECSD)
China Focuses on the Study and Application of IGCC Power Generation Technology
The integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is a technology which combines the high efficiency gas- stream combined cycle system with clean coal combustion technology. It has not only a high efficiency in power generation, but also an excellent effect on environment protection. This most-hopeful advanced technology in the 21st century has been paid wide attention by world energy circles.
The power industry of China is now facing problems of low efficiency of energy conversion and serious pollution. This situation need urgent action. The IGCC power technology has distinct advantages in saving energy and protecting the environment. The construction of an IGCC demonstration power plant has been listed in the first priority programme of the China's Agenda 21 (4-1: Construction of an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Demonstration Power Plant). The development of IGCC power generation technology has also been integrated into the clean coal plans of the State Science and Technology Commission, State Planning Commission, State Economic and Trade Commission, Ministry of Electric Power, Ministry of Machinery Industry and Ministry of Coal Industry. The IGCC power generation technology has been treated as one of the five trans- century leading projects by the Ministry of Electric Power. An IGCC demonstration power plant of 200 MW-or 400 MW is expected to be constructed around the year 2000.
A state-level steering group for IGCC demonstration projects was established by the three Commissions and three Ministries listed above in 1994. This group organized relevant experts to carry out a pre-feasibility study for techniques of constructing a IGCC demonstration power generation plant of 200 MW or 400MW. Starting from the requirements of the power industry for coordinated and sustainable development of resources, economy and environment. This expert group has verified the necessity and feasibility of developing IGCC power generation technology in China. They have analyzed a preliminary plan for the demonstration power plant, including the plant capacity selection, sub-system technology and equipment selection, thermodynamic system of whole plant, etc..
The State Science and Technology Commission has put the key techniques of IGCC power generation into the state key projects of the "Ninth Five-year Plan". The project proposal was completed by the end of 1995, special topics were proved in the first half of 1996. And the project is expected to be completed in three years. The Ministry of Electric Power is now taking active measures to promote project approval and implementation of IGCC demonstration power generation plants. Some enterprises and power plants in Beijing, Guangdong and Shangdong have plans to construct or re-build IGCC power generation plants. Therefore, the IGCC power generation technology will be further developed and applied in China. (Deng Shimin)
"Rio+5 Forum" A Follow-up Actions of the Rio Summit
The Earth Council is preparing for the RIO + 5 FORUM" scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro at the time of the fifth anniversary of the Rio Summit. The "Rio + 5 Forum" aims to facilitate assessments of the 5 year's progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 after the Rio Summit in 1992. The initiative is expected to bring together some 450 representatives from leading organizations and institutions world wide, including the business sector and national councils for sustainable development. In addition, 130 heads of States have been invited to collaborate in the review process. The Rio + 5 Forum is launched as a contribution to the preparation for the 1997 special session of the General Assembly. The Forum's recommendations will be presented to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in April 1997 and to the UN Special Session in June 1997. The initiative is jointly organized by the Earth Summit, the Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development, the Brazilian NGO Forum, the Government of Brazil, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the UN CSD Secretariat. (Chen Kun)
International Workshop on Energy and Sustainable Development held in Beijing
The International Workshop on Energy and Sustainable Development, which was sponsored by Tsinghua University, the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21, Stanford University and Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, was held in Beijing from July 16 to 17, 1996. Over 80 experts and researchers from China, the United States, Japan and Canada took part in this workshop.
Sustainable energy production and consumption include four aspects: comprehensive energy planning and management, improvement of energy efficiency and energy conservation, pollution reduction and clean coal technology transfer, and development and utilization of new energy and renewable energy. Sustainable development theory, framework for technical cooperation in eco-efficiency development, investment insurance, clean coal, renewable energy, fuel substitutions, user-side efficiency, environmental monitoring and sense information techniques were extensively discussed in the workshop. A special report "Energy and Sustainable Development" will be compiled and published after the workshop, which will be helpful in academic exchanges in the field of energy and sustainable development between Chinese and foreign experts. It will also be helpful for universities and industrial circles to understand and participate in implementation of the sustainable development strategy of China, especially the energy strategy for achieving aims of a long-term sustainable development.(He Kebin)
Work in Coordination and Study in Synthesis
Recently, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences organized many experts to carry out study on a sustainable development strategy. At present, this Academy is undertaking a state key project " China sustainable Study" of the Social Science Foundation. Starting from theory and practice, this project will study relationships between resources, environment, ecology, population and sustainable development, as well as the requirements for economic development and law system proposed by the sustainable development strategic targets. This project will also study the broad influence of sustainable development on social culture, theory and morals. (Qian Yihong)
An Introduction to Investment Projects for China's Agenda 21
The investment projects were extracted and extended from the Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21, which seeks to promote participation of China's industrial and business communities in China's sustainable development. These projects are practical steps toward the realisation of China's Agenda 21 and provide promising investment opportunities at the same time. Brief profiles of these investment projects were released at the Second High-Level Round-Table Conference on China's Agenda 21, which held in Beijing on 26-31 October, 1996. The participants had the opportunity to discuss common interests and cooperation on China's Agenda 21. These profiles will also be distributed to potential investors worldwide.
The brief profiles provide general information on 107 investment projects as well as detailed introductions for the projects sponsors. The projects are divided into two groups:
Commercial projects (82 items) include cleaner production, environmental protection industries, utilisation of natural resources, waste recycling, other industries, sustainable agriculture and services.
Infrastructure projects (25 items) include energy, telecommunications, transportation, water supply and waste water treatment, and waste management.
The total investment of 107 projects is about US$4 billions.
This collection of reference materials were initiated and compiled by the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 in October 1996.
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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