The 45-page white paper, the second of its kind since 1996, is titled "Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)" and released by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet.
The white paper points out that since the late 1970s, China's economy has developed rapidly and continuously. During the process, many environmental problems that have haunted developed countries in different phases of their 100-year-long industrialization have occurred in China all at the same time.
The conflict between environment and development is becoming ever more prominent. Relative shortage of resources, a fragile ecological environment and insufficient environmental capacity are becoming critical problems hindering China's development, it says.
The Chinese government has attached great importance to environmental protection and set it as a basic national policy and sustainable development as an important strategy.
Thanks to these efforts, although the amount of resource consumption and pollutants is increasing greatly, the trend toward aggravated environmental pollution and ecological destruction is slowing down, says the white paper.
Environmental pollution control in some river valleys has seen some positive results, the environmental quality of some cities and regions has improved, the amount of pollutant emission of industrial products has declined, and the people's awareness of the importance of environmental protection has enhanced, it elaborates.
The 17,000-word white paper briefs on China's achievements in environmental protection legislation and system, prevention and control of industrial pollution, pollution control in key regions, environmental impact assessment, international cooperation in environmental protection and some other related aspects.
According to the white paper, since 1996, the State has formulated or revised major laws on environmental protection, such as those on prevention and control of water pollution, marine environment protection, prevention and control of air pollution, as well as evaluation of environmental impact.
The State Council has formulated or revised over 50 administrative regulations to strengthen environmental protection.
Relevant departments of the State Council, local people's congresses and local people's governments have, within the limit of their powers, formulated and promulgated over 660 central and local rules and regulations in order to implement the national laws and administrative regulations on environmental protection.
For three years in a row, the State has launched special environmental protection campaigns to rectify enterprises that have discharged pollutants in violation of the law and to protect people's health.
The campaigns have dealt with over 75,000 environmental law violation cases, and had 16,000 enterprises closed down for having discharged pollutants in violation of the law. More than 10,000 warnings have been issued to environment polluters, obliging them to remedy the problems under government supervision.
In 1998, the Chinese government changed the name of the State Environmental Protection Bureau to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), and elevated it to the ministerial level, says the paper.
There are now 3,226 environmental protection administration departments at different levels all over China, with 167,000 people engaging in environmental administration, monitoring, scientific research, publicity and education. There are 3,854 environmental supervision and environmental law enforcement organs with more than 50,000 staff members.
The white paper stresses that prevention and control of industrial pollution is the focal point of China's environmental protection endeavors.
Statistics show that the amount of industrial waste water, oxygen for industrial chemicals, industrial sulfur dioxide, industrial smoke and industrial dust discharged in generating one unit of GDP in China in 2004 dropped by 58 percent, 72 percent, 42percent, 55 percent and 39 percent, respectively, from 1995. Energy consumption per 10,000 yuan (1,250 U.S. dollar)-worth of GDP in 2004 declined by 45 percent from 1990.
Compared with 1996, in 2005 the proportion of cities with air quality reaching Grade II of the state standard increased by 31 percentage points, while that of cities with air quality lower than Grade III decreased by 39 percentage points.
In recent years, China has completed more than 800,000 rural drinking water projects, solving difficulties and insecurity in this regard for 67 million rural residents.
The white paper says that the eco-environment in some parts of China has begun to improve after a long period of unswerving efforts.
According to its statistics, the total newly afforested area has reached over 6.67 million hectares every year since 2002. At present, the national forest acreage is 175 million hectares, the forest cover 18.21 percent.
By the end of 2005, there were 2,349 nature reserves of various kinds and levels in China, covering 1.5 million square km and taking up about 15 percent of the country's land territory, the paper says.
The last decade has seen the largest increase ever in China's investment in its environmental protection. A pluralistic financing system based on government support has taken initial shape after years of efforts.
Between 1996 and 2004, China's investment into environmental pollution control reached 952.27 billion yuan (119 billions U.S. dollars), amounting to one percent of that period's GDP. In 2006, expenditure on environmental protection has been formally itemized in the State's financial budget, the white paper says.
The paper highlights environmental impact assessment (EIA) as a legal measure to curb environmental pollution and ecological destruction at the source.
China attaches great importance to and consistently seeks to enhance the support capability of science and technology for environmental protection, actively promotes the industrialization of environmental protection, the paper says.
By the end of 2004, China had 11,623 enterprises, each with an annual sales income of more than 2 million yuan (250,000 U.S. dollars), engaged in environmental protection businesses, employing a total of 1.595 million workers.
The white paper notes that the Chinese government has endeavored to boost public participation in environmental protection. There are now more than 1,000 non-governmental environmental organizations in China.
So far, China has acceded to more than 50 international conventions on environmental protection, and has been active in performing the obligations stipulated in these conventions, which include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The white paper, however, also notes that the government is fully aware of the grave situation of environmental protection in the country.
In some regions, environmental pollution and ecological deterioration are still very serious. The discharge of major pollutants has surpassed the sustaining capacity of the environment. Water, land and soil pollution is serious, and pollution caused by solid wastes, motor vehicle emission and not easily degradable organic matter is increasing, the paper warns.
In the 11th Five-Year Program for Economic and Social Development (2006-2010), China has clearly set forth its main goals for environmental protection for the next five years: by 2010, while the national economy will maintain a relatively stable and fast growth, the environmental quality of key regions and cities will be improved, and the trend toward ecological deterioration will be brought under control.
The 11th Five-Year Program also requires energy consumption per unit of GDP to be declined by 20 percent, compared with the end of the 10th Five-Year Plan period. The total amount of major pollutants discharged will be reduced by ten percent, and forest coverage will be raised from 18.2 percent to 20 percent.
In its conclusion, the white paper stresses that China is a big, responsible developing country. Solving China's environmental problems is in keeping with China's development goals. It will contribute to the well being of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, and it is also an important manifestation of the shared interest of mankind.
"The Chinese government and the Chinese people will join all other governments and peoples in the world in protecting the Earth-- our beautiful home," the paper says.
China closes down over 2,600 enterprises for pollution: white paper
Over 2,600 enterprises were closed down for having caused serious environmental pollution and violated industrial policies in 2005, according to a white paper entitled "Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)" issued Monday by the Information Office of the State Council.
The white paper also says during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period (1996-2000), the State closed down 84,000 small enterprises that had caused both serious waste and pollution.
In the period 2001-2004, the State, on three occasions in a run, issued directories listing the backward production capabilities, technologies and products that should be eliminated, and more than30,000 enterprises that had wasted resources and caused serious pollution were winnowed out, says the white paper.
Eight industries that consumed large amounts of resources and caused serious environmental pollution, i.e., those producing iron and steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, iron alloy, calcium carbide, coking, saponin and chromic salt, were rectified, and the construction of over 1,900 projects was either stopped or postponed.
The white paper says the State has developed a cyclical economy. So far, over 5,000 enterprises in the sectors of chemicals, light industry, power-generating, coal, machinery, and building materials have passed the examination for clean production. More than 12,000 enterprises across China have received the ISO14000 Environmental Management System certification.
More than 800 enterprises and over 18,000 products of diverse types and specifications have received environmental labeling certification. Their annual output value is worth 60 billion yuan, the paper says.
China reduces huge lead emission in six years: white paper
The lead emission has been reduced by 1,500 tons each year since China prohibited the use of leaded gasoline in July 2000, says a white paper titled "Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)".
"In recent years, the vehicle emission standards have proceeded from Phase I to Phase II, and Phase III standards have been drawn up," says the white paper, which is released by the Information Office of the State Council.
Some cities have started a clean vehicle campaign, actively promoting the use of low-pollution vehicles fueled by natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas.
According to the white paper, the quantitative examination system for comprehensive urban environmental control has been introduced in over 500 Chinese cities.
The system gives quantitative standards for the quality of the urban environment, pollution control and construction of urban environmental infrastructure, and thus will help to comprehensively assess the environmental protection work of city governments, the paper says.
At present, more than 100 cities (districts) are building themselves into environment-protection model cities, among which 56 cities and five districts in municipalities directly under the central government have succeeded in meeting the required standards.
"These model cities enjoy 80 percent of the total number of days a year with air quality reaching or above Grade II," it says.
China solves difficulties, insecurity in drinking water for 67 million rural residents: white paper
China has completed more than 800,000 rural drinking water projects in recent years, solving difficulties and insecurity in this regard for 67 million rural residents, says a white paper entitled Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005) issued on Monday.
The Chinese government has launched campaigns to build towns and townships with a beautiful environment and ecologically advanced villages in recent years, pushing forward comprehensive control of the rural environment, according to the white paper released by the Information Office of the State Council of China.
China is concentrating on the demonstration of comprehensive control of pollution from livestock, poultry and fish breeding, and non-point pollution in Taihu, Dianchi and Chaohu lakes, as well as in the Yangtze, Zhujiang and Yellow river deltas, the white paper says.
Some provinces and municipalities have beefed up control of the village environment and improved village infrastructure, and made progress in treating rural sewage and waste and controlling agricultural non-point pollution, according to the white paper.
The government has, as well, started the investigation of soil pollution and demonstration of pollution control throughout the country, and set up a system of testing and controlling the security of agricultural products, the white paper says.
It also strengthened the environmental security control of pesticides and chemical fertilizer, popularized high-efficiency, low-toxicity and low-residue pesticides, and prohibited the use of high-toxic and high-residual pesticides in the production of vegetables, fruits, grain, tea and Chinese medicinal herbs, the white paper adds.
The government also prevented non-point pollution brought about by irrational use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides, farm-use plastic sheeting and wastewater irrigation, so as to ensure the security of agricultural products, according to the white paper.
China, at the same time, encouraged the development of eco-agricultural projects that closely integrates breeding industry with crop farming, the white paper says.
Some of China's wild animal species increasing steadily: white paper
About 55.7 percent of the 252 kinds of wild animals covered by a national investigation have been shown to be increasing steadily in a national investigation of wild plant resources, says a white paper entitled Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005) issued on Monday.
And 71 percent among the 189 types of wild plants covered are up to the standard for stable survival, according to the white paper released by the Information Office of the State Council.
The numbers of rare and endangered wild animal species, such as the Chinese alligator and red ibis, have increased by wide margins. The number of wild giant pandas has now reached 1,596, and domesticated ones, 183, statistics from the white paper show.
Some wildlife species have been found in wider areas, and new records, breeding grounds or winter homes of black-beaked gulls and black-faced spoonbills have been constantly discovered, the white paper says.
Arborvitae, which was declared by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to be an extremely endangered species after having disappeared in China for over 100 years, has been found in China again, according to the white paper.
China is a country rich in biodiversity. The State has formulated the China Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation, followed by China's Biodiversity: A Country Study and the Plan for the Protection and Utilization of the Resources of Biological Species, according to the white paper.
At present, there are 250 bases for saving and breeding wildlife, over 400 centers for conserving and cultivating wild plant species or preserving wild plant genes in China, which have artificially produced stable species groups for over 200 kinds of endangered rare animals and about 1,000 types of wild plants, statistics from the white paper show.
Meanwhile, investigation and collection of key wild plants on the verge of extinction and under state protection have been carried out, and 67 zones have been set up to protect the original habitats of wild agricultural plants, according to the white paper.
A nationwide investigation has also been carried out on species from abroad, and action has been taken to root out the most harmful and noxious of such species in 100 counties in ten provinces, enhancing the public awareness and people's capacity to guard against the intrusion of foreign species, the white paper said.
China initially curbs overall expansion of land degradation and desertification: white paper
China has initially curbed the overall expansion of land degradation and desertification, says a white paper entitled Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005) issued on Monday.
By the end of 2004, the total area of degraded land in China was 2,636,200 sq km, and that of desertified land was 1,739,700 sqkm, net decreases of 37,924 sq km and 6,416 sq km, respectively, in a span of five years from 1999, according to the white paper.
Also, the degrees of land degradation and desertification had been alleviated, with a shrinkage of 245,900 sq km of the seriously and very seriously degraded land, the white paper says.
The Chinese government has made the sand prevention and control a strategic principle to prevent land degradation and desertification for the improvement of the eco-environment, for the expansion of the spaces of survival and development, and for coordinated, sustainable socio-economic development, the white paper says.
It has promulgated and implemented the Law on Sand Prevention and Control, approved the National Plan for Sand Prevention and Control (2005-2010), and issued the Decision on Further Strengthening the Work of Sand Prevention and Control, according to the white paper.
It has also organized a number of key relevant projects, achieving a net reduction in the areas suffering from land degradation and desertification.
During the Tenth Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005), the natural forest protection project succeeded in securing eight million hectares of forest for ecological benefits, enabling 93.33 million hectares of forest resources to recover, statistics from the white paper show.
From 2000 to 2005, over nine billion yuan (around 1.1 billion US dollars) was earmarked from the central budget to support the projects of natural pasture vegetation recovery and construction, the building of pasture fences and forage grass seed bases, the halting of herding for vegetation recovery, and grassland eco-construction to control the dust storm sources threatening the Beijing-Tianjin area, the white paper says.
By the end of 2005, the acreage of man-made grasslands had added up to 13 million hectares, that of improved pasture to 14 million hectares and that of fenced pasture to 33 million ha. Twenty percent of the pastures now practice grazing prohibition, grazing land recovery and designated rotation grazing, according to the white paper.
China invests 3.5 bln yuan to popularize use of new energy in ruralareas: white paper
The Chinese government spent 3.5 billion yuan (around 438 million US dollars) during the Tenth Five-Year Plan period(2001 - 2005) to popularize new types of energy in China's rural areas, says a white paper entitled Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005) issued on Monday.
By the end of 2005, there were more than 17 million households using methane, and the yearly output of methane reached 6.5 billion cubic meters, according to the white paper, released by the Information Office of the State Council of China.
China regarded the development of new-energy projects including an ecological model of marsh gas in rural areas as an important approach to protecting and improving the rural ecological environment.
The government has devoted major efforts to developing a project producing methane from wastes in livestock and poultry breeding, the white paper says.
So far, more than 2,200 such methane projects have been completed, treating more than 60 million tons of faeces. And 137,000 methane pits for purifying domestic sewage and over 500 central heating projects with gas from burning stalks have been built, according to the white paper.
In addition, 189 million households now use fuel-saving stoves, and solar water heaters cover a total of 28.5 million sq m. Meanwhile, the government has been actively promoting the use of renewable solar, wind and geothermal energy sources, the white paper says.
China's environmental protection industry generates remarkable profits: white paper
China's environmental protection industry generated 457.21 billion yuan (57 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue and 39.39 billion yuan (4.9 billion U.S. dollars) in profits in 2004, according to a government white paper issued here Monday.
The white paper titled "Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)" says China actively promotes the industrialization of environmental protection.
By the end of 2004, China had 11,623 enterprises, each with an annual sales income of more than 2 million yuan (250,000 U.S. dollars), engaged in environmental protection, employing a total of 1.595 million workers, says the white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council.
During China's Tenth Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005), the State organized and conducted the national key "water pollution control technology and treatment project," and carried out the research and development of such pilot programs as motor vehicle emission purification, desulphurization of gas discharged by coal-fueled boilers, disposal of solid wastes, clean production of key sectors and other key technologies.
A green GDP accounting framework has roughly taken shape.
The government has carried out research on comprehensive ecological system assessment, ecological functional zoning, and the recovery and reconstruction of the frail ecological zones in the western part of the country, thus shaping up a variety of technological patterns for treatment and a mechanism for large-scale demonstration and popularization in those zones.
The country has also completed its survey of alien invasive species, and set up a biodiversity database.
China has formulated the State Environment and Health Action Plan, and conducted surveys on environment and health in key areas, the paper says.
The country has actively conducted research on global environmental changes, and worked out the State Assessment Report on Climate Changes, which provides a scientific basis for the State to formulate policies to cope with global environmental changes and participate in the negotiation on relevant international conventions.
The white paper points out that after years of practice, China has formed an industrial system of environmental protection with a basically complete category and certain economic scale.
China invests heavily in environmental protection: white paper
The Chinese government invested 111.9 billion yuan (14 billion U.S. dollars) in environmental protection between 2001 and 2005, a government white paper said here Monday.
Of the total input, 108.3 billion yuan (13.5 billion dollars) from treasury bond proceeds was mainly used to control the dust storm sources threatening Beijing and Tianjin, to protect natural forests and to turn cultivated farmland back into forests or pastures, says the white paper.
The white paper titled "Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)" was issued by the Information Office of China's State Council, or the cabinet.
This part of money also went to the control of pollution around the Yangtze River's Three Gorges Dam area and its upstream, as well as pollution on the Huaihe, Liaohe and Haihe rivers, Taihu, Dianchi and Chaohu lakes, for commercial reuse and recycling of sewage and garbage, and wastewater reclamation.
Since 1998, the State has focused investment from treasury bond proceeds on environmental infrastructure construction, bringing along a large amount of social investment, the white paper says.
Between 1996 and 2004, the investment in environmental pollution control reached 952.27 billion yuan (119 billion dollars), amounting to one percent of the gross domestic product for the same period.
In 2006, expenditure on environmental protection was formally itemized in the State's financial budget, according to the white paper.
China prepares to handle environmental emergencies including terrorist attacks: white paper
The Chinese government enacted the State Plan for Handling Environmental Emergencies in 2005, said a white paper entitled Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005).
The emergencies include terrorist attacks involving chemical weapons, and terrorist attacks involving nuclear and radioactive materials, according to the white paper released by the Information Office of the State Council on Monday.
The white paper said the plan set forth clear requirements on how to receive, report, handle, compute and analyze information concerning environmental emergencies, as well as how to monitor and release early-warning information.
The State has formulated and improved nine plans for environment emergencies. Among them are plans for handling water environment emergencies in sensitive water areas in key river valleys, plans for handling atmospheric environment emergencies, plans for handling dangerous chemicals (discarded chemicals) emergencies, and plans for handling nuclear and radioactive matter emergencies.
In addition, it has worked out the Plan for Handling Water Environment Emergencies in Sensitive Sections of the Yellow River Valley, Plan for Handling Terrorist Attacks Involving Chemical Weapons, Plan for Handling Terrorist Attacks Involving Nuclear and Radioactive Materials, Plan for Handling Agriculture-related Environmental Pollution Emergencies, and Plan for Handling Emergencies Involving Major Harmful Agricultural Organisms or Intrusion of Foreign Organisms, said the white paper.
In recent years, China has evaluated the potential risks of 127key chemical and petrochemical projects located near such environmentally-sensitive areas as the shores of rivers, lakes, oceans, densely-populated regions and nature reserves, conducting comprehensive and careful examinations on nearly 50,000 leading enterprises, said the white paper.
In 2003, the State put into practice the Plan for the Construction of Facilities for the Treatment of Dangerous Wastes and Medical Wastes. Systems such as those requiring the use of duplicate receipts and operation licenses in transferring dangerous industrial wastes have been reinforced. The amount of treated dangerous industrial wastes in 2005 was 3.39 million tons, as compared with 1.31 million tons in 1998. Thirty-one provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government have established management centers for solid wastes, said the white paper.
China has five nuclear power plants (nine nuclear power generating units) and 18 nuclear reactors in operation. Two nuclear power plants (four nuclear power generating units) and one nuclear reactor are under construction. No major nuclear security problems have ever occurred in China.
It has achieved the goal of "protecting the staff, the public and the environment from being exposed to larger amounts of radiation and pollution than permitted by the State", the white paper says.
China strictly follows the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has adopted the licensing system, requiring that the import and export of all radioactive sources go through the formalities of examination and approval according to law, said the white paper.
Chinese gov't receives 1.148 mln complaints on environmental pollution since 2003: white paper
Chinese environmental authorities at various levels have received 1.148 million complaints on environmental pollution through the hotlines since 2003, a government white paper said on Monday.
This shows the Chinese government stresses protection of the environmental rights of the public, according to the white paper, titled "Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)" and issued by the Information Office of the State Council.
By the end of 2005, hotlines for environmental pollution reports covered 69.4 percent of the administrative divisions above the county level. Of the 1.148 million complaints, 97 percent have been dealt with, and 80 percent of the people making such complaints in major cities said they are satisfied with the results.
Along with the public's increasing awareness of the importance of environmental protection and demand for a better environment, the number of complaints lodged by letter or interview about infringements on the people's environment-related rights keeps increasing, says the white paper.
From 2001 to 2005, the environmental authorities across the country received more than 2.53 million letters and 430,000 visits by 597,000 petitioners, accepted and handled 673 proposals from deputies to the National People's Congress and 521 motions from members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
The government also made public information on the environment, it says.
By the end of 2005, all cities at the prefecture level or above had realized automatic monitoring and daily report of air quality.
The quality of water is monitored in key river valleys, and monthly reports of the water quality in ten major river valleys and weekly reports of automatic monitoring results are released. Monitoring of the water quality of the eastern section of the South-North Water Diversion Project is conducted regularly.
Regular and irregular press conferences are held for timely informing the pubic of environmental situation, major environmental protection policies, and emergencies and misconducts in this regard.
China stresses international cooperation in environmental protection:white paper
A white paper issued here Monday said that China stresses international cooperation in environmental protection, and is active in conducting relevant activities with the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations.
The white paper on Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005) was issued by the Information Office of China's State Council.
The white paper says over the past years, China and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have conducted fruitful cooperation in the fields of desertification prevention and control, biodiversity protection, ozone layer protection, etc. China has also established, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other international organizations, effective modes of cooperation.
China has actively participated in the environmental protection and sustainable development activities under the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and attended all the APEC environment ministerial meetings. China's efforts for environmental protection have been acknowledged and praised by the international community. By the end of 2005, the UNEP had conferred the "Global 500 Award" on 22 units and six persons in China.
So far, China has acceded to more than 50 international conventions on environmental protection, and has been active in performing the obligations stipulated in these conventions. The Chinese government has made clear the key fields and action plans of sustainable development for the early 21st century.
China has drawn up more than 100 policies and measures in relation to the protection of the ozone layer, met the phasing-out target set in the Montreal Protocol. According to a World Bank estimate, the amount of ozone-layer-depleting substances that China has eliminated accounts for 50 percent of the total amount eliminated by all the developing countries.
The white paper stresses that China has consolidated and promoted its cooperation with neighboring countries and regions involved, and actively participated in the construction of a regional cooperation mechanism. Together with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), it has established a mechanism for environment ministers to meet to hold regular policy exchanges and discussions of environmental issues of common concern. After the launching of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Environmental Cooperation mechanism, the first GMS environment ministers' meeting was successfully held in 2005, which spelled out the biodiversity conservation corridor program for the subregion and other cooperative projects.
China has been active in bilateral cooperation in environmental protection, the white paper says. It has signed bilateral agreements or memorandums of understanding on such cooperation with the United States, Japan, Canada, Russia and 38 other countries, and signed bilateral agreements or memorandums of understanding on nuclear security cooperation with 11 countries. In addition, it has carried out several environmental cooperation programs with the European Union, Japan, Germany, Canada and nine other countries or international organizations with bilateral assistance gratis. China is also active in environmental cooperation and exchanges with developing countries.
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