92
J. Wan
(1976–1980), proposing that large and medium-sized industrial and mining enterprises with serious pollution problems should strengthen the prevention and control of
industrial waste in accordance with national standards. At the first National Environmental Protection Conference, the Chinese government designated 18 key cities for
environmental protection, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. In these cities,
industrial and domestic sewage must be treated in accordance with national standards.
The country stepped up pollution control in the Yellow River, Huaihe River, Songhua
River, Lijiang River, Baiyangdian Lake, Guanting Reservoir, Bohai Sea and other
water systems and major ports and water quality in these places was significantly
improved. The Fifth Five-Year Environmental Protection Plan started the chapter of
environmental planning in China. It proposed that environmental protection should
be incorporated into the national economic and social development plan. It also, for
the first time, proposed measures for the treatment of wastewater, exhaust gas, and
solid waste, marking the beginning of the era of point-source industrial pollution
treatment in the country.
The Six Five-Year Plan period saw environmental protection included in the
national development plan for the first time as a separate chapter. The Sixth FiveYear Plan for National Economic and Social Development (1981–1985) is the first
of its kind to contain an independent chapter on environmental protection and it was
approved on December 10, 1982, at the Fifth Session of the Fifth National People’s
Congress. The plan set out specific targets and measures for preventing pollution,
treating pollution from old enterprises, improving industrial waste treatment capability, strengthening environmental protection planning, environmental monitoring,
environmental research, environmental legislation and environmental law enforcement. It also proposed that construction projects must be screened for environmental
impact and the “three simultaneous” system must be put in place for every construction project. The plan also allocated RMB 17.88 billion from the fund for fixed asset
investment to support employee housing, urban construction, and environmental
protection. The importance of environmental protection was fully affirmed in the
plan. It marked the shift of the focus of China’s environmental management efforts
from industrial waste treatment to pollution prevention, laid a solid foundation for
the establishment of an environmental impact assessment system and the “three
simultaneous” system, and promoted the standardization and institutionalization of
environment impact assessment.
The Seventh Five-Year Plan period welcomed China’s first standalone national
environmental protection plan issued by the Chinese government. In April 1987, the
National Planning Commission and the Environmental Protection Commission of
the State Council issued the National Environmental Protection Plan for the Seventh
Five-Year Plan Period (1986–1990), which became the first standalone five-year environmental protection plan issued by the Chinese government. The plan highlighted
the comprehensive improvement of the urban environment and the prevention and
control of industrial pollution, and emphasized that regions and industries should set
out their own environmental protection goals. It also emphasized the constraint of
environmental capacity and total discharge-based pollution control. It proposed that
J. Wan
(1976–1980), proposing that large and medium-sized industrial and mining enterprises with serious pollution problems should strengthen the prevention and control of
industrial waste in accordance with national standards. At the first National Environmental Protection Conference, the Chinese government designated 18 key cities for
environmental protection, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. In these cities,
industrial and domestic sewage must be treated in accordance with national standards.
The country stepped up pollution control in the Yellow River, Huaihe River, Songhua
River, Lijiang River, Baiyangdian Lake, Guanting Reservoir, Bohai Sea and other
water systems and major ports and water quality in these places was significantly
improved. The Fifth Five-Year Environmental Protection Plan started the chapter of
environmental planning in China. It proposed that environmental protection should
be incorporated into the national economic and social development plan. It also, for
the first time, proposed measures for the treatment of wastewater, exhaust gas, and
solid waste, marking the beginning of the era of point-source industrial pollution
treatment in the country.
The Six Five-Year Plan period saw environmental protection included in the
national development plan for the first time as a separate chapter. The Sixth FiveYear Plan for National Economic and Social Development (1981–1985) is the first
of its kind to contain an independent chapter on environmental protection and it was
approved on December 10, 1982, at the Fifth Session of the Fifth National People’s
Congress. The plan set out specific targets and measures for preventing pollution,
treating pollution from old enterprises, improving industrial waste treatment capability, strengthening environmental protection planning, environmental monitoring,
environmental research, environmental legislation and environmental law enforcement. It also proposed that construction projects must be screened for environmental
impact and the “three simultaneous” system must be put in place for every construction project. The plan also allocated RMB 17.88 billion from the fund for fixed asset
investment to support employee housing, urban construction, and environmental
protection. The importance of environmental protection was fully affirmed in the
plan. It marked the shift of the focus of China’s environmental management efforts
from industrial waste treatment to pollution prevention, laid a solid foundation for
the establishment of an environmental impact assessment system and the “three
simultaneous” system, and promoted the standardization and institutionalization of
environment impact assessment.
The Seventh Five-Year Plan period welcomed China’s first standalone national
environmental protection plan issued by the Chinese government. In April 1987, the
National Planning Commission and the Environmental Protection Commission of
the State Council issued the National Environmental Protection Plan for the Seventh
Five-Year Plan Period (1986–1990), which became the first standalone five-year environmental protection plan issued by the Chinese government. The plan highlighted
the comprehensive improvement of the urban environment and the prevention and
control of industrial pollution, and emphasized that regions and industries should set
out their own environmental protection goals. It also emphasized the constraint of
environmental capacity and total discharge-based pollution control. It proposed that