Environmental Planning in China (1949–Present)
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targets in the 11th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. The 11th Five-Year National Environmental Protection Plan also set out the
evaluation and assessment requirements for the implementation of environmental
protection plans. National environmental quality targets were broken down to for
each province, autonomous regions and municipalities, and environmental protection tasks were broken down assigned to specific departments. The central government also increased investment in environmental protection, which greatly improved
the status and execution of the environmental protection plan. The 11th Five-Year
National Environmental Protection Plan proposed many key projects such as the
national survey of pollution sources. It also proposed to strengthen the management capability of the environmental protection system, and prioritize the improvement of the environmental protection system. The plan contained content related to
climate change. It attached importance to the development of environmental protection systems and long-term mechanisms, emphasized active participation in global
environmental governance and demonstration of China’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The Chinese government listed environmental protection as a
binding indicator for the transformation of economic growth model, indicating the
integration of environmental protection into the country’s economic development.
The 12th Five-Year Environmental Protection Plan (2011–2015) outlined goals
and measures for total pollution control, environmental quality improvement, environmental risk prevention, and the promotion of environmental public services. On
December 15, 2011, the State Council formally issued the 12th Five-Year National
Environmental Protection Plan. The emission control targets proposed in the plan
for chemical oxygen demand, sulfur dioxide, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrogen oxides
were included in the 12th Five-Year Plan Outline as binding indicators. The plan also
proposed to build pollution reduction, environmental quality improvement, environmental risk prevention and environmental service equity systems. It was proposed that
the control targets for total discharge of major pollutants should be used as the basis
for decision-making concerning regional and industrial development. Regional environmental governance authorities should apply limits and restrictions when issuing
pollution permits to local governments that had not completed emission reduction
tasks. The plan stepped up regional total pollution control requirements, especially
requirements for the total discharge of major heavy metal pollutants in key areas for
comprehensive prevention and control. During 2011–2015, the country stepped up
its efforts to make annual plans, mid-term evaluation and final assessment systems
for five-year plan implementation, and achieved remarkable results in addressing
environmental problems and reducing heavy metal pollution in accordance with the
plan.
The 13th Five-Year Ecological and Environmental Protection Plan (2016–2020)
focused on improving environmental quality and integrating environmental protection and environmental governance. On November 24, 2016, the State Council issued
the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Ecological and Environmental Protection under
the guidance of the new development philosophy emphasizing innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all. The plan proposed to promote the
implementation of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan, put forward the overarching
95
targets in the 11th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. The 11th Five-Year National Environmental Protection Plan also set out the
evaluation and assessment requirements for the implementation of environmental
protection plans. National environmental quality targets were broken down to for
each province, autonomous regions and municipalities, and environmental protection tasks were broken down assigned to specific departments. The central government also increased investment in environmental protection, which greatly improved
the status and execution of the environmental protection plan. The 11th Five-Year
National Environmental Protection Plan proposed many key projects such as the
national survey of pollution sources. It also proposed to strengthen the management capability of the environmental protection system, and prioritize the improvement of the environmental protection system. The plan contained content related to
climate change. It attached importance to the development of environmental protection systems and long-term mechanisms, emphasized active participation in global
environmental governance and demonstration of China’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The Chinese government listed environmental protection as a
binding indicator for the transformation of economic growth model, indicating the
integration of environmental protection into the country’s economic development.
The 12th Five-Year Environmental Protection Plan (2011–2015) outlined goals
and measures for total pollution control, environmental quality improvement, environmental risk prevention, and the promotion of environmental public services. On
December 15, 2011, the State Council formally issued the 12th Five-Year National
Environmental Protection Plan. The emission control targets proposed in the plan
for chemical oxygen demand, sulfur dioxide, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrogen oxides
were included in the 12th Five-Year Plan Outline as binding indicators. The plan also
proposed to build pollution reduction, environmental quality improvement, environmental risk prevention and environmental service equity systems. It was proposed that
the control targets for total discharge of major pollutants should be used as the basis
for decision-making concerning regional and industrial development. Regional environmental governance authorities should apply limits and restrictions when issuing
pollution permits to local governments that had not completed emission reduction
tasks. The plan stepped up regional total pollution control requirements, especially
requirements for the total discharge of major heavy metal pollutants in key areas for
comprehensive prevention and control. During 2011–2015, the country stepped up
its efforts to make annual plans, mid-term evaluation and final assessment systems
for five-year plan implementation, and achieved remarkable results in addressing
environmental problems and reducing heavy metal pollution in accordance with the
plan.
The 13th Five-Year Ecological and Environmental Protection Plan (2016–2020)
focused on improving environmental quality and integrating environmental protection and environmental governance. On November 24, 2016, the State Council issued
the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Ecological and Environmental Protection under
the guidance of the new development philosophy emphasizing innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all. The plan proposed to promote the
implementation of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan, put forward the overarching