Continuously Advancing China’s Development of an Ecological …
143
of PM 2.5 declined from 89.5 mcg/m
3 in 2013 to 51 mcg/m
3 in 2018, with
more blue skies and fewer people wearing masks for outdoor activities
than previous years.
(4) The pollution of surface water has been reduced. The proportion of water
body failing to meet Grade V standard decreased. In 2018, the proportion
of state-controlled sections of Grade I–III surface water bodies increased
to 71.0%, while that of water body failing to reach Grade V standard
dropped to 6.7%.
3 Building an Ecological Civilization Still Faces Severe
Challenges
Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China has made tremendous achievements in its economic development that have attracted worldwide attention, with the
economic aggregate ranking second in the world. Also, with the rapid development
of the economy, many ecological problems have been accumulated. In some places,
environmental pollution, ecological imbalance, soil erosion and frequent disasters, a
cause for concern, have become an outstanding weak area for developing an ecological civilization and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as well as a
worry in governance and a pain for people’s livelihood.
“The southeastern part of the Hu Huanyong Line covering 43% of China’s land
area is rich in water and heat, but it carries about 94% of the country’s population and
96% of national GDP, which puts enormous pressure on population, development and
environment. The northwestern part of the Line making up 57% of the country’s land
area has harsh natural conditions and fragile ecosystems, so it supports only about 6%
of the population and lags behind in economic development. In the southeastern part,
care should be taken to ensure that no major ecological risk arises and to vigorously
promote the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In the northwestern
part, scientific restoration and comprehensive governance of ecosystems should be
stepped up to promote their gradual recovery and enhance their functions, providing
more space and greater environmental capacity for human, economic and social
development.
With regard to agriculture, China is still based on traditional farming. Its development mode is still to transform nature and take resources from nature, with the
pollution of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation becoming increasingly prominent.
Transforming traditional agricultural thinking and farming methods is still a long way
to go. The pollution from industrial waste, exhaust gas and sewage is also shocking
in vigorously pushing forward the development of industrialization. Currently, the
global economy is under increasing downward pressure, international trade frictions
are growing, factors of instability and uncertainty are becoming more prominent,
global challenges and unexpected problems are unpredictable, and the pressure on the
external environment for development is increasing sharply. China has also entered
143
of PM 2.5 declined from 89.5 mcg/m
3 in 2013 to 51 mcg/m
3 in 2018, with
more blue skies and fewer people wearing masks for outdoor activities
than previous years.
(4) The pollution of surface water has been reduced. The proportion of water
body failing to meet Grade V standard decreased. In 2018, the proportion
of state-controlled sections of Grade I–III surface water bodies increased
to 71.0%, while that of water body failing to reach Grade V standard
dropped to 6.7%.
3 Building an Ecological Civilization Still Faces Severe
Challenges
Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China has made tremendous achievements in its economic development that have attracted worldwide attention, with the
economic aggregate ranking second in the world. Also, with the rapid development
of the economy, many ecological problems have been accumulated. In some places,
environmental pollution, ecological imbalance, soil erosion and frequent disasters, a
cause for concern, have become an outstanding weak area for developing an ecological civilization and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as well as a
worry in governance and a pain for people’s livelihood.
“The southeastern part of the Hu Huanyong Line covering 43% of China’s land
area is rich in water and heat, but it carries about 94% of the country’s population and
96% of national GDP, which puts enormous pressure on population, development and
environment. The northwestern part of the Line making up 57% of the country’s land
area has harsh natural conditions and fragile ecosystems, so it supports only about 6%
of the population and lags behind in economic development. In the southeastern part,
care should be taken to ensure that no major ecological risk arises and to vigorously
promote the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In the northwestern
part, scientific restoration and comprehensive governance of ecosystems should be
stepped up to promote their gradual recovery and enhance their functions, providing
more space and greater environmental capacity for human, economic and social
development.
With regard to agriculture, China is still based on traditional farming. Its development mode is still to transform nature and take resources from nature, with the
pollution of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation becoming increasingly prominent.
Transforming traditional agricultural thinking and farming methods is still a long way
to go. The pollution from industrial waste, exhaust gas and sewage is also shocking
in vigorously pushing forward the development of industrialization. Currently, the
global economy is under increasing downward pressure, international trade frictions
are growing, factors of instability and uncertainty are becoming more prominent,
global challenges and unexpected problems are unpredictable, and the pressure on the
external environment for development is increasing sharply. China has also entered