42
J. Wang
volume, accounting for 8.0% of the total, and the coal and iron ore port in the BeijingTianjin-Hebei region reduced the region’s reliance on road transportation for coal and
iron ore. The country continued to improve its motor vehicle retiring and repairing
system, and the production, sales and ownership of new energy vehicles has been on
the rise.
Fourth, the top-level design for the reform of the ecological civilization development system has been basically completed, laying a solid foundation for environmental protection in the new era. The Chinese government has issued relevant
policy documents such as Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Ecological
Civilization, Overall Plan for Ecological Civilization System Reform, Measures for
the Evaluation and Assessment of Ecological Civilization Development Targets, and
CPC and Government Leader Accountability for Environmental Damage (Trial), and
created the top-level framework and development targets for the ecological civilization development system. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment was established
during this period and environmental protection gained weight in the central government’s decision-making process. A nationwide pollution permit system was put into
place. As of September 2019, China had issued more than 70,000 pollution permits
to companies engaged in 24 major industries including thermal power and paper
making. The reform of the ecological civilization development system progressed
smoothly with steady steps and the environmental legislation, governance, and law
enforcement mechanisms and capabilities continuously improved.
Fifth, the environmental awareness of Chinese citizens has been significantly
improved, and green lifestyles and green consumption have gained popularity. The
country took effective measures to raise the environmental awareness and promote
a sustainable way of thinking in the whole society. Chinese people’s understanding
of the relationship between economic development and environmental protection
changed profoundly. More and more people now accepts the concept that lucid
waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. There are diverse channels for
people to access environmental information. Environmental monitoring authorities
are required to publish air quality data (from hourly to annual, from individual cities
to regions). Environmental public interest litigation and social supervision mechanisms gradually improved, and green consumption and green lifestyles are gaining
popularity.
Sixth, local governments have actively explored typical models of ecological civilization development and environmental protection. Since the 13th Five-Year Plan
period, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has named 95 national demonstration cities and counties (districts) for ecological civilization development, and
constructed 29 “Green is Gold” innovation centers. In 2018, the Ministry of Ecology
and Environment named 11 cities and 5 special economic zones including Shenzhen
“waste-free cities.” Various reform measures and innovations have been introduced
in Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guizhou ecological civilization pilot zones. Sixteen provinces
and more than 1000 cities and counties are striving to become ecological provinces,
cities and counties. The 263 Action Plan of Jiangsu and efforts to build Guangdong
Green Development Demonstration Zone have achieved remarkable results. The
Ten Million Project in Zhejiang and the Saihanba Forest Farm have won Guardian of
J. Wang
volume, accounting for 8.0% of the total, and the coal and iron ore port in the BeijingTianjin-Hebei region reduced the region’s reliance on road transportation for coal and
iron ore. The country continued to improve its motor vehicle retiring and repairing
system, and the production, sales and ownership of new energy vehicles has been on
the rise.
Fourth, the top-level design for the reform of the ecological civilization development system has been basically completed, laying a solid foundation for environmental protection in the new era. The Chinese government has issued relevant
policy documents such as Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Ecological
Civilization, Overall Plan for Ecological Civilization System Reform, Measures for
the Evaluation and Assessment of Ecological Civilization Development Targets, and
CPC and Government Leader Accountability for Environmental Damage (Trial), and
created the top-level framework and development targets for the ecological civilization development system. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment was established
during this period and environmental protection gained weight in the central government’s decision-making process. A nationwide pollution permit system was put into
place. As of September 2019, China had issued more than 70,000 pollution permits
to companies engaged in 24 major industries including thermal power and paper
making. The reform of the ecological civilization development system progressed
smoothly with steady steps and the environmental legislation, governance, and law
enforcement mechanisms and capabilities continuously improved.
Fifth, the environmental awareness of Chinese citizens has been significantly
improved, and green lifestyles and green consumption have gained popularity. The
country took effective measures to raise the environmental awareness and promote
a sustainable way of thinking in the whole society. Chinese people’s understanding
of the relationship between economic development and environmental protection
changed profoundly. More and more people now accepts the concept that lucid
waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. There are diverse channels for
people to access environmental information. Environmental monitoring authorities
are required to publish air quality data (from hourly to annual, from individual cities
to regions). Environmental public interest litigation and social supervision mechanisms gradually improved, and green consumption and green lifestyles are gaining
popularity.
Sixth, local governments have actively explored typical models of ecological civilization development and environmental protection. Since the 13th Five-Year Plan
period, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has named 95 national demonstration cities and counties (districts) for ecological civilization development, and
constructed 29 “Green is Gold” innovation centers. In 2018, the Ministry of Ecology
and Environment named 11 cities and 5 special economic zones including Shenzhen
“waste-free cities.” Various reform measures and innovations have been introduced
in Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guizhou ecological civilization pilot zones. Sixteen provinces
and more than 1000 cities and counties are striving to become ecological provinces,
cities and counties. The 263 Action Plan of Jiangsu and efforts to build Guangdong
Green Development Demonstration Zone have achieved remarkable results. The
Ten Million Project in Zhejiang and the Saihanba Forest Farm have won Guardian of