12.2 Strategic Framework for the “Strictest Water …
259
mechanism to coordinate the various governmental departments would also be set
up. Public participation in water resources management would be more extensive.
It was forecast that by 2020, when China realizes its goal of building an affluent and
healthy society, sufficient water supplies would be secured for future socio-economic
development; rural and urban residents would be provided with safe drinking water;
a “water-saving society” would have been created; the environment and aquatic
ecosystems would be significantly improved; the informatization of water sector
will be upgraded; and a national security system and a modern management system
would have both been developed for the country’s water resources.
In order to achieve these goals, interim and final targets were drawn up. By 2015,
total water use would be controlled at 635 billion m
3 a year, water use for industrial
value-added per 10,000 RMB would be reduced by more than 30% compared with
previous levels; and agricultural irrigation water-use efficiency would have risen
to more than 0.53; meanwhile, the compliance rate of major water function zones
would be more than 60%. By 2020, these figures were targeted to reach 670 billion
m
3 for total water use, 40 m
3 for industrial value-added per 10,000 RMB, 0.55
for agricultural irrigation water-use efficiency, with a compliance rate of more than
80% for function zones. Ultimately, the aim for 2030 was to have total controlled
use of some 700 billion m
3 a year across China. Water-use efficiency rates would
be approaching the advanced in the world, water use for industrial value-added
per 10,000 RMB would be less than 40 m
3 ; and agricultural irrigation water-use
efficiency would be above 0.60, while the compliance rate of major water function
zones is expected to be more than 95%.
12.2.2 Guiding Principles
The principles intended to guide implementation of the strictest strategy, including
tasks and targets, are summarized as follows:
The interests of the public are core to water resources management. People’s
needs lie at the heart of the Scientific Development Concept. Safeguarding the fundamental interests of citizens is essential to the aims of water governance. These aims
are: to realistically guarantee safety of drinking water supplies; to meet water demand
for economic development and ecological needs; to guarantee the safety and health
of the public; to improve living and production conditions; and to create a better
ecosystem and amenable environment.
The core concept of water resources management is to realize harmony
between human beings and nature. Experiences in China and elsewhere show
that conserving resources and protecting the environment, ensuring “green” mountains and “blue” rivers, can produce new competitive advantages. Saving resources
help increase the potential for development, and protecting the environment can
equate to protecting productivity. With regard to water resources management, the
concept of harmony between human beings and nature should be developed in line
259
mechanism to coordinate the various governmental departments would also be set
up. Public participation in water resources management would be more extensive.
It was forecast that by 2020, when China realizes its goal of building an affluent and
healthy society, sufficient water supplies would be secured for future socio-economic
development; rural and urban residents would be provided with safe drinking water;
a “water-saving society” would have been created; the environment and aquatic
ecosystems would be significantly improved; the informatization of water sector
will be upgraded; and a national security system and a modern management system
would have both been developed for the country’s water resources.
In order to achieve these goals, interim and final targets were drawn up. By 2015,
total water use would be controlled at 635 billion m
3 a year, water use for industrial
value-added per 10,000 RMB would be reduced by more than 30% compared with
previous levels; and agricultural irrigation water-use efficiency would have risen
to more than 0.53; meanwhile, the compliance rate of major water function zones
would be more than 60%. By 2020, these figures were targeted to reach 670 billion
m
3 for total water use, 40 m
3 for industrial value-added per 10,000 RMB, 0.55
for agricultural irrigation water-use efficiency, with a compliance rate of more than
80% for function zones. Ultimately, the aim for 2030 was to have total controlled
use of some 700 billion m
3 a year across China. Water-use efficiency rates would
be approaching the advanced in the world, water use for industrial value-added
per 10,000 RMB would be less than 40 m
3 ; and agricultural irrigation water-use
efficiency would be above 0.60, while the compliance rate of major water function
zones is expected to be more than 95%.
12.2.2 Guiding Principles
The principles intended to guide implementation of the strictest strategy, including
tasks and targets, are summarized as follows:
The interests of the public are core to water resources management. People’s
needs lie at the heart of the Scientific Development Concept. Safeguarding the fundamental interests of citizens is essential to the aims of water governance. These aims
are: to realistically guarantee safety of drinking water supplies; to meet water demand
for economic development and ecological needs; to guarantee the safety and health
of the public; to improve living and production conditions; and to create a better
ecosystem and amenable environment.
The core concept of water resources management is to realize harmony
between human beings and nature. Experiences in China and elsewhere show
that conserving resources and protecting the environment, ensuring “green” mountains and “blue” rivers, can produce new competitive advantages. Saving resources
help increase the potential for development, and protecting the environment can
equate to protecting productivity. With regard to water resources management, the
concept of harmony between human beings and nature should be developed in line