270
12 The Strictest Water Resources Management Strategy …
and contents, the weight for each indicator and each group was revised, too. More
importantly, a one-vote veto system was introduced into the assessment.
The 2016 plan incorporated new changes in water resources management in China,
such as a river/lake chief system and a water resources use purpose control system.
At the same time, more attention was given to water saving and water resources
protection.
12.4.5 Assessment Results for 2014–2017
After the implementation of the strategy, four sets of assessment results were released
to the public by the MWR or the assessment working group. Of these, 2014, 2016,
and 2017 were annual assessment reports while 2015 constitutes the term report for
the 12th five-year period.
The information given to the public is simple. The 2014 assessment result indicated that all four national annual control targets were achieved and that 30 provinces
(excluding Xinjiang) all qualified. The ranking of these 30 qualifications was listed,
too. Five provinces were assessed as excellent, 22 were assessed as “better,” and three
qualified. The 12th five-year term assessment was released to the public in 2016. The
assessment was that the five-year term targets were achieved, and all 31 provinces
had qualified, although only five provinces ranked as “excellent.”
In the 2016 annual assessment that followed, all provinces qualified and the same
provinces identified as excellent in the five-year plan were listed again. The same
results were disclosed in the 2017 assessment (The assessment working group of
implementation of the strictest water resources management strategy 2014, 2015,
2016, 2017).
12.5 Conclusion and Outlook
The development of China’s “strictest water resources management strategy” was
born from particular circumstances and the severe issues facing the country’s water
resources. It was aimed at formulating a new way of managing those resources to meet
future socio-economic development needs. It could be an important innovation, due
to its decision to draw on the lessons and experiences of past management practices,
as well as reflecting on important transitions in the concept, idea, and method of
water resources management:
Moving from supply management to demand management. Water supply
management and demand management are both ways to achieve a balance between
water supply and demand. Supply capacity can be increased on the one hand; while
on the other, demand can be managed through improving water-use efficiency and
controlling the wastage of water. China is short of water resources, however, with
12 The Strictest Water Resources Management Strategy …
and contents, the weight for each indicator and each group was revised, too. More
importantly, a one-vote veto system was introduced into the assessment.
The 2016 plan incorporated new changes in water resources management in China,
such as a river/lake chief system and a water resources use purpose control system.
At the same time, more attention was given to water saving and water resources
protection.
12.4.5 Assessment Results for 2014–2017
After the implementation of the strategy, four sets of assessment results were released
to the public by the MWR or the assessment working group. Of these, 2014, 2016,
and 2017 were annual assessment reports while 2015 constitutes the term report for
the 12th five-year period.
The information given to the public is simple. The 2014 assessment result indicated that all four national annual control targets were achieved and that 30 provinces
(excluding Xinjiang) all qualified. The ranking of these 30 qualifications was listed,
too. Five provinces were assessed as excellent, 22 were assessed as “better,” and three
qualified. The 12th five-year term assessment was released to the public in 2016. The
assessment was that the five-year term targets were achieved, and all 31 provinces
had qualified, although only five provinces ranked as “excellent.”
In the 2016 annual assessment that followed, all provinces qualified and the same
provinces identified as excellent in the five-year plan were listed again. The same
results were disclosed in the 2017 assessment (The assessment working group of
implementation of the strictest water resources management strategy 2014, 2015,
2016, 2017).
12.5 Conclusion and Outlook
The development of China’s “strictest water resources management strategy” was
born from particular circumstances and the severe issues facing the country’s water
resources. It was aimed at formulating a new way of managing those resources to meet
future socio-economic development needs. It could be an important innovation, due
to its decision to draw on the lessons and experiences of past management practices,
as well as reflecting on important transitions in the concept, idea, and method of
water resources management:
Moving from supply management to demand management. Water supply
management and demand management are both ways to achieve a balance between
water supply and demand. Supply capacity can be increased on the one hand; while
on the other, demand can be managed through improving water-use efficiency and
controlling the wastage of water. China is short of water resources, however, with