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New measures to enhance support for large-scale equipment renewal and trade-in of consumer goods. Government increases subsidies and lowers criteria to enhance trade-in of equipment and consumer goods.

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202407/content_6964854.htm

Rare earth resources are critical to modern industry, serving as essential components in many sectors, especially in military, electronics, and automotive industries. They are also important for the green industrial transformation, which are widely used in products such as electric cars and wind turbines.

https://www.moj.gov.cn/pub/sfbgw/zcjd/202406/t20240629_501442.html

The MEE, the NDRC, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs jointly issued it on June 11th, outlining a three-year comprehensive marine litter cleanup campaign.

https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202406/content_6956621.htm

The Action Plan was issued by the MEE on June 7th, aiming to promote the construction of Beautiful Bays.

https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202406/content_6956267.htm

The General Office of the SC issued the Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment of a Waste Recycling System on February 6th, which emphasize the importance of resource recycling and reuse.

The Action Plan for Advancing the Green Transformation of Express Packaging issued by the NDRC and other 7 ministries came into effect on November 23rd.

The new Food Security Protection Law has been adopted on December 29th, 2023, and it will come into effect on June 1st, 2024.

China’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030), which was approved on September 25th, 2023, and subsequently released on January 18th, 2024, supersedes the 2011 version, and represents the country’s latest strategic framework for biodiversity conservation.

From December 11th to 12th, 2023, the CCP held its annual Central Economic Work Conference to review the achievements in 2023, analyze the current situation, and outline the plan for 2024.

“Action Plan to Improve Air Quality” and “The Implementation Plan for Promoting Efficient and High-Value Utilization of Phosphorus Resources”

https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202401/content_6923991.htm

China signed the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction on September 20th in New York, the U.S.

Many listed environmental companies are facing a financial crisis problem due to payment defaults, affecting their business operations. According to an analysis of the 2022 annual reports of 187 listed environmental companies, 68.45% of them experienced an increase in accounts receivable.

Based on the brief analysis provided in October, this Newsletter aims to further examine PFAS pollution in China in three aspects, recent academic research regarding PFAS contamination, national and provincial policies on PFAS restrictions and measurement, and the evaluation of policy implementation.

The third meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform was chaired by Xi Jinping on November 11th. This Central Commission emerged from the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform in 2018, and it is mainly responsible for top-level policymaking, overall planning, coordination, holistic development, and supervising the implementation of policies . At this meeting, five documents were adopted to provide new top-level framework directions for China’s economic development, and two of them are related to ecological environment protection

NFGA released the Measures for the Administration of National Nature Parks (for trial implementation) on October 10th. It aims to establish a unified system for the establishment, adjustment, planning, zoning, and protection management of national nature parks by authorities at the local (subprovincial) level.

In September, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other 6 departments released a Work Plan for Stabilizing Growth of the Automobile Industry (2023-2024).

On September 2023, China released its third dedicated plan – The National Plan of Prevention and Control of Desertification (2021-2030) -, to further refine its regulatory framework and technical guidance for desertification management.

While no major new national environmental pollution abatement target or measures have been released during this quarter, new advances on controlling GHGs may have co-benefits for air quality.

China’s ecological redline are important control lines of the “three control lines of territorial spatial planning”, which also include designated permanent basic cropland lines, and boundaries for urban development.

The 9th National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection took place in July, which is the highest profile environmental conference since 2018.

At plastic treaty negotiations held in Paris from 29 May to 2 June, 2023, Parties agreed in principle on some of the core elements of the future treaty.

On June 19, during the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection held a bilateral meeting and signed the “Joint Declaration of Intent regarding the Cooperation in the Field of Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development”.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202306/t20230621_1034384.shtml

On June 16, the “Cooperation Arrangement on Carrying Out Marine Ecological and Environmental Protection Work” was jointly signed by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202306/t20230616_1034029.shtml

On June 5, 2023, the revised “Ten Codes of Conduct for Ecological and Environmental Protection” was jointly released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the General Office of the Central Commission for Guiding Cultural and Ethical Progress, the Communist Youth League of China, and the All-China Women’s Federation, with the aim of guiding citizens in their duty and responsibility to protect the environment.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk01/202306/t20230605_1032476.html

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Water Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration jointly issued the “Key Basin Water Ecological Protection Plan” on April 21.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/ssthjbh/zdlybhxf/202304/t20230421_1027897.shtml

On April 13, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the revised draft of the “Eco-environmental administrative punishment methods”.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202304/t20230414_1026545.shtml

On April 13, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued seven policies on ecological and environmental protection.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202304/t20230414_1026547.shtml

The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered a Report on the Work of the Government on behalf of the State Council at the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/szyw/202303/t20230305_1018491.shtml

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and five other institutions have issued the List of New Pollutants under Key Control (2023 Edition).

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-12/30/content_5734728.htm

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) jointly issued the Notice on Implementing the Implementation Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Strengthening the Supervision and Management of Sewage Outlets into Rivers and the Sea.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/zcwj/gwywj/202203/t20220302_970447.shtml

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) has issued the administrative regulation “Ecological Protection Red Line Eco-Environmental Supervision Measures”.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/zbft/202301/t20230116_1013258.shtml

The Thirty-eighth Session of the Standing Committee of the Thirteenth National People’s Congress adopted the revised “The Wildlife Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China”, which will come into force on 1 May 2023.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/_TxJApfFwzJCslFqlgHxtQ

The second phase of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was successfully held in Montreal, Canada, on 20 December local time.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/F8H6oaBfYcv1gQfCtMJFzA

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the “Notice on the Issuance of Principles for the Approval of Environmental Impact Assessment Documents for Construction Projects in Four Industries: Steel/Coking, Modern Coal Chemicals, Petrochemicals and Thermal Power.”

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/zbft/202212/t20221214_1007898.shtml

On 7 December, the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the second phase of the fourth Conference of the Parties (COP4) to the Nagoya Protocol were formally opened in Montreal, Canada.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/photo/2022-12/08/c_1129191584.htm

On December 5, the Supreme People’s Court released the report “Judicial Protection of Biodiversity in China” and 15 typical cases on judicial protection of biodiversity.

https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun-xiangqing-381891.html

On November 11, China’s national focal point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as “UNFCCC”) formally submitted the Progress Report on China’s Implementation of the National Determined Contribution Target (2022) to the UNFCCC Secretariat.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/ydqhbh/qhbhlf/202211/t20221111_1004576.shtml

The “Yellow River Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China” (hereinafter referred to as the “Yellow River Protection Law”) will come into force on April 1, 2023. It specifies that it will strengthen the protection and promotion of the Yellow River culture and the construction of the Yellow River cultural tourism belt.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/fl/202210/t20221030_998324.shtml

On October 27, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the Annual Report on China’s Policies and Actions to Address Climate Change 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the 2022 Annual Report).

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/xwfb/202210/t20221027_998171.shtml

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment and 17 other authorities have jointly issued the “Opinions on Promoting Functional Sectors Departments for Better Ecological and Environmental Protection.”

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-11/03/content_5724165.htm

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened on 16 October at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping delivered a report to the congress on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee.

https://gongyi.sohu.com/a/593154290_121106991

On 27 July, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment Zhao Yingmin held a video conference with Florika Fink-Hooijer, the Director-General of the Environment Department of the European Commission

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/NlJPIUgMzQyKHfzRV1r4ug

On 27 July 2022, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the 14th Five-Year Plan for Environmental Health. This is a guiding document for the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to systematically promote environmental health.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk05/202207/t20220729_990245.html

Since the 13th Five-Year Plan, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has been exploring the management mode of fixed sources of pollution and has formed a system of monitoring fixed sources of pollution with emission permits as the core.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/sthjjcgl/wlgl/202207/t20220725_989669.shtml

The Technical Specification was developed for the implementation of the “Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste”, “Measures for the Management of End-of-life Motor Vehicle Recycling” and other laws and regulations, prevent environmental pollution in the process of dismantling end-of-life motor vehicles, regulate the environmental management of end-of-life motor vehicle dismantling.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/bz/bzwb/other/hjbhgc/202207/t20220722_989525.shtml

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced the national surface water environment and air quality status from January to June 2022.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5TVpTzUEL5_5ESqCxn-fNA

On 21 July, Huang Runqiu, President of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Minister of Ecology and Environment, chaired the meeting of the Bureau of the COP of the CBD.

http://res.cenews.com.cn/hjw/news.html?aid=992444

On 1 June, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Wetland came into force.

http://mnr.gov.cn/dt/ywbb/202206/t20220601_2738038.html

The General Office of the State Council has recently issued the “Action Plan for the Treatment of New Pollutants”, which provides a comprehensive plan for the treatment of new pollutants.

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2022-05/24/content_5692059.htm

On 28 April, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), together with a total of 14 other relevant departments, issued the “Regulations on the Administration of Compensation for Damage to the Ecological Environment”.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202205/t20220516_982267.html

On 8 April, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the “Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment – Ecological Impact”.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/xwfb/202204/t20220408_974134.shtml

On 2 April, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the “14th Five-Year Plan for the Implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Emission Permits”.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202204/t20220418_974927.html

On 29 March, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the “Guidance on Strengthening the Enforcement and Supervision of Emission Permits”.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202204/t20220401_973304.html

On 5 March, the Report on the Work of the Government was presented at the Fifth Session of the 13th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China.

http://www.gov.cn/premier/2022-03/05/content_5677248.htm

On 2 March, at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in Nairobi, heads of state, environment ministers and other representatives from 175 countries adopted a historic resolution to end plastic pollution and develop an international legally binding agreement by 2024.

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/historic-day-campaign-beat-plastic-pollution-nations-commit-develop

On 2 March, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Implementation Opinions on Strengthening the Monitoring and Management of Discharges to Rivers and the Sea” (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions”).

sohu.com/a/517690821_121117461

On 17 February, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Marine Police Bureau jointly issued the “Action Plan for the Comprehensive Management of Key Marine Areas” (hereinafter referred to as the “Action Plan”).

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1725004029571191957&wfr=spider&for=pc

The fight against pollution in agriculture and rural areas is of great importance for promoting environmentally friendly and low-carbon development in agriculture and rural areas, as well as for strengthening the construction of an ecological civilisation in rural areas.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/xwfb/202201/t20220129_968600.shtml

On 22 January, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the “14th Five-Year Plan for Ecological and Environmental Monitoring” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”) to comprehensively strengthen monitoring support for the continuous improvement of environmental quality and promote the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/xwfb/202201/t20220123_967967.shtml

The plan provides a comprehensive roadmap and specific arrangements for marine ecological and environmental protection work during the 14th Five-Year Plan period including the main targets and the visionary goals for 2035.

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1722194386927048129&wfr=spider&for=pc

On 6 January, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Commerce issued guideline on ecological and environmental protection in overseas investment and cooperation construction projects.

https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk05/202201/t20220110_966571.html

On December 31, the National Development and Reform Commission released the “14th Five-Year Plan for the Integrated Management of Water Environment in Key River Basins ” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”).

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-01/12/content_5667781.htm

The plan aims by 2025, the national soil and groundwater quality will remain stable overall and agricultural and construction land will be safe for use, and by 2035, the national soil and groundwater quality will be fundamentally improved.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/YjzuuabaBT9P-Ci9Usg6zg

The “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Noise Pollution Prevention and Control” was adopted by the Thirty-Second Session of the Standing Committee of the Thirteenth National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China on 24 December 2021 and shall come into force on 5 June 2022.

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1720051082475471496&wfr=spider&for=pc

On 21 December, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued and implemented the Management Measures for the Legal Disclosure of Corporate Environmental Information (hereinafter referred to as the “Management Measures”).

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/F-eieiErM9JKg8skunHrLA

The plan calls for significant progress in scientific and technological innovation for environmental protection and restoration in key areas and regions by 2025.

https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/ghwb/202112/t20211222_1308922.html?code=&state=123

To implement the State Council of the CCCPC’s opinion on fighting against pollution and to promote “waste-free cities”, MEE and 18 other ministries and commissions jointly issued a work plan.

http://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202112/t20211215_964275.html

MEE and the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transport jointly issued the “Measures for the Management of Hazardous Waste Transfer”

http://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk02/202112/t20211203_962985.html

NDRC has formulated special measures for the management of central budgetary investment projects for ecological protection and restoration in key regions and support systems.

https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/ghxwj/202112/t20211203_1306808.html?code=&state=123

MEE will further actively support and promote relevant localities to carry out collaborative legislation in key regions and watersheds, as well as the exploration of law enforcement collaboration

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1717576099771201597&wfr=spider&for=pc

The State Council officially announced the “Regulation on Groundwater Management” come into effect on 1 December 2021.

http://www.mee.gov.cn/zcwj/gwywj/202111/t20211109_959743.shtml

On 19 November, MEE officially released the “Guidance on the Implementation of the “Three Lines and One List” Ecological Environment Zoning Control (for Trial Implementation)”

http://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202111/t20211125_961692.html

With the consent of the State Council, NDRC together with other Chinese authorities issued the “National Cleaner Production Promotion Program”

https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/jd/jd/202111/t20211109_1303533.html

MEE issued the “Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Administration of Law in the Field of Ecology and Environment Continuously Strengthening the Governance of Pollution in accordance with Law”

https://www.cenews.com.cn/news/202111/t20211116_983923.htm

The General Office of the State Council issued “Opinions on Encouraging and Supporting Social Capital Participation in Ecological Protection and Restoration.”

https://www.mee.gov.cn/zcwj/gwywj/202111/t20211110_959886.shtml

Chinese authorities have issued a circular on further promoting the nationwide battle to prevent and control pollution while strengthening ecological protection.

http://www.news.cn/english/2021-11/07/c_1310296648.htm

The General Office of the CCCPC and the General Office of the State Council issued the “Opinions on Further Strengthening Biodiversity Conservation”.

http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2021-10/19/content_5643674.htm

From 11 to 15 October 2021, the first phase of CBD COP 15 opened in Kunming. President XI Jinping attended the Leaders’ Summit and delivered a keynote address.

http://lcj.yn.gov.cn/html/2021/guonei_1012/64068.html

The State Council Information Office published a white paper titled “China’s Biodiversity Conservation” pointing out the elevation of biodiversity conservation to China’s national strategy.

http://www.cma.gov.cn/2011xwzx/2011xqxxw/dzygwyyw/202110/t20211008_585555.html

Official website, China’s CBD COP 15 Pavilion in Kunming and the warm-up event “The business and finance journey to Kunming: We are part of the solution”.

https://news.cop15-china.com.cn/api-content/cms/homeen

Chinese lawmakers voted to adopt an anti-food waste law at a session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

The sixth round of Sino-German intergovernmental consultations took place virtually on 28 April. Both sides expressed their willingness to strengthen international cooperation.

The Central Committee and China’s State Council jointly issued a guideline on setting up and improving the mechanism to realize the value of ecological products.

According to a notice of the State Council, China will strengthen the protection and restoration of grasslands to further develop “ecological civilization”.

The State Council issued a notice assigning the key tasks set out in the Government Work Report including those on the management of nature and the environment.

The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will now be held from 11 to 24 October 2021, in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.

https://www.cbd.int/doc/press/2021/pr-2021-03-18-cop15-en.pdf

A law to improve the conservation of Yellow River Basin ecosystems is being drafted to strengthen protection of the watercourse and prevent environmental pollution.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202102/24/WS6035a76ba31024ad0baaaa27.html

China’s State Council calls for building an economic system featuring green, low-carbon and circular development, and to promote an overall green transformation of the economy and society.

http://english.www.gov.cn/policies/latestreleases/202102/22/content_WS6033af98c6d0719374af946b.html

The guideline outlined policy measures to promote the mechanism, in which officials at provincial, city, county or township levels will assume the role of forest chief in their areas of administration.

https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202101/20/WS60077fb2a31024ad0baa3bb2.html

A notice of a complete ban on solid waste imports was released jointly by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the General Administration of Customs.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202011/27/WS5fc0edb7a31024ad0ba980fb.html

Premier Li Keqiang hosted an executive meeting of the State Council on December 9th, 2020. The meeting passed the “Regulations on the Management of Emission Permits (Draft)”, clarifying that the pollutant discharge units shall be classified according to the amount of pollutants produced, discharged, and the level of impact to the environment, among others.

http://www.gov.cn/premier/2020-12/09/content_5568536.htm

On October 30th, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) released two action plans for comprehensive control of air pollution in the autumn and winter of 2020-2021, focusing on Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) cluster plus Fenwei Plain and Yangtze River Delta area.

http://english.mee.gov.cn/News_service/media_news/202011/t20201106_806650.shtml

The 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded its fifth plenary session in Beijing on October 29th with the release of a Communique. The plenary session heard and discussed a work report delivered by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, on behalf of the Political Bureau/Politburo of the CPC Central Committee.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-10-29/19th-CPC-Central-Committee-concludes-fifth-plenary-session-UZ8ZC4kHhm/index.html

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the world to join hands and act urgently to advance biodiversity conservation and global environmental governance. He also stressed the imperativeness of international cooperation to chart a sustainable pathway in response to COVID-19.

http://english.cctv.com/2020/10/01/ARTI5zKABAXrTVk9FgJLEFJI201001.shtml

China plans to ramp up legislative measures after President Xi Jinping addressed national food security risks and called for greater efforts to reduce food waste.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202008/14/WS5f35fb5ca31083481726059b.html

A new standard system for “greening, reducing and recycling” express packaging shall be in place by 2022. The guideline reflects policy recommendations by one of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) Special Policy Study (SPS) contributed to by the BMU.

http://en.cciced.net/NEWSCENTER/LatestEnvironmentalandDevelopmentNews/202008/t20200812_102106.html

The State Council published a reform plan to further clarify the division of financial powers and expenditure responsibilities between the central and local governments in the field of ecology and environment.

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2020-06/12/content_5519063.htm

China will invest at least 3 trillion RMB on ramping up its ecosystem protection and restoration efforts through nine major projects which are being identified across the country.

https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/202006/P020200611354032680531.pdf

According to MEE’s 2019 Report on the State of the Ecology and Environment, China has made progress on ecological environment protection. The quality of air, surface water, and oceans have all improved.

http://www.mee.gov.cn/hjzl/tj/202006/t20200602_782313.shtml

Minister Huang Runqiu emphasized the continuing importance of environmental protection amid the recovery from COVID-19 and provided details on environmental targets, future work plans, and air pollution.

http://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202005/t20200525_780868.shtml

On 11 March, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China jointly issued the document “Opinions on Speeding up Establishing Legal and Policy System for Green Production and Consumption”, which aims to improve current laws and regulations, and facilitate green production and consumption nationally. The […]

https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/202003/t20200317_1223470.html
Amid the concerns on how “green” China can remain under the enormous economic pressure caused by the current COVID19 pandemic, on 3 March 2020, the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council jointly released a “Guideline on Building a Modern Environmental Governance System” (hereafter referred to as the “Guideline”). [...]
http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-03/03/c_1125657740.htm?utm_source=chinadialogue+newsletter+%E2%80%93+bilingual&utm_campaign=03513aa23c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_23_03_03_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5db8c84b96-03513aa23c-46739885&mc_cid=03513aa23c&mc_eid=a95c4caf3e

The identification of the wild animal trade as the possible cause of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered mounting criticisms, to which the Chinese Government reacted swiftly with a series of regulatory measures.

http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c30834/202002/c56b129850aa42acb584cf01ebb68ea4.shtml

The national forestry authority urged local governments to strengthen the protection of migratory birds and remove threats to their safety as migration season continues. According to a notice posted on the State Forestry and Grassland Administration’s website on Tuesday, local authorities have been asked to gather accurate information about the species of migratory birds in […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201910/10/WS5d9e8d30a310cf3e3556f9ca.html

NEW YORK – China would play an important role as the climate challenge looms, a report published this month shows. Named Guide to Chinese Climate Policy 2019 and authored by David Sandalow, an inaugural fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, the report examines Chinese carbon dioxide emissions, domestic and foreign policies regarding […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201909/20/WS5d84a98ea310cf3e3556ca95.html

Cainiao Network Technology, Alibaba Group’s smart logistics arm, announced on Tuesday plans on Tuesday to set up 1,000 recycling boxes in Shanghai for the reuse and recycling of parcel packaging. The recycling stations located in courier booths across the city are where residents leave their used packages. They can also stand to choose paper packages […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201908/20/WS5d5bd2c5a310cf3e35566de7.html

Three times the size of New York’s Central Park and created by villagers planting tens of thousands of saplings, Binhu National Forest Park is a testament to ingenuity and persistence. The government of Hefei, Anhui province, oversaw turning abandoned farmland into a massive forest park, and the results have seen it become a popular tourist […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/24/WS5d37b852a310d83056400b00.html

OSAKA — Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi called upon all parties to honor their commitments and take concrete actions in tackling climate change at a trilateral meeting of China, France and the United Nations here on Saturday. At the meeting, the Chinese official emphasized that tackling climate change requires both enthusiasm and […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/29/WS5d171b02a3103dbf1432afe7.html

In one week, Shanghai will start enforcing its first regulation on domestic waste management, joining other large Chinese cities piloting a shift to make garbage classification compulsory, instead of voluntary. Since the beginning of this century, China has encouraged people to sort household garbage voluntarily. While more people have realized the importance of garbage classification, […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/24/WS5d10650ba3103dbf14329e23.html

China has managed to reduce the emission of major air pollutants and greenhouse gases while maintaining economic growth over the past six years, a report has found. China’s GDP grew by 39 percent and its energy consumption increased by 11 percent from 2013 to 2018. During that time, the average density of PM2.5 particulate matter […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/06/WS5cf867d8a31017657722fc98.html

China’s intensified efforts in environmental governance have proved to be an efficient impetus for the country’s high-quality development and officials will further promote reform to maximize results, the head of the country’s top environmental watchdog said. “Environmental governance has proved itself in China to be an important impetus for high quality economic development to strengthen […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/04/WS5cf5c2eba310519142700dd3.html

The administration of China’s largest inland saltwater lake has issued a statement to ban inappropriate activities, including taking wedding photos, in the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve. According to the statement, all tourism websites, travel agencies and tour guides are banned from packaging privately-built passages and illegal scenic spots into their tourist products for business […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201905/31/WS5cf0ce9ca3104842260bee84.html

Ahead of the ongoing Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, overseas journalists visited the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition on Tuesday, to learn about the capital city’s drive to promote more eco-friendly lifestyles. Co-organized by the conference’s news center and the Beijing Information Office, the tour took in the featured horticulture and iconic architecture of China […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201905/16/WS5cdcbfffa3104842260bbf0c.html

A total of 11 cities and five regions in China are aiming to be “waste-free” after piloting a two-year national garbage disposal plan. The State Council published a guideline in December which listed 11 cities including Shenzhen in Guangdong, Baotou in Inner Mongolia, and Tongling in Anhui, as well as five other regions as “waste-free” […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201905/14/WS5cda28dfa3104842260bb805.html

China’s massive express delivery industry has joined the effort to fight the illegal trade in protected wildlife and products by signing a self-regulatory convention on Tuesday. Fourteen express logistics firms-12 domestic ones, such as EMS and SF-Express, and international companies DHL and FedEx-made a solemn pledge to take various measures to refuse to transport protected […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201905/08/WS5cd2140da3104842260ba601.html

The Chinese government has invested more than 400 billion yuan ($59 billion) in the country’s greening plan and grown a total of 2.75 million hectares of forests in the past two decades, the forestry authorities revealed on Friday. To protect the country’s forests and reduce the risk of erosion and flooding, China implemented the Natural […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/19/WS5cb98d17a3104842260b735a.html

The 20th IE Expo China, Asia’s largest environmental-themed trade fair, kicked off on Monday at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. The three-day event, which gathers more than 2,000 environmental industry representatives from 25 countries and regions, showcases the latest innovations and technologies in pollution management. Products and services include waste and soil treatment as […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/16/WS5cb58d7aa3104842260b684d.html

BEIJING – China’s extreme weather events are on the rise and becoming increasingly severe as the climate risk level edges up, China Meteorological Administration said in a report. The country saw a marked increase of extreme rainfall and a reduction of extreme low-temperature events during the 1961-2018 period, according to the report. The country’s climate […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/07/WS5ca8db2aa3104842260b4aa7.html

Environmental cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for this year is being discussed at a five-day forum in Beijing. The foreign economic cooperation office with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment held the 2019 forum. The 2019 ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Week started Monday and includes five seminars on ASEAN-China cooperation. […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201903/25/WS5c98c6bba3104842260b2712.html

Over 20 years after Beijing began looking for ways to improve air quality in one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the developing world, it now provides a model for others to follow, according to a report released ahead of the UN Environment Assembly on Saturday. Research by UN Environment and the Beijing […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201903/10/WS5c849e2aa3106c65c34edc00.html

The recent ban on ordinary tourists entering the core zone of Qomolangma National Nature Reserve is aimed at restoring the area’s vulnerable ecosystem after years of rapid tourism development, a spokesman from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Thursday. To restore Qomolangma’s ecological balance, the ministry amended mountaineering regulations and environmental protection rules […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201903/01/WS5c7872d9a3106c65c34ec118.html

The Tibet autonomous region has been making great efforts to protect its natural environment and has vowed to maintain the region as one of Earth’s purest landscapes. At the annual sessions of the region’s people’s congress and political advisory body in January, authorities called for more pollution control through greater input and efforts this year. […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201902/26/WS5c749390a3106c65c34eb61d.html

A snow leopard protection project in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has made achievements after monitoring the species in the eastern Tianshan mountains, a major habitat of the species, this winter. The monitoring work was jointly launched by the local forestry administration bureau of the eastern Tianshan mountains and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201902/20/WS5c6cf186a3106c65c34ea5bd.html

Beijing’s environmental watchdog is considering adopting the National VI (B) emission standards ahead of the country’s scheduled time, aiming to reduce vehicle emissions and enhance air pollution control in the capital. The new standard would come into effect in Beijing in 2020 and 2023 nationwide. With the new standard, major polluting gas from light-duty vehicles, […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201902/13/WS5c63cd7da3106c65c34e921e.html

Chinese cities reported better air quality during the Spring Festival holiday as stricter control on fireworks reduced pollution. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said the average PM2.5 density in 338 cities dropped 14.2 percent year on year during the period from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, peak hours for air pollution as people […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201902/06/WS5c5ac25ba3106c65c34e846c.html

Hainan province will seek greater cooperation with leading international institutions and think tanks as it creates a world-class ecological civilization zone using international standards. While launching a large number of projects to help safeguard the top quality of its air, water and soil resources this year, Hainan will turn to ecologically excellent countries to learn […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201901/29/WS5c4fa37fa3106c65c34e6fb0.html

BEIJING — China has successfully delivered all the obligatory targets set for 2018 and stayed in line with the timetable outlined by the 13th Five-Year Plan, claimed by Chinese Ecology and Environment Minister Li Ganjie. Air quality has continued to improve with 338 major cities reporting good air quality on 79.3 percent of days, up 1.3 […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201901/20/WS5c443297a3106c65c34e5716.html

BEIJING — The mayor of Beijing said Monday that more efforts would be made to green the city in the new year, including creating more parks, planting more trees and expanding greenbelt areas downtown. The annual government work report, delivered by Chen Jining at the opening meeting of the annual session of the Beijing Municipal […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201901/14/WS5c3c4c46a3106c65c34e4557.html

The completion of the world’s largest air purifier in Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province, has brought promising results and prompted a noticeable improvement in local air quality. The 60-meter-high air purification tower, officially known as the Hybrid Solar Assisted Large Scale Cleaning System, is a scientific project undertaken by the Institute of Earth Environment at […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201901/07/WS5c32a74fa31068606745f286.html

To improve China’s soil quality, the top environmental watchdog launched a big data platform on soil pollution on Wednesday and published a technical guideline on assessing its damage. Big data can play a major role in pollution control, urban and rural development planning, land development and agricultural production, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/27/WS5c24b706a310d9121405153a.html

An oil production operation in a nature reserve in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has been closed despite the loss of annual output worth hundreds of millions of yuan in order to better protect desert wildlife. Zhundong Oil Production Plant, a branch of Xinjiang Oilfield of Petro-China that is located in the Junggar Basin, closed […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/19/WS5c1998c6a3107d4c3a00189e.html

As people focus their attention on the quality of the air they breathe, and on the impact of climate change, China is seeing a surge in renewable power generation. As part of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), a total of 150 gigawatts of new coal capacity has been canceled or postponed until at least 2020. […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/13/WS5c11ae7ba310eff303290b6e.html

Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces have established a working mechanism to jointly protect China’s third-largest freshwater body, Taihu Lake. The mechanism, which is aimed at facilitating consultation and cooperation among officials responsible for the protection of the lake, was launched on Nov 13 when officials from the two provincial governments, the Ministry of Water Resources, the […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/10/WS5c0e2a1da310eff303290263.html

Over the weekend, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in North China, known as Jing-Jin-Ji, saw the resurgence of alarming air pollution. But the air quality has not worsened for no reason. According to experts, the surrounding areas of Beijing are still home to many highly polluting industries such as coal power plants, iron and steel factories, as […]

http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201811/26/WS5bfb378ea310eff30328af0d.html

Beijing will be crucial to steering an ambitious Paris-style agreement to restore global biodiversity. Top scientists agree that to avert the crisis in biodiversity we must restore and conserve half the earth by 2050, and sustainably manage the other half. Now, many are seeing this as a core element of any Beijing Nature Agreement. China […]

https://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/10942-China-can-help-avert-an-extinction-crisis/en

More than 80 percent of the world’s wild pandas live in Sichuan, with the rest in Shaanxi and Gansu. In order to step up protection of wild pandas the Shaanxi province will establish a Giant Panda National Park. Planning for Giant Panda National Park began in January last year, when the Communist Party of China […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201811/20/WS5bf35f8ca310eff303289bb3.html

The Yangtze River is home to 424 types of fish, of which 183 are endemic, and the categories of freshwater fish in the river comprise 33 percent of the national total. But President Xi Jinping has said that the country’s longest river is almost a “fish desert”. The Yangtze River Dolphin was declared functionally extinct […]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201811/19/WS5bf20816a310eff30328966d.html