From December 11^th to 12^th, 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. 2023 was a year of slow economic recovery after three years of Covid-19 prevention and control. The conference issued 9 key tasks for 2024, among which the 8^th task is to ‘further strengthen ecological conservation and pursue green and low-carbon development’. It has several specific subtasks, including (1) establish pilot areas of ‘Beautiful China’ for green and low-carbon development, (2) actively and steadily promote carbon peaking and neutrality, accelerate the establishment of green and low-carbon supply chains, (3) continuously fight for blue skies, clean waters, and pure lands, (4) improve mechanisms of eco-product value realization, (5) implement the reform of the collective forest tenure system, (6), accelerate the construction of a new energy system, strengthen resource conservation, intensification, and recycling, and enhance the capabilities to secure energy resources.

Environmental issues are also mentioned in other key tasks, such as making extensive use of green technologies and fostering and expanding green consumption[1].

Previously, environmental issues had only been listed as a key task in 2019[2] and 2020[3] (but not in 2021 and 2022). In 2018, the focus centered around ‘pollution prevention’ while in 2020, ‘achieving dual carbon goals’ was prioritized. By contrast, this year, the scope of the key task encompasses both ecological civilization and green and low-carbon development, for a more holistic approach to address environmental challenges.

 

[1] Xinhua News. (2023, December 12). 中央经济工作会议在北京举行 习近平发表重要讲话。[Xi delivers important speech at central economic work conference in Beijing.] http://www.news.cn/politics/leaders/2023-12/12/c_1130022917.htm

[2] Xinhua News. (2019, December 12). 中央经济工作会议在北京举行 习近平李克强作重要讲话 栗战书汪洋王沪宁赵乐际韩正出席会议。[The Central Economic Work Conference Held in Beijing Xi jinping and Li Keqiang Make Important Remarks Li ZhanShu, Wang Yang, Wang HuNing, Zhao LeJi and Han Zheng Attend the Conference.] http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2019-12/12/c_1125340392.htm

[3] Xinhua News. (2020, December 18). 中央经济工作会议在北京举行 习近平李克强作重要讲话 栗战书汪洋王沪宁赵乐际韩正出席会议。[The Central Economic Work Conference Held in Beijing Xi jinping and Li Keqiang Make Important Remarks Li ZhanShu, Wang Yang, Wang HuNing, Zhao LeJi and Han Zheng Attend the Conference.] http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2020-12/18/c_1126879325.htm