China’s vision for a Beautiful China evolves in the 15th Five-Year Plan

On 3 July 2026, China’s State Council introduced the “15th Five-Year Plan for building a Beautiful China” (2026–2030). Serving as the country’s top-level policy framework for ecological civilisation, the plan represents a significant step forward in China’s approach to environmental governance. It shifts focus from standalone pollution control to a more integrated strategy that coordinates carbon reduction, pollution abatement, ecological restoration, and economic growth.

Building on the phased achievements of the “14th Five-Year Plan”, this new plan aligns with China’s broader development goals, including the “Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development”, the 2030 carbon peaking target, and the “Vision for Building a Beautiful China” by 2035. It establishes overall requirements, targets, key tasks, and major projects designed to achieve impactful ecological and environmental improvements.

Ambitious goals for 2030 and 2035

The plan sets clear milestones for the next decade. By 2030, China aims to achieve significant improvements in ecological and environmental quality, establish green production and lifestyles, and meet the carbon peaking target on schedule. By 2035, it envisions fundamental improvements in the ecological environment, culminating in the realisation of the Beautiful China vision.

To measure progress, the plan introduces 18 key indicators across four thematic areas:

1. 1. Improvement of ecological and environmental quality
   2. Coordinated pollution reduction and carbon mitigation
   3. Ecosystem conservation and restoration
   4. Prevention and control of ecological and environmental risks

Among these, six binding indicators include:

• • PM2.5 concentration in prefecture-level cities reduced below 25 μg/m³
  • High-quality water bodies reaching 85%
  • CO2 emissions per unit of GDP reduced by 17%
  • Non-fossil energy share in total energy consumption increased to 25%
  • Major pollutant emissions:
    • NOₓ and VOCs reduced by >8%
    • Chemical oxygen demand and total phosphorus reduced by 6%
  • Forest coverage rate reaching 25.8%

Seven priority tasks and major projects

To support implementation, the plan identifies seven priority tasks, accompanied by 20 major projects. These include initiatives such as air pollution prevention, water and marine ecosystem protection, soil pollution control, and coordinated management of emerging pollutants. The strategic repositioning reflects broader policy imperatives for China’s future development, aiming to integrate ecological governance with structural economic transformation.

Strategic significance

The inclusion of carbon intensity controls and coordinated green growth underscores China’s ambition to align environmental objectives with sustainable economic development. By embedding ecological civilisation in national policy, the plan reinforces China’s role in addressing global environmental challenges and advancing international cooperation on sustainable development.