What did Xi say about ecological civilization at the 20th CPC National Congress?
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened on Oct. 16 in Beijing. Xi Jinping delivered a report to the congress on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee. The following are some points he talked about China’s environmental protection and building of ecological civilization. There will be a formal release of the full text of the report, which I will put into a later newsletter.
Xi Jinping pointed out that nature is the basic condition for human survival and development. Respecting nature, conforming to nature, and protecting nature are the inherent requirements of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way. We must firmly establish and practice the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and plan development from the height of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
He said that we must promote the construction of a beautiful China, adhere to the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grass and sand, coordinate industrial restructuring, pollution control, ecological protection, and respond to climate change, and coordinate to promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth, and insisting on putting ecology first, saving and smartly using resources, green and low-carbon development.
The first is to accelerate the green transformation of the development mode. Accelerate the adjustment and optimization of industrial structure, energy structure, and transportation structure. Implement a comprehensive conservation strategy, promote the economical and smart use of various resources, and speed up the construction of a waste recycling system. Improve the fiscal, tax, financial, investment, pricing and standard systems that support green development, develop green and low-carbon industries, improve the market-based allocation system for resources and environmental factors, accelerate the research and development, promotion and application of advanced technologies for energy conservation and carbon reduction, advocate green consumption, and promote the formation of green Low-carbon production methods and lifestyles.
The second is to further promote the prevention and control of environmental pollution. Continue to go deep into the battle to defend the blue sky, clear water and clean land. We will strengthen the coordinated control of pollutants and basically eliminate heavily polluted weather. Coordinate the management of water resources, water environment, and water ecology, promote the ecological protection and management of important rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and basically eliminate urban black and odorous water bodies. Strengthen the prevention and control of soil pollution sources and carry out new pollutant treatment. Improve the level of environmental infrastructure construction, and promote the improvement of urban and rural living environment.
The third is to improve the diversity, stability and sustainability of ecosystems. Accelerate the implementation of major projects to protect and restore important ecosystems. Promote the construction of a natural reserve system with national parks as the main body. Implement major biodiversity conservation projects. Scientifically carry out large-scale land greening actions. Deepen the reform of the collective forest tenure system. Promote grasslands, forests, rivers, lakes and wetlands for recuperation, implement a ten-year ban on fishing in the Yangtze River, and improve the system of farmland fallow rotation. Establish a mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products, and improve the ecological protection compensation system. Strengthen biosafety management and prevent the invasion of alien species.
The fourth is to actively and steadily promote carbon neutralization. Based on the energy and resource China has, we insist on establishing first and then getting rid of old ways, and we plan to implement the carbon peaking action step by step. Improve the regulation of total energy consumption and intensity, focus on controlling fossil energy consumption, and gradually shift to a “dual control” system for total carbon emissions and intensity. Deepen the energy revolution, strengthen the clean and efficient utilization of coal, intensify the exploration and development of oil and gas resources and increase reserves and production, accelerate the planning and construction of new energy systems, coordinate hydropower development and ecological protection, actively develop nuclear power in a safe and orderly manner, and strengthen energy production, supply and storage. Construction of sales system to ensure energy security. Improve the carbon emission statistics and accounting system, and improve the carbon emission rights market trading system. Improve the carbon sink capacity of the ecosystem. Actively participate in the global governance of climate change. ###