Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
6
Environment Governance and Low Carbon
Economy in China
Pingdan Zhang and Haipeng Niu
Abstract
During the 11th Five-Year Plan, the Chinese government shifted its pollution
reduction policy from simply making benchmark goals to setting binding targets
with legal effects, which will push all parties involved to meet targets ahead
of schedule. In practice, it has been proven that strengthening governmental
responsibility and smartly appropriating tasks at various levels are two important
safeguards for achieving significant progress in environmental protection during
the 11th Five-Year Plan. Environmental protection has optimized economic
development, facilitated the adjustment of economic structure and changes in
development patterns and promoted the co-development of environment, econ-
omy and society as a whole. More importantly, a breakthrough in national
environmental legislation offered a strong legal guarantee for accomplishing
goals during the 11th Five-year Plan.
However, we should be aware that while China's environmental situation
has partly improved, many violations remain unchecked, and the overall outlook
is still grim. Therefore, the 12th Five-year Plan further emphasizes environmen-
tal objectives. The government aims to promote environmental development
using the 12th Five-Year Special Plan, which focuses on environmental issues
that threaten public health and sustainable development. The plan will further
promote the four strategic tasks: reducing total emissions, strengthening the
improvement of environmental quality, preventing environmental risks and
perfecting basic environmental public services.
