Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
6.2
Significant Progress of Environmental Protection
Achieved in the 11th Five-Year Plan Period
In the 11th Five-Year Plan period, China has made significant progress in environ-
mental protection. Binding targets for pollution reduction have been met ahead of
schedule; initial success has been achieved in watershed management; ecological
construction has been accelerated; and environmental infrastructure has signifi-
cantly improved. But we also need to see that while China's environmental situa-
tion has improved somewhat, there is a paucity of regulation throughout the nation,
and on the whole the situation is grim.
6.2.1 Key Indicators
Judging by major environmental indicators, China has made significant progress and
breakthroughs in the 11th Five-Year Plan period (see Table
6.1
). In November 2007,
China promulgated “the 11th Five-Year Plan of National Environmental Protection”,
which clearly put forward five key environmental indicators. In terms of major
pollutant emissions, during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, emissions of sulfur dioxide
have been reduced by 14.3%and the demand of chemical oxygen by 12.45%, meeting
or exceeding emission reduction targets set in the 11th Five-Year Plan.
With regard to the prevention and control of water pollution, 20.8 % of water
was categorized as the lowest quality based on the records of Chinese state-
controlled surface water monitoring sections in 2010. This is a reduction of 5.3 %
points compared to 2005. Nearly 60 % of water sections in the seven major water
systems have reached Level I to Level III standards, an increase of 18.6 % points
compared to 2005. In terms of air pollution, 95.6 % of major cities saw more than
292 days of good air quality in 2010, 27.1 percentage points higher than in 2005 [
1
].
6.2.2 Pollution and Emission Reduction Roadmap During
the “11th Five Year” Period
During the 11th Five-Year Plan period, the Chinese government made remarkable
achievements in pollution control and emissions reduction, especially the advance-
ment of pollution reduction monitoring methodology.
On August 16, 2006, the “Verification Methods of Pollution Reduction” were
officially promulgated. On November 17, 2006, the State Council approved the
“Implementation of Statistics, Monitoring and Assessment of Energy-saving and
Emissions Reduction”. Systems have been established for filing and auditing
emission reduction plans, verification and quarterly scheduling of emission reduc-
tion projects on site, accounting and publication of emission reduction data, and
warning and real-time monitoring of emissions. A major reduction announcement
system has also been established, and “The Announcement of National Urban
Sewage Treatment Facilities and Coal-fired Power Plant De-sulphurization
