This year, we painted a beautiful China with green as the base
In 2021, despite the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the pace of improving the quality of my country's ecological environment has not stopped.
Since the beginning of this year, the proportion of days with good air in 339 cities across the country has increased significantly, especially in October, which exceeded 90%.
From January to October, the proportion of good water quality in surface water assessment sections across the country reached 82.6%, a year-on-year increase of 1.2 percentage points.
Due to the implementation of the strictest ecological environmental protection system, the delineation of ecological protection red lines, and the steady advancement of biodiversity protection, my country has become the economy with the largest increase in forest area in the Asia-Pacific region. So far, the forest coverage rate has exceeded 23% and 11,800 nature reserves have been protected. The land has become a common home for all kinds of creatures.
The State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions"
Draw a blueprint for a green, low-carbon recycling economy
2021 is the first year of the "14th Five-Year Plan". How should the economy develop in the next 5 or 15 years?
On February 2, the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment and Improvement of a Green and Low-Carbon Circular Development Economic System" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guiding Opinions"), proposing to establish and improve a green and low-carbon circular development economic system, and promote comprehensive green economic and social development. Transformation is the basic policy to solve the ecological problems of our country's resources and environment.
Emphasize the need to implement green planning, green design, green investment, green construction, green production, green circulation, green life, and green consumption in all aspects.
Green development has a comprehensive and clear "road map" and "timetable."
Subsequently, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Liaoning, etc. formulated their own "mission book" for green and low-carbon circular development in accordance with local conditions.
Shanghai will accelerate the construction of Lingang Remanufacturing Innovation Demonstration Zone, build a number of resource recycling bases, and improve the energy level of the solid waste recycling industry; Zhejiang will implement the "two high" projects and high-carbon industry governance, clean energy development, energy conservation and carbon reduction standards Make clear arrangements for tasks such as the system and the negative list of access to strengthen policy guidance; Shaanxi promotes the development of the hydrogen energy industry and will build 2-3 kiloton-level fuel cell-level hydrogen plants; Liaoning proposes a strategic emerging industry by 2025 The added value accounted for 8.5% of the regional GDP, the newly-built high-efficiency water-saving irrigation project was more than 1 million mu, and the forest coverage reached 42.5%...Through the efforts of various places, the beautiful China, where man and nature coexist in harmony, is getting closer.
Enforce the Yangtze River Protection Law
Protect the mother river with the power of law
The Yangtze River is our mother river and the largest river in our country. It flows through more than 10 provinces and cities and straddles the three major plates of my country's east, middle and west.
The Yangtze River Economic Belt is also one of the river basins with the most prominent water environment problems in my country.
The area of the Yangtze River Economic Zone accounts for only 21% of the country, but the total waste water discharge accounts for more than 40% of the country. The emission intensity of chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen per unit area is 1.5 to 2 times the national average.
After the implementation of the "ten years ban on fishing" policy, as my country's first river basin law, the Yangtze River Protection Law will come into effect on March 1, 2021.
The Yangtze River Protection Law integrates resources, ecology, environmental protection and governance, and embodies the ecosystem view of "the overall management of landscapes, forests, fields, lakes and grasses". It comprehensively balances the relevant elements, multiple values and ecological service functions of the resources of the Yangtze River Basin, and is stable through legislation. In the end, the system guarantee for the protection of the Yangtze River was fundamentally consolidated.
The Yangtze River Protection Law has laid down “rules” for the ecological priority and green development of the Yangtze River Economic Zone, placing the ecological environment protection and restoration of the Yangtze River Basin in an overwhelming position, and intensifying the prevention and supervision of water pollution in the Yangtze River Basin.
Dong Zhanfeng, a researcher at the Environmental Planning Institute of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said that the implementation of the law has provided new impetus for the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.
Giant panda and Tibetan antelope "downgrade"
my country's wildlife protection has achieved results
On July 7, Cui Shuhong, Director of the Department of Natural Ecological Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, introduced at a press conference of the State Council Information Office that my country has established a relatively complete system of natural protected areas, and large areas of natural ecosystems have been systematically and completely protected. The biological habitat has been effectively improved.
The number of giant pandas in the wild has reached more than 1,800, and the threat level has been reduced from "endangered" to "vulnerable".
One month after the giant panda was "downgraded", the National Forestry and Grass Administration stated that with the strengthening of ecological protection, the number of Tibetan antelopes in my country has increased to about 300,000, and the protection level has been downgraded from endangered species to near threatened species.
Data in May this year showed that the critically endangered Hainan gibbons have grown from 7 to 9 at the time of the trough to 33, and a fifth family group is being formed; the crested ibis has recovered from 7 at the time of discovery to more than 5,000; The number of monkeys recovered from more than 300 in the 1980s to more than 1,300.
Experts said that the degradation of the threats of giant pandas and Tibetan antelopes is an affirmation of conservation work.
However, the giant panda is still the number one "flagship species", and downgrading will not affect the intensity of its protection.
"In our hearts, it is still a'national treasure', and it is still protected as an endangered species." said Zhang Hemin, executive deputy director of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center.
Regardless of whether it is a giant panda or a Tibetan antelope, the so-called "downgrade" refers to the degradation of the degree of threat rather than the degradation of the degree of protection.
At present, giant pandas and Tibetan antelopes are still national first-class protected animals, and their protection levels have not declined.
National carbon market launches online trading
Use market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The world’s largest carbon market-the National Carbon Emissions Market (hereinafter referred to as the National Carbon Market) officially launched online trading on July 16, and the first compliance cycle included 2,162 key emission units in the power generation industry, covering approximately 4.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. quantity.
The opening of the national carbon market means that companies with advanced technology and low carbon emissions will occupy an advantageous position in the carbon market.
Key emission units whose carbon emissions exceed the prescribed quotas can offset the excess emissions through the development of renewable energy, tree planting and afforestation to increase carbon sinks.
Practices at home and abroad have shown that, compared with traditional administrative management methods, the carbon market can not only consolidate the responsibility of greenhouse gas emission control to enterprises, but also provide economic incentives for carbon reduction, reduce the emission reduction costs of the whole society, and drive Green technological innovation and industrial investment provide effective policy tools for dealing with the relationship between economic development and emission reduction.
Since 2011, my country has carried out carbon emission trading pilot projects in 7 provinces and cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Guangdong, and has accumulated valuable experience in carbon emission accounting, allowance allocation, verification, and contract performance.
Entering November 2021, the national carbon market trading has become increasingly active.
On December 14, the market's single-day trading volume exceeded 10 million, reaching 14.8808 million tons, a record high since the market opened.
According to statistics, as of December 13, the cumulative transaction volume of the national carbon market carbon emission allowances (CEA) was 84.94 million tons, and the cumulative transaction volume was 3.514 billion yuan.
"Double carbon" target top-level design introduced
A clearer path to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutral goals
There is no doubt that carbon peak and carbon neutrality are the hottest words in 2021.
Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a broad and profound economic and social systemic change, which is related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
On September 22, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on the Complete, Accurate and Comprehensive Implementation of the New Development Concept to Do a Good Job in Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions") was officially released.
As the "1" in the "dual carbon" "1+N" policy system, the "Opinions" have systematically planned and deployed the major work of "dual carbon".
On October 24, the State Council issued the Action Plan for Carbon Peaking by 2030 (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), which proposed specific action plans for achieving the carbon peaking target by 2030.
The "Opinions" will play a leading role in the "1+N" policy system. It is a top-level design document that runs through the two stages of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. It clarifies the carbon peaking, carbon neutral timetable, and roadmap. All localities and departments have pointed out the direction and tasks for promoting and implementing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.
The core of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the source; the other is to remove carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through carbon sinks, carbon capture, utilization, and storage.
Based on my country’s development stage and national conditions, the “Opinions” clearly put forward three-stage target indicators around “mitigation” and “removal”, and stipulated a number of key indicator tasks for 2025, 2030, and 2060, respectively. That is, the reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP and the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, the increase in the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption, as well as the forest coverage and forest stock volume, etc., from the implementation indicator level to ensure that the carbon peak and carbon neutral target vision is achieved on schedule Clarified the key starting point.
The "Plan" is a policy document headed by "N". Relevant departments and units will formulate implementation plans for carbon peaking in energy, industry, urban and rural construction, transportation, agriculture and rural areas, and specific industries based on the plan. All regions will also Formulate an action plan for peaking carbon in the region in accordance with the requirements of the plan.
The "Plan" further clarifies that each region must accurately grasp its own development positioning, combine the actual economic and social development of the region and the resource and environmental endowment, adhere to the classification of policies, adjust measures to local conditions, and link up and down, and promote each region to achieve carbon peaks in an orderly manner.
Advocate to build a community of life on earth
Make the "strongest voice" of biodiversity protection
From October 11th to 15th, the 15th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations "Convention on Biological Diversity" (COP15) was held in Kunming, Yunnan.
With the theme of "Ecological Civilization: Building a Community of Life on Earth", the conference promoted the formulation of the "Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework", drawing a blueprint for the protection of global biodiversity in the next 10 years and beyond, and realizing human cooperation by 2050. A beautiful vision of natural harmony.
At the summit of the leaders of the conference, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech on "jointly building a community of life on earth".
“Chairman Xi Jinping’s speech is the strongest voice for biodiversity protection to the world.” said Gao Jixi, director of the Satellite Environment Application Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Chairman Xi Jinping’s speech clearly pointed out the direction and path of ecological protection and showed it to the world. Developed the concepts, measures and effects of China's biodiversity conservation, and contributed China's experience, Chinese solutions and Chinese wisdom to global biodiversity conservation.
Biodiversity makes the earth full of vitality and is also the basis for human survival and development.
China attaches great importance to the protection of biodiversity. On October 8, the white paper "China's Biodiversity Protection" was released. This is China's first white paper in the field of biodiversity.
The white paper pointed out that China has upgraded biodiversity conservation as a national strategy, incorporated conservation into its mid- and long-term plans in various regions and fields, strengthened technical support and talent team building, etc., continuously improved biodiversity governance capabilities, and built biodiversity conservation and conservation strategies. Technical system for sustainable use of biological resources.
Establish the first batch of 5 national parks
Speed up the construction and development of the natural reserve system
On October 12th, my country officially established the first batch of 5 national parks including Sanjiangyuan, Giant Panda, Siberian Tiger and Leopard, Hainan Tropical Rainforest, and Wuyi Mountain. The protected area is 230,000 square kilometers, covering nearly 30% of the land area of national key protected wild Animal and plant species.
Beginning in 2015, my country has successively selected 10 places to carry out trials of the national park system.
The first was the Three Rivers Source National Park pilot area, and later there were Siberian Tigers, Qilian Mountains, Hainan Tropical Rainforest, Wuyi Mountain, Shennongjia, Qianjiangyuan, Nanshan National Park pilot areas, etc., involving 12 provinces.
This is to explore and change the status quo of the protected area management "Jiulong Water Control", form a unified and standardized management system, and implement overall protection and systematic protection in accordance with the "landscapes, forests, fields and lakes".
Due to its extremely rich species, my country is listed as one of the 12 countries with special abundant biodiversity in the world.
In order to strengthen the protection of biodiversity, my country is accelerating the construction of a natural reserve system with national parks as the main body, and gradually incorporate the most important natural ecosystems, the most unique natural landscapes, the best natural heritage, and the richest biodiversity areas into the country. The park system.
At the same time, in line with the principle of integrating in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation, the construction of national botanical garden systems in Beijing and Guangzhou will be initiated.
Over the past six years of national park piloting, the Three Rivers Source National Park, which is dominated by natural grasslands, has seen a significant increase in the comprehensive grassland coverage; the Siberian Tiger and Leopard National Park, which is dominated by forest ecosystems, has rapidly increased its forest coverage and the population and density of wild animals and plants. There is also a significant increase.
my country's formal establishment of the first batch of national parks will better and faster embark on a path of biodiversity conservation with Chinese characteristics.
Published a white paper on tackling climate change
Chinese ideas lead a new pattern of global climate governance
On October 27, the Information Office of the State Council issued the white paper "China's Policies and Actions to Address Climate Change". This is the second time my country has released a white paper on China's response to climate change from the national level since 2011.
"The Chinese government actively participates in global climate governance, leading the new pattern of global climate governance with Chinese concepts and practices, and gradually becoming an important participant, contributor and leader in the construction of global ecological civilization." said Ye Min, deputy minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
Ye Min emphasized that my country regards climate change as an important starting point for the construction of ecological civilization, adopting a series of policy measures such as adjusting industrial structure, optimizing energy structure, saving energy and improving energy efficiency, establishing market mechanisms, and increasing forest carbon sinks. Positive progress.
The white paper pointed out that China has implemented a new strategy for energy security and made historic achievements in energy development.
According to preliminary calculations, in 2020, China’s non-fossil energy’s share of total energy consumption will increase to 15.9%, an increase of 8.5 percentage points from 2005; the total installed capacity of non-fossil energy power generation will reach 980 million kilowatts, accounting for 44.7% of total installed capacity. The power generation capacity reached 2.6 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for more than one-third of the electricity consumption of the whole society.
The white paper also pointed out that China attaches great importance to the construction of supporting and guaranteeing capacity for responding to climate change, continuously improving the statistical accounting system of greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing the supporting capacity for technological innovation, and actively promoting the transfer and transformation of climate change technologies.
At the same time, technological innovation plays a fundamental role in discovering, revealing, and responding to climate change issues, and will also play a key role in promoting the green and low-carbon transition.
Green Winter Olympics is advancing steadily
Let people enjoy the charm of sports and the beauty of ecology
The Beijing Winter Olympics has always adhered to the principles of green, low-carbon, and sustainability from the bid to the preparations.
Through technology and other means, the sports facilities are harmoniously integrated with the natural landscape, ensuring that people can not only enjoy the infinite charm of ice and snow sports, but also enjoy the ecological beauty of nature.
At present, the 12 competition venues in the 3 competition areas of the Beijing Winter Olympics have all been delivered on time and passed the green building certification. The Winter Olympics venues will achieve 100% green power supply, which will not only reduce the carbon emissions of the venues from the source, but also actively develop and utilize renewable energy. .
Among them, the Yanqing Mountain News Center has built a photovoltaic power generation system to achieve "spontaneous use of electricity, and surplus electricity to go online"; Yanqing Winter Olympic Village uses high-voltage electric boilers for heating, realizing 100% renewable energy supply heat; Beijing's surrounding wind and solar energy are clean Energy is converted into green electricity, from when it is issued to being consumed by the Winter Olympics venues, all dynamic visibility is realized, and every kWh of green electricity can be traced and verified.
In addition, the preparation and construction of the Beijing Winter Olympics also promoted the green development of the venue.
The Chongli District of Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, which hosts cross-country skiing and ski jumping competitions, implements the "ecological civilization + tourism industry" strategy led by the sports and leisure industry, and basically realizes the coordinated development of tourism and ecological environmental protection.
Chongli District's comprehensive air quality index ranked first in Hebei Province for 6 consecutive years, was awarded the best low-carbon ecological and livable tourism counties in China, and was selected as the 52 Worth Traveling Destinations in the World by the New York Times in 2019.
In 2021, Chongli District was named by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment as the National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Zone, opening up the "Chongli Path" that "ice and snow are also invaluable."
Our reporter Li He