Measures to address supply-demand imbalance
我国将采取措施应对供需失衡问题
China's first national-level regulations on water conservation took effect on May 1, posing more detailed measures and strict requirements for water saving.
Zhang Linwei, head of the China Urban Water Association, said that the introduction of the regulations is a practical necessity to address the supply-demand imbalance of urban water resources in China, further promoting the conservation and sustainable use of water resources.
Cities are the main hubs of China's economy and population. Last year, the urbanization rate in China exceeded 66 percent, making the contradiction between water supply and demand even more pronounced, he said.
"Water conservation is essential for adapting to the national water resource situation, overcoming bottlenecks, solving complex water issues and ensuring national water security. It is also a crucial step toward the realization of an urban ecological civilization and sustainable urban development," he said.
The regulations provide legal assurance for urban water conservation efforts, further promoting the institutionalization and standardization of urban water conservation work, he said.
In recent years, various regions and departments have introduced a series of management policies and regularly carried out urban water conservation efforts. However, issues with the adequacy of higher-level legislation and the completeness of the policy system in urban water conservation still exist, which indicates a gap between the current situation and the requirement of both the construction of an urban ecological civilization and overall high-quality development.
Wang Jianhua, deputy head of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, said that the regulations prioritized water conservation at the administrative level and the integration of water conservation management requirements throughout the entire water use process. It also suggested implementing comprehensive water-saving measures across all fields, placing a strong emphasis on the development of the water-saving industry.
Wang noted that the regulations proposed a rigid water resource constraint system, treating the carrying capacity of water resources as the basic boundary for national and regional development. This ensures socioeconomic development is promoted under the premise of sustainable water resource use.
"This water-resource-based development model requires all levels of government and water users to strictly adhere to the constraints of water resource carrying capacity in planning, construction and production activities, promoting the rational allocation and efficient use of water resources," he said.
Water conservation involves all sectors of society, including government, enterprises and the public, requiring active participation from every individual and organization. The regulations will effectively guide and promote a positive societal environment for water conservation, he said.
China to launch 5th nationwide ecological condition survey
我国将启动第五次全国生态状况调查
China is set to kick off a two-year ecological condition survey in 2024, the fifth since 2000.
The project, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to provide critical support for drawing the ecological protection red lines, advancing key functional zone strategies, and the strategic layout of major ecological conservation and restoration projects.
The survey will be conducted on three spatial scales, namely national, key regional and provincial levels, to monitor the quality and functionality of the country's ecosystem.
Key regions of interest include the Yellow River Basin, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Yangtze River Delta, all of which are significant strategic areas for national development.
According to the national ecological condition change (2015-2020) survey and assessment report, the overall pattern of China's ecosystems has remained stable and continues to improve.
The quality of natural ecosystems has seen sustained improvement, with the area rated as excellent or good accounting for over 43 percent, surpassing the proportion of poor or very poor areas for the first time.
Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu stated that in the new era, China's ecological protection, restoration, and supervision work have achieved positive results.
The overall pattern of the national ecosystem remains stable, with the quality of terrestrial ecosystems continuously improving and the ecological environment in major strategic areas generally becoming more stable and favorable, he said.
Huang cited data showing that 90 percent of China's terrestrial ecosystem types and 74 percent of the country's key protected wild animal and plant populations are effectively protected.
China formulating plan to improve biodiversity conservation
我国正在制定改善生物多样性保护的计划
China is formulating a plan for implementing major biodiversity conservation projects, with the country considering this an undertaking of great importance.
China's Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu confirmed this initiative when speaking in the southern island province of Hainan during an event to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity on Wednesday.
The global theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2024 is to "Be part of the Plan."
"As a country with high levels of biodiversity and as one of the first signatories and ratifiers of the Convention on Biological Diversity, China has always placed high value on biodiversity conservation," Huang said.
China is continuously improving laws, regulations and relevant mechanisms regarding biodiversity protection and taking action to vigorously enhance its ability to ensure its biodiversity, he noted.
Official data showed that 90 percent of terrestrial ecosystem types and 74 percent of populations of key protected wildlife species at the national level in China are currently enjoying effective protection.
Meanwhile, China is actively deepening international cooperation and contributing to global biodiversity governance.
When holding the presidency of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), China spearheaded efforts that led to the adoption of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022.
Huang, who is also serving as COP15 president, called on developed countries to fulfill their commitments and significantly increase their support for developing countries in terms of funding, technology, and capability-building so that the framework can be implemented in a comprehensive, balanced and effective manner.
From: Chinadaily.com.cn
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