"The modernization that we pursue is one characterized by harmonious coexistence between man and nature."
In a report delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi explains his vision of building a "beautiful China", which was listed as one of the goals for China to become a modern socialist country by 2050.
- From Xi's report
"We need to provide more quality ecological goods to meet people's ever-increasing demands for a beautiful environment."
- From Xi's report
Over the past five years, China has made great strides in improving its ecological environment. Let's have a look.
Building a better environment
Concentration of PM2.5 in three major economic zones
The number of major city that meets the target of air quality
2013
2016
3
Cleaner air
84
In 2016, the 338 cities monitored enjoyed good air quality on 78.8%of days
Beijing-Tianjin
-Hebei region
106
71
Yangtze River Delta
46
67
Pearl River
Delta
47
32
Unit:microgram
per cubic meter
2013
2016
＞30%
Green area in cities
2012
2016
Cleaner water
Surface water severely polluted
2014
9.2%
2016
8.6%
More trees
16.6%
2000
22%
Forest coverage
2017
2.83 million
2.37 million
Unit: hectare
8.8%
2015
- From Xi's report
"We will carry out major projects to protect and restore key ecosystems... and develop ecological corridors and biodiversity protection networks."
Protecting ecosystem
363
446
2016
More protected area
2012
China has 2,750 natural reserves, accounting for 14.9% of the country's territory, which is higher than world average.
Number of national-level natural reserve
All protected areas, including natural reserves, geoparks and scenic areas, cover
18% of the land
To protect precious natural resources, China is establishing four national parks that would cover about 2% of the land.
Sanjiangyuan National Park will protect the sources of China's three major rivers on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Qilian Mountain National Park will protect wildlife including snow
leopard in Gansu and Qinghai
Giant Panda National Park will
protect giant panda in Gansu,
Sichuan and Shaanxi
Siberian Tigers and Leopards National Park will protect the big cats in Northeast China
“We will spur the development of energy-saving and environmental protection industries..."
Promoting green development
- From Xi's report
From 2012 to 2016, the energy consumption
per unit of GDP,
20%
the water use per unit of GDP
28%
China is world's No 1 producer and consumer of renewable energies
Green GDP
Clean energy
It has world's largest capacity for nuclear powerunits under construction.
From 2011 to 2015, the CO2 emissions per unit of GDP
20%
New approaches
- From Xi's report
"We will create a market-based system
for green technology innovation, develop green finance..."
Building world's largest carbon trading platform
Building a market-oriented pricing system for natural resources and products
Drawing up ecological "red line" to restrict development of key ecological spaces
Building an alert system to
monitor regional environmental
and resource capacity
"What we are doing today to build an ecological civilization will benefit generations to come."
- From Xi's report
Taking on global duties
China is one of the first countries that approved the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
China commits to cutting CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 60% - 65% from 2005 levels by 2030.
2005
2030
It is the member of more than 30international conventions or agreements related to ecological environment.
Global duty
What they say
"In the past, our mindset was developing economy while reducing the pollution, whereas now we determine the size of economic development based on the carrying capacity of environment."
- Xue Tao, the executive head of environmental think tank E20
"Xi has told all the ministers and governors that pollution control would be one of the country's top three priorities in the coming years..."
- Asit K Biswas, founder of the Third World Centre for Water Management in Mexico
