Three measures are system guarantee and imperative requirement for accomplishing reduction targets

The Eleventh National Five-Year Development Guidelines for Economic and Social Progress set out the binding target of reducing 10% total emissions of major pollutants during the eleventh Five-year period. This is a significant move to thoroughly apply Scientific Outlook on Development, develop conservation culture and transform economic growth pattern as well as a solemn commitment made by the government to all Chinese people. Hu Jintao, Secretary General of CPC, pointed out in the report to the 17th Congress of CPC that pollutant emissions must be brought under effective control if we are to implement responsibility system for pollution reduction. Since the targets were established, all departments at various levels have been conscientious in implementing the national arrangements and intensified efforts have produced evident results. According to statistics, SO₂ emissions fell by 1.81% and COD by 0.28% in the first three quarters this year as compared to the same period last year. This is the first time to see reduction of both pollutant emissions, showing the guiding effect of reduction targets. However, we still face serious situation to fulfill our targets. Some areas are still haunted by many problems. For example, there lacks correct understanding and defined responsibilities, measures are not put in place and policies to be improved, funds are not ready for use and coordination is not effective. Some high energy consumption and pollution industries grow too fast and outdated production capacities still linger instead of being phased out. Defective statistic, monitoring and evaluation systems for reduction lead to poor statistical basis, weak monitoring capability, inaccurate data and set obstacles to implementing the responsibility system. This has directly affected our efforts to achieve the set targets.

State leaders attach much importance to the establishment of pollution reduction system. Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan also made several instructions calling on accelerated efforts in building the system. Premier Wen Jiabao made it clear that we must make plan for system building based on well-founded reasoning and careful consideration, draw upon advanced international experience on the one hand and be bold to make innovations on the other hand to ensure the reduction targets, monitoring and evaluation systems reach international standard. The three systems have two components, hardware and software. The hardware refers to strengthening capacity building in four areas including online monitoring of key pollution sources, supervision monitoring of pollution sources, environmental law enforcement and inspection as well as environmental statistics and information transmission. The programs are now in smooth progress. The software refers to management methods for each system. To develop and implement the three measures is the requirement of establishing and improving three systems and an important basis and institutional guarantee for achieving reduction targets. SEPA started to draft the three measures since last December. During half year's drafting and revision, we have fully absorbed suggestions and opinions from all localities and departments. We have sought opinions from many related ministries like NDRC, National Bureau of Statistics of China, Ministry of Supervision, Organization Department, CCCPC, Ministry of Finance and Office of Legislative Affairs and provincial governments as well as local EPBs. The current measures are formed through extensive opinion soliciting, revision and coordination work. On Nov. 17, the State Council approved the measures.

Newly generated pollution linking with GDP and energy consumption indexes, pollution reduction linking with project design, industrial structural adjustment and management methods

Statistical Methods for Reducing Total Emissions of Major Pollutants serves as a solution to scientific calculation of reduction indexes. According to the methods, incremental COD discharges from domestic sources are measured by newly generated population in cities and towns, those from industrial sources measured by GDP growth rate, incremental SO₂ emissions from power sector are calculated by added power generation and consumption of coal equivalent and SO₂ from non-power sectors is worked out through newly added consumption of coal.

The methods provide calculation of reduction of newly added pollutants from three aspects, i.e. project design, industrial structural adjustment and management control. These include municipal sewage treatment, centralized sewage treatment of industrial parks, control of point pollution from industrial sources, smoke desulphurization of coal-fired power plants, smoke desulphurization of industrial coal-burning boilers, smoke desulphurization of sinter machine in ferrous metallurgy (iron and steel cast, foundry), smoke desulphurization and vitriol recovery in smelting furnaces for nonferrous industries, desulphurization and sulfur recovery of petrochemical industry, gas desulphurization of coke-ovens, projects retrofitting coal-fired boilers into natural-gas-fired and other measures to phase out outdated production capacities, strengthen supervision, increase up-to-standard rate and steady performance of emissions and emission standard.

Supervision monitoring and automatic monitoring linking with calculation of reduced emissions

Monitoring Methods for Reducing Total Emissions of Major Pollutants aims to ensure accurate data of reduced emissions. It requires polluters to apply emission quotas according to their conditions and monitoring data. Environmental protection departments will examine the application in accordance with their supervision monitoring and automatic monitoring results to control quality. Approved automatic monitoring data serve as the basis for certifying emission quotas.

It is provided that key pollution sources under national control must have automatic monitoring equipment installed and checked by the end of 2008. The monitoring results should be networked to provincial EPBs and transmitted to SEPA directly. Local governments must allocate funds in their budget for efforts concerning pollution reduction statistics, monitoring and evaluation. 

Target achievement linking with official performance of local governments

Evaluation Methods for Reducing Total Emissions of Major Pollutants makes all reduction tasks are answered for. According to the methods, local governments at all levels are responsible for pollution reduction. SEPA and departments concerned will have annual review on pollution reduction by provincial governments. The results will make public after being approved by the State Council. The evaluation is composed of three aspects: first, achievement of total reduction targets of major pollutants and change of environmental quality; second, the development and operation of index system, monitoring system and evaluation system for pollution reduction and third, implementation of all reduction measures.

The evaluation methods make clear measures for reward and punishment. Provinces, autonomous regions and municipal governments that fail to pass annual review must make a written report to the State Council within one month, work out rectification measures within set limit of time and copy the report to SEPA. The review results will be submitted to competent human resource department after they are approved by the State Council and serve as an important basis for official evaluation in light of the regulations prescribed in Trial Measures for Comprehensive Evaluation of Local Leadership and Officials to Reflect the Requirement of Scientific Outlook on Development. Accountability system and veto system will be exercised. The competent authority for environmental protection should stop approval of EIA of all construction projects contributing to incremental emissions in the area and revoke honorary titles on environmental protection conferred on them. Local officials will be disqualified from competing for annual award and honorary titles. For those passing the review, SEPA will, in collaboration with development and reform committees and financial departments, give more support to pollution control and capacity building in environmental protection in the area. They will also be rewarded in national awarding event for pollution reduction. If the rectification still falls short of requirements or brings about major social impact due to slack work, the supervision departments will claim against related persons for responsibility according to tentative regulations on punishment against environmental infringements.  

The three methods marking a fast track to the building of three systems and a landmark for pollution reduction

A scientific pollution reduction index system requires the establishment of an integrated system inclusive of statistical analysis of total emissions, data verification and information transmission to ensure scientific methodology, crosscheck and accuracy of data. Only in this way can we see pollution emission and its changing trend in a prompt, correct and comprehensive manner. A correct monitoring system for pollution reduction needs to combine supervision monitoring of pollution sources and automatic monitoring of key pollution sources. It should feature advanced equipment, standardized specification, diversified means and efficient operation to track pollutant discharge of different areas and key enterprises. We must have a strict evaluation system that is feasible and makes officials accountable for their pollution reduction performance. Clarified responsibility, effective supervision, appropriate procedures and meting out rewards and penalties fairly must be guaranteed. Incentives will be given to areas attaching importance to pollution reduction whereas penalty inflicted upon those doing little about it. The State Council requires local governments are responsible for the building of the three systems within their jurisdiction. Efforts are needed to strengthen capacity building, put in place funds, manpower and measures concerned and enhance evaluation and supervision. 

SEPA will reinforce guidance and supervision, keep track of the development of pollution reduction efforts, actively coordinate related departments and motivate associations and enterprises concerned and play the role of public opinion with a view to creating a favorable atmosphere for pollution reduction. We must adhere to the three methods and implement the calculation, monitoring and evaluation of pollution reduction. We will follow the three principles of playing down the base, clear count of increments and verifying reduction quota, and carefully review the reduction data. Four standards will be used to assess the results of pollution reduction, i.e., whether the mechanism has been established so that environmental protection will influence social economic development from macro economic and strategic level, whether the economic growth mode has been transformed, whether environmental quality has improved and whether environmental supervision has been strengthened. We will set up and improve systems for on-the-scene inspection, quarterly review, direct reporting of data, information audit, early warning, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, earnestly implement these systems to ensure the reduction targets are achieved in all over the country.