When it comes to Beautiful China, what signals are released by the central government's blockbuster documents?

Beijing, January 12 -- On January 11, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Comprehensively Promoting the Construction of a Beautiful China" (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions) was released, containing 33 contents. In the coming period, the construction of Beautiful China will usher in new measures and goals.

What is the background of the issuance of the opinions, what are the key tasks, and what signals are released?

Data map: Swans cruising on the Bayin River in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Photo by Batuna Sheng

Total pollutant and carbon emissions remain high

The opinions put forward that on the new journey, the construction of a beautiful China must be placed in a prominent position in the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation.

In response to a reporter's question, the relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said that at present, China's economic and social development has entered a stage of accelerating green and low-carbon high-quality development, and the construction of ecological civilization is still in a critical period of superimposed pressure and heavy burden. The national conditions of fragile ecosystems have not changed, the endogenous driving force for the green transformation of economic and social development is insufficient, the foundation for the stability and improvement of ecological environment quality is not solid, the total amount of pollutants and carbon emissions is still high, the trend of ecosystem degradation in some regions has not been fundamentally reversed, and the task of building a beautiful China is still arduous.

To embark on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, it is necessary to maintain the strategic determination to strengthen the construction of ecological civilization, unswervingly follow the path of civilized development with production development, affluent life and good ecology, and build a beautiful home with blue sky, green ground and clear water.

Data map: Quwo, Shanxi Province ushered in rare birds to inhabit and winter. Photo by Wang Jianxian

By 2035, the goal of Beautiful China will be basically achieved

The person in charge said that the opinions put forward the main goals, major tasks and major reform measures for the construction of a beautiful China by 2027 and 2035.

In terms of primary goals, anchor three timeline target requirements:

-- By 2027, green and low-carbon development will be further promoted, the total amount of major pollutant emissions will continue to be reduced, the quality of the ecological environment will continue to improve, the pattern of land and space development and protection will be optimized, the ecosystem service function will be continuously enhanced, the urban and rural living environment will be significantly improved, the national ecological security will be effectively guaranteed, the ecological environment governance system will be more sound, and a number of practical models will be formed, and the construction of a beautiful China will achieve remarkable results.

-- By 2035, green production and lifestyles will be widely formed, carbon emissions will stabilize and decline after peaking, the ecological environment will be fundamentally improved, a new pattern of land and space development and protection will be fully formed, the stability and stability of ecosystem diversity will be significantly improved, national ecological security will be more stable, the modernization of the ecological environment governance system and governance capacity will be basically realized, and the goal of a beautiful China will be basically achieved.

-- Looking forward to the middle of this century, the ecological civilization will be comprehensively improved, the green development mode and lifestyle will be fully formed, the key areas will achieve deep decarbonization, the ecological environment will be healthy and beautiful, the ecological environment governance system and governance capacity will be fully modernized, and the beautiful China will be fully completed.

Data map: Overlooking the bamboo forest in Anji, Zhejiang Photo by Zhang Hui

What are the highlights of the seven key tasks?

The opinions put forward seven key tasks, including accelerating the green transformation of the development mode, continuing to promote pollution prevention and control, improving the diversity and stability of the ecosystem, maintaining the safety bottom line of the construction of a beautiful China, creating a demonstration model for the construction of a beautiful China, carrying out the national action for the construction of a beautiful China, and improving the guarantee system for the construction of a beautiful China.

– Striving to peak carbon emissions before 2030

The opinions put forward that we should actively and steadily promote carbon peak and carbon neutrality. There are plans to implement the carbon peak action step by step, and strive to achieve carbon peak before 2030, laying the foundation for striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. By 2035, the proportion of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption will be further increased, and a more effective, dynamic and internationally influential carbon market will be built.

——By 2027, the proportion of new energy vehicles in new vehicles will reach 45%

In terms of promoting green and low-carbon development in key areas, the opinions put forward that we should vigorously promote the upgrading of traditional industrial processes, technologies and equipment, realize green and low-carbon transformation, and implement cleaner production level improvement projects. By 2027, the proportion of new energy vehicles in the new vehicles will reach 45%, the old diesel locomotives will be basically eliminated, and the volume of container rail-water combined transportation in ports will maintain rapid growth, and by 2035, the proportion of railway freight turnover in the total turnover will reach about 25%.

-- Studying and formulating emission standards for motor vehicles in the next stage

The opinions put forward that we should continue to fight the battle to defend the blue sky in depth. Promote the ultra-low emission transformation of key industries such as steel, cement, and coking and coal-fired boilers with high quality. Measures such as clean energy and central heating substitution should be adopted in accordance with local conditions, and pollution control of scattered coal, coal-fired boilers and industrial furnaces will continue to be promoted. Key areas continue to implement total coal consumption control. Research and formulate the next stage of motor vehicle emission standards, carry out research on oil quality standards in the new stage, and strengthen joint supervision and law enforcement by departments.

资料图：西安浐灞生态区

-- By 2027, the completion rate of beautiful rivers, lakes and beautiful bays will reach about 40%.

The opinions put forward that we should continue to fight the battle of defending clear water. Coordinate the management of water resources, water environment, and water ecology, further promote the protection and management of major rivers and important lakes such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, and optimize and adjust the zoning and management system of water functions. By 2027, the proportion of excellent surface water quality and coastal water quality will reach about 90% and 83% respectively, and the completion rate of beautiful rivers, lakes and bays will reach about 40%, and by 2035, the beautiful rivers, lakes and bays of "harmony between people and water" will be basically completed.

-- Strictly control environmental risks in key areas for the prevention and control of groundwater pollution

In terms of continuing to fight the battle to defend the pure land, the opinions put forward that a national groundwater pollution investigation and evaluation should be carried out, the environmental protection of groundwater drinking water sources should be strengthened, and the environmental risks of key areas for groundwater pollution prevention and control should be strictly controlled. We will do a good job in tackling pollution in agriculture and rural areas. By 2027, the safe utilization rate of polluted cultivated land will reach more than 94%, and the safe use of construction land will be effectively guaranteed, and by 2035, the proportion of class I.-IV water at state-controlled groundwater points will reach more than 80%, and soil environmental risks will be fully controlled.

——Limit excessive packaging of commodities and control plastic pollution in the whole chain

In terms of strengthening the treatment of solid waste and new pollutants, the opinions put forward that the construction of "zero-waste cities" should be accelerated, and new pollutant treatment actions should be continued to be promoted, so as to promote the realization of "zero-waste" and environmental health in urban and rural areas. Strengthen the comprehensive management of solid waste, limit the excessive packaging of commodities, and control plastic pollution in the whole chain. Deepen the work of completely banning the entry of "foreign garbage", and strictly prevent the smuggling and disguised import of solid waste in all forms. By 2027, the proportion of "zero-waste cities" will reach 60%, and the intensity of solid waste generation will be significantly reduced, and by 2035, the construction of "zero-waste cities" will be fully covered, and the eastern provinces will take the lead in building "zero-waste cities" in the whole region, and the environmental risks of new pollutants will be effectively controlled.

-- Strengthening monitoring and research on the marine radiation environment in waters under China's jurisdiction

In terms of ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, the opinions put forward that the overall role of the national nuclear safety coordination mechanism should be strengthened, a strict nuclear safety responsibility system should be built, nuclear safety supervision capabilities should be comprehensively improved, and a modern nuclear safety supervision system suitable for the development of China's nuclear industry should be built, so as to promote the high-quality development of nuclear safety. Strengthen the monitoring and research of the marine radiation environment in the waters under China's jurisdiction, and improve the ability of risk early warning monitoring and emergency response.