Strengthen the zoning control of the ecological environment and "draw a boundary" for the development of a "clear bottom line"

The "Opinions of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council on Strengthening the Zoning Control of the Ecological Environment" was publicly released on March 17. What is the background of the issuance of the opinions, and what are the key tasks proposed? This reporter interviewed a responsible person of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Q: What is the background to the opinion?

Answer: The zoning control of the ecological environment is an important measure to improve the modernization level of ecological environment governance with the goal of ensuring ecological functions and improving environmental quality, and the implementation of the environmental management system with differentiated and precise control in sub-regions.

The implementation of zoning control of the ecological environment is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core. The Yangtze River Protection Law, the Yellow River Protection Law, the Hainan Free Trade Port Law, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Ecological Protection Law, the Marine Environmental Protection Law and 43 local regulations all provide for strengthening the zoning control of the ecological environment and implementing the management of the ecological environment access list.

By the end of 2021, the national provincial and municipal ecological environment zoning control plans have been fully completed and released, and a set of ecological environment zoning control system with global coverage, cross-departmental coordination, and multi-element integration has been initially formed.

The opinions thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, implement the deployment of the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection, and put forward the main goals, key tasks and safeguard measures for comprehensively strengthening the zoning control of the ecological environment in the new era, which is of great significance to serve the implementation of major national and local development strategies, boost high-quality economic and social development, and support the construction of a beautiful China.

Q: What are the overall requirements for the promotion of ecological environment zoning control?

Answer: The opinions anchor the goal requirements of two time nodes: by 2025, the ecological environment zoning control system will be basically established, and the ecological environment zoning control system with global coverage and accurate science will be initially formed. By 2035, a comprehensive ecological environment zoning management and control system with a sound system, smooth mechanism and efficient operation will be fully established, providing strong support for the fundamental improvement of the ecological environment and the basic realization of the goal of Beautiful China.

To strengthen the zoning control of the ecological environment, it is necessary to work together to promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth, fully respect the laws of nature and regional differences, promote high-quality development and create a high-quality life with high-level protection, and strive to build a beautiful China where man and nature coexist in harmony.

First, we must adhere to ecological priority and green development. Based on the regional characteristics of the ecological environment, the protected areas should be scientifically delineated, the natural ecological security boundary should be guarded, the areas with prominent contradictions between development and protection should be identified, the bottom line of environmental quality should be maintained, the protection efficiency should be improved, and green and low-carbon development should be promoted.

Second, we must adhere to prevention at the source and systematic protection. Coordinate the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and sands, strictly implement the ecological environment access list, give full play to the basic role of ecological and environmental zoning control in the source prevention system, guard the bottom line of land and space development and protection, and scientifically guide all kinds of development, protection and construction activities.

Third, we must adhere to precise science and control in accordance with the law. Focus on regional and watershed outstanding ecological and environmental problems, improve the zoning management and control plan of the ecological environment, establish a zoning and classification control strategy from problem identification to solution, and implement the refined control of "one unit and one strategy" according to local conditions to prevent "one size fits all".

Fourth, we must insist on clear responsibilities and coordination and linkage. Implement the main responsibilities of local party committees and governments at all levels, strengthen communication and coordination with relevant departments, establish a working mechanism for division of labor and cooperation, and improve policy uniformity, rule consistency, and implementation coordination.

Q: What are the key tasks proposed in the opinions?

Answer: First, comprehensively promote the zoning and control of the ecological environment. Adhere to the principle of national guidance, provincial-level overall planning, and municipal-level implementation, improve the provincial and municipal ecological environment zoning control plans, and coordinate and carry out regular adjustments and dynamic updates. Promote information sharing and business collaboration between national and provincial ecological and environmental zoning management and control systems and other business systems, and improve online government services and intelligent decision-making functions.

The second is to promote high-quality economic and social development. Through the zoning and control of the ecological environment, we will strengthen overall protection and systematic governance, and serve the implementation of major national strategies. Promote green and low-carbon development, promote the green and low-carbon transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the transformation of cleaner production, and guide key industries to move to areas with large environmental capacity, strong market demand, and good market security conditions for scientific layout and orderly transfer. Provide decision-making support for local party committees and governments, set up public access authority on the ecological environment zoning control information platform in accordance with laws and regulations, and strengthen the guidance of ecological environment zoning control on enterprise investment.

The third is to implement high-level protection of the ecological environment. With the "three zones and four belts" as the key areas, identify and highlight environmental problems by unit, implement differentiated management and control requirements for environmental governance, and maintain the ecological security pattern. Strengthen the application of ecological and environmental zoning control in the management of ecological environments such as surface water, groundwater, ocean, atmosphere, soil, and noise, promote the resolution of outstanding ecological and environmental problems, and prevent structural and structural environmental risks. Strengthen policy coordination, and incorporate ecological and environmental zoning control requirements into the formulation and revision of relevant standards and policies.

Fourth, strengthen supervision and assessment. Strengthen supervision and law enforcement for priority protection units with significantly reduced ecological functions, key control units with prominent ecological and environmental problems, and other areas with significantly reduced environmental quality. The outstanding problems existing in the implementation of the system will be included in the central and provincial ecological and environmental protection inspections. The implementation will be included in the evaluation of the effectiveness of pollution prevention and control.

Q: What safeguards do the opinions propose?

Answer: First, strengthen organizational leadership. To uphold the party's leadership, local party committees and governments at all levels should improve their working mechanisms, formulate supporting documents in light of actual conditions, and form a good pattern of linkage between the upper and lower levels, each performing its own duties, and making concerted efforts.

The second is to strengthen the linkage of departments. The department of ecology and environment shall, in conjunction with relevant departments, formulate and improve relevant policies for the zoning and control of the ecological environment, and all relevant departments shall, in accordance with the division of responsibilities, strengthen the coordination and linkage of relevant work in this field and the zoning and control of the ecological environment.

The third is to improve laws and regulations. Promote the inclusion of requirements for zoning and control of the ecological environment in the formulation and revision of relevant laws and regulations, and encourage localities with legislative power to research and formulate local regulations related to zoning and control of the ecological environment. Research and formulate relevant standards and specifications.

Fourth, strengthen capacity building. Strengthen the construction of relevant disciplines, scientific research and personnel training in the field of ecological and environmental zoning control, and accelerate the establishment of a professional team. Improve the construction of information platforms for ecological and environmental zoning control. Implement financial guarantees.

Fifth, actively publicize and guide. Incorporate the zoning and control of the ecological environment into the education and training content of party and government leading cadres. Strengthen publicity and interpretation, summarize and promote positive examples, and expose negative cases. (Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 17)