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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 19, 2002

Interview: Environment Crucial to Sustainable Development: Chinese Official

Environment is crucial to sustainable development and without a sound environment, sustainable development can never be achieved, a top Chinese environment official said recently in the seaside city of Colombia.


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Premier Zhu Warns of Tough Task Ahead in Environmental Protection
China made progress in environmental protection
"China's development in the last decade proved that a win-win way can be found in boosting economic and social development, while better protecting environment," said Xie Zhenhua, director of China's State Environmental Protection Administration, in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the Third Global Ministerial Environment Forum.

  • Major pollutants reduced by 15%

    Official statistics indicated that over the past decade, China' s economy grew by 8 percent on average, but its major pollutants were reduced by 15 percent, an achievement which was scored through strong political will and concrete measures of the government.


  • Carbon dioxide emissions cut


    Senior Official Stresses Environmental Protection
    Despite its high demand for energy due to rapid economic expansion, China has successfully reduced its coal consumption by 400 million tons over the past five years, which led to sharp reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, Xie said.


  • Structure of energy consumption adjusted

    "We are able to make this progress because China has adjusted its structure of energy consumption. Instead of focusing on coal use, we are seeking renewable energy," the director said.


    • Strategy of sustainable development mapped out
    The biggest contribution of the Earth Summit held in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro was mapping out the strategy of sustainable development, which integrated economic, social and environmental factors, he said.


    Top Legislator Li Peng on Environmental Protection
    At the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, later this year, world leaders should sum up the progress in implementing the Agenda 21 and other convention adopted at the Rio Summit, he said.

    "But what is more important is to find out and analyze problems in implementing the agreements, and only on this basis, target for the next decade can be set," he emphasized.

    In the past decade, countries worldwide have made some progress in implementing the strategy of sustainable development, especially in heightening the awareness of sustainable development, and drafting relative laws and regulations.

    Environment degradation not curbed
    However, the trend of environment degradation has not, in general, been curbed. Xie attributed it to the polarization of the world, saying some countries have become richer while others become poorer.

  • Certain rich countries try to avoid due responsibly

    Certain rich countries, while enjoying the benefits of economic globalization, try to avoid their due responsibility of protecting the environment, Xie said, adding that poor countries lack the capacity to do so.

    "Therefore, developed countries should help developing countries in their capacity building, step up transfer of environment-friendly technology and increase official aid to them, " Xie noted.


  • Lack of efficient international governance

    Another factor contributing to environment degradation is the lack of efficient and effective international governance, he said.

    There are more than 500 international agreements and conventions on environment, but many of them are parallel and lack of coordination, this has led to great waste of resources, and imposed extra financial burdens on developing countries, he said.

    "It is necessary that the issue of international environment governance should be put on the agenda of the Johannesburg Summit, " the Chinese official said.


    • Global role should be enhanced
    But the most practical way to improve environment governance, at least in the short-term, is to enhance the position and function of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in world environmental affairs and sustainable development, he noted.

    Meanwhile, the role of the Global Ministerial Forum should also be brought into full play so that governments worldwide and even civil society can voice their opinions on environment, Xie said.

    He pointed to the fact that many governments have paid far more attention to economic and social development than to the issue of environment, stressing that this situation must be changed in order to realize sustainable development. The director expressed his belief that as long as all governments and the international community stick to the principle of boosting economic, social and environment in an coordinated manner, the goal set by the Rio Summit is bound to be reached.



    Creating New Phase of Environmental Protection Work in New Century: Editorial
    China will face a tough task in environmental protection in the coming years as the country embraces urban development and a growing population, Premier Zhu Rongji warned at a recent national teleconference on the implementation of the government's environmental protection plan for the 10th five-year plan period (2001-2005).

    He stressed that China must place more attention to environmental protection during the pursuit of fast and sustainable economic growth.

    Shortly after the sounding of the bell of the New Year, the Fifth National Environmental Protection Work Conference was held in Beijing, the first of its kind held by the State Council in the new century. Full Coverage




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