BEIJING: China has unveiled guidelines to strengthen environmental management by tailoring regulations to specific regions, a move experts say marks a significant step toward institutionalizing environmental protection.
The guidelines, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council this month, clarify objectives and priorities for region-specific environmental management, according to Liu Yi, a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Environment.
“This signifies a shift from pilot programs to nationwide implementation and now the establishment of a comprehensive institutional framework,” Liu said.
Previously, China had released plans for zoning environmental and ecological factors like water, air, soil and noise. However, a lack of a unified national system hampered coordination, Liu said.
The new guidelines break down the distinction between developmental and environmental functions for land use. They propose enforcing “red lines” for ecosystem and environmental protection, as well as for rational resource utilization.
The land will be divided into three categories: priority protection, critical control and general control. Each category will have tailored management strategies based on specific environmental conditions and risks. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
