Hit by severe urban air pollution and a range of negative environmental reports, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China has recently made several announcements regarding the 12th Five-Year National Plan for Environmental Protection, a plan which covers the period to the end of 2015. The total environmental investments expected under the plan total about 3.4 trillion yuan ($558 billion CDN), about 1.4% of GDP over the same period.

The Plan covers almost all aspects of environmental protection, including:

• significant reduction of total discharge of major pollutants;
• environmental safety of drinking water source areas and water quality;
• control of heavy metal pollution;
• control of pollution by POPs, hazardous chemicals and waste;
• improvement of construction and operation of urban environmental infrastructure; and
• enhancement of capacity in supervision of nuclear and radiation safety.

Progress under the Plan will be measured through improvements to environmental indicators and through comprehensive assessments at the mid-point and end of the plan.

Further details, in English, are available at http://english.mep.gov.cn/News_service/infocus/201202/t20120207_223194.htm and at

http://en.7c.gov.cn/DisplayPages/ContentDisplay_79.aspx?contentid=1047

Summary details of each of the 85 initiatives, including assignment of governmental responsibilities and the industry sectors targetted, are at http://english.mep.gov.cn/News_service/infocus/201211/t20121115_242096.htm