China continues to prioritize eco-protection, pursue green development

China stepped up efforts to improve the environment and achieved yet another drop in the discharge of major pollutants in 2024, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang in a government work report delivered at the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on Wednesday.

"We implemented major projects for protecting and restoring key ecosystems and realized a further reduction in the areas of both deserts and sandy lands. We pushed ahead with upgrading in key industries for energy conservation and carbon reduction and advanced the development and use of new energy sources. The share of electricity generated from non-fossil fuels increased, accounting for close to 40 percent of total power generation," said Li.

China launched the National Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading Market, and carbon emissions trading in China became increasingly brisk, Li added.

As for major tasks for 2025, the government work report says China will continue to prioritize ecological protection, conserve resources and use them efficiently, and pursue green and low-carbon development.

Action plans will be formulated for the comprehensive treatment of solid waste.

China will continue to exercise region-specific environmental management and take a holistic and systematic approach to the protection and conservation of mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland and desert ecosystems.

Comprehensive efforts will be made to develop the national park-based system of protected areas.

Major biodiversity conservation programs will be initiated, and the 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River will be rigorously enforced. Pilot zones will continue to be developed under the Beautiful China Initiative, to meet people's expectations for a healthy environment.

Policies and standards will be refined to support green and low-carbon development, fostering a sound environment for the development of green and low-carbon industries. Demonstration programs will be carried out for the latest green and low-carbon technologies.

Incentives for eco-friendly consumption will be boosted to promote green and low-carbon ways of production and life.

China will steadily advance the second batch of trials for peaking carbon emissions and establish a group of zero-carbon industrial parks and factories. Low-carbon upgrade trials will be launched in coal-fired power plants.

Major projects will also be developed for climate change response, and the country will actively engage in and steer global environmental and climate governance, according to the government work report.

(Cover: A view of the Hulunbuir Grassland in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China. /VCG)