China to expand environmental monitoring network to over 50,000 sites

China will expand its national environmental monitoring network to more than 50,000 sites during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), up from the current 33,000, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Monday.

The move is part of efforts to accelerate the building of a modern environmental monitoring system and achieve full coverage in carbon reduction, pollution control and ecological restoration.

Zhang Dawei, head of the ministry's environmental monitoring department, said China will focus on four key areas: network development, technology, management and support capacity.

Several integrated monitoring stations capable of performing multiple functions will be established in ecologically sensitive regions, such as the Three-River-Source area, as well as in key economic zones, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta. These stations will conduct coordinated monitoring of air, water and ecosystems.

China also plans to develop and launch six environmental satellites and build 30 ground verification stations, aiming to raise the accuracy of major domestically produced satellite data products to above 80%.

During the same period, the country will advance the digital and intelligent transformation of its monitoring system. Around 10 comprehensive "lights-out laboratories" will be set up nationwide, while more than 3,000 automated water and air monitoring stations will undergo smart upgrades.

By 2030, China aims to cut manual involvement in key national monitoring operations by 70% and improve efficiency by more than five times.