U.N. 's Goals in China

Objective 9: "Improve environmental management capacity, especially in the Western region"

In order to improve natural resources management and prevent further deterioration of the environment in China, the UN will assist the Government enhance its governance capacity and policy in environment, taking into consideration, among others, better use of market-based instruments, constructive public-private partnerships and improved environment information systems.

Environmental problems in China are inextricably linked to both population and economic growth in China. More people and sustained high economic growth both require resources, but without the appropriate rule of law and the provision of incentives, there is still not enough awareness or enforcement mechanisms to do things in a more environmentally friendly manner. Over the past ten years, the UN system has provided support to China’s Agenda 21 and its efforts to reverse environmental degradation. Nevertheless, air and water quality, soil & water conservation, natural resources management, energy generation, transmission and consumption, and biodiversity will continue to pose challenges in the coming years. Moreover, awareness must be increased that the environmental degradation in China cannot be reversed through administrative measures alone, but has to be tackled through broad participatory approaches, engaging all institutions and individuals in the effort. Appropriate regulation and deregulation is needed so that the civil society can contribute to raising awareness and to undertake action nation-wide, including carrying out environmental awareness in schools for more environmentally-responsible citizens in the future. Market-based instruments which can convince the private and business sector to use clean and green technology practices should be more widely introduced and disseminated.

Spreading market-based instruments and participation - The UN system will assist the government in defining a pragmatic and action-oriented national strategy to address environmental issues in a systematic and comprehensive way. Improved environmental management in the Western provinces will be a particular focus since, as indicated in China's Tenth Five Year Plan, efforts will be made to accelerate the areas' development which might lead to an increased influx of investment funds for infrastructure and general development. Strategy formulation will be based on the identification of potential problems due to conflicting interests, priority setting and the clarification of financial responsibility for necessary investments and pollution control measures. In particular, it will allocate responsibilities amongst sectors of society and it will design an incentive framework and system of standards so that all players are involved in the process, and thus further integration of environment and economic development will occur, which is a major goal of the 10 th Five Year Plan. This might encompass strategies to address root causes of large-scale land degradation due to drought and desertification, silting of rivers due to soil erosion, unsustainable management and use of forests. It could include integration of agricultural development activities with environmental activities aimed at soil conservation and management of sustainable water resources for both production purposes and personal consumption.

Improved MIS and disaster management - The UN system will make efforts to mobilise funding for the strengthening of decision-making and the monitoring system. The monitoring system will allow for assessing environmental phenomena as well as their impact on local populations. Analysed data should be communicated to decision-makers. The UN should ensure that environmental policies (e.g. logging ban, cropland-for-forests and other activities) do not negatively affect local populations, particularly the poor, women, and the most vulnerable, and they are reviewed and formulated in consultation with affected local populations. In addition, assistance will be provided for disaster management from monitoring to alertness, through response and rehabilitation, to longer-term preparedness and mitigation, including new concepts for sustainable land use. The UN assistance will specially target the household level and local authorities in poor areas to gather information on disaster-related matters and communicate it expeditiously, and implement preparedness and mitigation activities at the community level. It will also support the development of long-term awareness on natural hazards and disaster management among decision-makers.

GEF and MP - The implementation of activities related to these two global funding sources will remain major components of the UN's assistance to environment in China concentrating on the continued introduction and promotion of cleaner production methods, biodiversity protection, energy conservation and alternative energy sources.