Chongqing Highlights Essential Role of High-Quality Ecological Environment

Chongqing - Southwest China's Chongqing held a pivotal press conference on January 11, shedding light on the essential role a high-quality ecological environment plays in fostering high-quality development. 

The conference detailed the specific measures and notable accomplishments underpinning the Beautiful Chongqing initiative.

In the realm of water management, Chongqing boasts a formidable team of 18,000 river chiefs who have collectively embarked on 770,000 river patrols, driving forward over 900 initiatives for water pollution prevention and control. A significant achievement in this sector is the rectification of 93% of the 4,012 sewage outlets discharging into the Yangtze, Jialing, and Wujiang rivers.

Regarding air quality management, Chongqing has ardently endorsed eight policies conducive to enterprise participation in air pollution mitigation, spurring deeper corporate commitment to environmental governance. This includes the electrification of public sector vehicles and the integration of 182,000 new energy vehicles.

New energy vehicles run in the zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 28, 2023. (Photo/Wang Jingqiang, Xinhua)

In its approach to soil management, Chongqing stands as a pioneer, being the first in the nation to implement a sophisticated grading and classification management system for assessing pollution levels in construction land. This innovative policy has facilitated the remediation of 24 contaminated plots, yielding 2,260 acres of pristine land.

Chongqing's waste management efforts have been equally proactive, particularly in its quest to become a "zero waste city." The city has achieved an impressive 80% rate in the comprehensive utilization of solid waste. Moreover, the central urban area has triumphantly reached a "zero landfill" status for original domestic waste, setting a new benchmark in waste management.

The city's plastic management strategy has led to the establishment of five green shopping malls and the recycling of an astounding 680,000 tons of plastic waste. The Chongqing Disposable Items Catalog Management Measures, which became effective on August 1, 2023, further exemplifies the city's commitment to sustainable plastic usage.

Remarkable strides have also been made in city noise management. The year-on-year decrease in noise complaints by 9.9%, the increase to 580 city-level quiet residential communities, and a 97.8% sound environmental quality compliance rate across the city exemplify the effectiveness of these measures.

In the sphere of rural environmental management, Chongqing has successfully created 107 exemplary beautiful Ba-Yu villages. The comprehensive initiative to eradicate black and odorous water bodies in rural areas has been fully implemented, achieving a rural domestic sewage treatment rate of 63.9%.

The enhancement of riverside areas has been a focal point, with 23 governance and improvement projects initiated along the 109-kilometer shoreline of the Two Rivers and Four Banks. This effort has culminated in the completion and opening of 14 public waterfront spaces, significantly elevating the urban riverside ambiance.

Mountain area environmental governance has been robust, with notable ecological protection and restoration projects in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. The ecological restoration of the Tongluo Mountain mining area has been listed as a model example of ecological restoration in China.

The protection of vital ecological systems is progressing steadfastly. Chongqing has been at the forefront of fostering ecological civilization, reinforcing biodiversity protection through the implementation of the Chongqing Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan (2022-2025).

In its pursuit of green and low-carbon transformation, Chongqing is diligently advancing towards its "dual carbon" objectives. The city has released a comprehensive implementation plan to synergize pollution reduction with carbon reduction, effectively doubling the number of key emission units included in the Chongqing carbon market.

To ensure the seamless progression of the Beautiful Chongqing initiative, the city has fortified its data governance, enhanced its monitoring systems, and intensified efforts in risk mitigation and safety consolidation within the ecological environment sector. Chongqing has spearheaded joint investigations into environmental risk and hidden dangers across five neighboring provinces and cities for three consecutive years.

Looking ahead, Chongqing is poised to forge ahead in creating landmark achievements that embody the city's unique characteristics and wield national influence. By continuously advancing the Beautiful Chongqing initiative, the city is committed to achieving annual progress and improvement, contributing significantly to the vision of a beautiful China.