As early as 2001, China and the international community jointly promoted the formulation of the Stockholm Convention and started cooperation with the international community to jointly control new pollutants. Over the past two decades, China has eliminated the production, use and discharge of a large number of new pollutants, protecting the global ecological environment and human health.
In the same period, the national economy has grown rapidly, and the share of chemicals produced in the world has increased from about 5% to 37.2% in 2017. China has become one of the countries with the largest production of chemicals and the largest variety of chemicals, and people's lives have been improved. At the same time, China is also facing new challenges and pressures.
Along with the progress of scientific cognition and the requirements for higher quality of life, some chemicals that we thought were harmless are gradually considered unfit for further production and use around the world. With the implementation of the Action Plan, China will work with the international community to prevent and control the environmental risks of new pollutants.
First, we should learn from existing international conventions and implement the control of new pollutants in accordance with international law. While improving China's laws and regulations and establishing a sound system for the treatment of new pollutants, we will work with the international community to identify, assess and control the environmental risks of chemicals through the mechanism of international conventions.
This will not only achieve the treatment of new pollutants in China, but also promote the treatment of new pollutants on a global scale. Promote the green development of the global chemical industry and realize global environmental governance.
Second, increase the government and enterprises in the treatment of new pollutants in science and technology investment, scientific decision-making, precise control. Fully understand that scientific research and other decision-making information are the basis for controlling new pollutants, continue to increase scientific and technological investment in the control of new pollutants, master the source, trend, harm and treatment technology of potential new pollutants, make scientific decisions, and achieve accurate and effective control.
Third, make use of international scientific research and management experience, conduct early assessment and select key new pollutants for control, and establish mechanisms to implement control. International cooperation should be actively carried out to promote and accelerate the screening of new pollutants and environmental risk control in China by making full use of global forces, especially scientific research and management experience, for some potential new pollutants that do not necessarily conform to the nature of global migration in the absence of research information in China. At the same time, we should learn from the financial mechanism of international conventions and establish the financial mechanism of international, national, local and enterprise treatment of new pollutants.
Fourth, we will continue to help other developing countries strengthen their capacity to deal with new pollutants, spread China's knowledge and experience, and prevent the transfer of new pollutants. As a developing country, China's experience in discovering, researching and managing new pollutants may be more suitable for other developing countries. China may continue to provide technical training and capacity building for developing countries to implement the convention, help other developing countries prevent the transfer of new pollutants as products or wastes, and contribute its share to the construction of the Earth Life Community.
The new pollutant control action reflects the CPC Central Committee's historical responsibility to participate in, contribute to and lead global environmental governance, and will continue to contribute China's solutions, wisdom and strength to global environmental governance. New pollution control actions are also necessary to build a beautiful China and maintain sustainable green chemistry and economic growth in China. Building a new pollution control system in China to protect the earth's homeland will help realize the global pursuit of high-quality life, achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, achieve harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and build a community of life on earth.
The author is a professor of School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Peking University
Post time: Mar-30-2023