Promotion and development of cleaner production in China College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin300071) Abstract: This paper summed up the Course and the achievement of Chinese promoting Clean Production. It emphasized the creativity of mechanism of Chinas CP development in future, include to bring CP into its Social-Economical Development Program, to encourage local governments to promote CP, to encourage departments to support CP, et Key Words: Cleaner Production, pollution control, sustainable development, creativity of mechanism 1. The Course of China promoting Cleaner Production(CP) The course can be compartmentalized by 4 phase: (1) Preparation Period (1970s-1993) 2)demonstration period (1993-1999);(3) Promotion period (1999-2003);(4)legal standard ization period (2003-) Since late 1970s, some enterprises in China, such as Jilin Chemical Corp, have been carrying out a series of industrial innovations called"non-waste technics',"minimizat ion of wastes","pollution control over the whole production process". This stage prepared for promoting CP in China, during which many successful cases came forth and supplied lots of experience. In 1990s, Chinese government willingly responded to the strategy of sustainable development brought forward by United Nations Convention on Environment and Development and the CP strategy proposed by 21st Century Agenda. At the Second National Conference on Industrial Pollution Control, co-sponsored by the State Economic and Trade Commission(SETC) and the State Environmental Protection Agency(SEPA)in 1993 in Shanghai, the idea that preventing and controlling industrial pollution should transfer from end-of-pipe control to the whole production process control and the requirement of implementing CP were proposed. In this conference CP's strategic status in environment protection in china was officially affirmed and promoting CP became one of the dministration goals of the governments. The conference is a mark of second phase of CP demonstration period. Since then, CP had transferred from spontaneous phase to governmental, systematic, and demonstration period, and also acceded to the global action of CP 2. The achievement of China promoting Cleaner Production To more effectively promote CP in China, In May, 1997, the CP working group was set up by China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. The group focused on investigation, study and demonstration of CP promotion, environmental pollution reduction and implementation of sustainable development strategy in China. Under the instruction, organization and med iation of the group, China had made great achievements in promotion of CP, which included the following aspects 2.1 CP was included in National Policy System In March, 1999, Premier Zhu Rongji definitely ind icate "stimulation of CP"in his government report during the Second Session of the Ninth NPC. In May, 1999, SETC issued
1 Promotion and Development of Cleaner Production in China (College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin300071) Abstract:This paper summed up the Course and the Achievement of Chinese promoting Cleaner Production. It emphasized the creativity of mechanism of China’s CP development in future, include to bring CP into its Social-Economical Development Program, to encourage local governments to promote CP, to encourage departments to support CP, etc. Key Words:Cleaner Production, pollution control, sustainable development, creativity of mechanism 1. The Course of China promoting Cleaner Production(CP) The course can be compartmentalized by 4 phase: (1) Preparation Period (1970s-1993) ; (2) demonstration period (1993-1999); (3) Promotion period (1999-2003); (4) legal standardization period (2003-) Since late 1970s, some enterprises in China, such as Jilin Chemical Corp., have been carrying out a series of industrial innovations called “non-waste technics”, “minimization of wastes”, “pollution control over the whole production process”. This stage prepared for promoting CP in China, during which many successful cases came forth and supplied lots of experience. In 1990s, Chinese government willingly responded to the strategy of sustainable development brought forward by United Nations Convention on Environment and Development and the CP strategy proposed by 21st Century Agenda. At the Second National Conference on Industrial Pollution Control, co-sponsored by the State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC) and the State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) in 1993 in Shanghai, the idea that preventing and controlling industrial pollution should transfer from end-of-pipe control to the whole production process control and the requirement of implementing CP were proposed. In this conference CP’s strategic status in environment protection in china was officially affirmed and promoting CP became one of the administration goals of the governments. The conference is a mark of second phase of CP-- demonstration period. Since then, CP had transferred from spontaneous phase to governmental, systematic, and demonstration period, and also acceded to the global action of CP. 2. The Achievement of China promoting Cleaner Production To more effectively promote CP in China, In May,1997, the CP working group was set up by China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. The group focused on investigation, study and demonstration of CP promotion, environmental pollution reduction and implementation of sustainable development strategy in China. Under the instruction, organization and mediation of the group, China had made great achievements in promotion of CP, which included the following aspects. 2.1 CP was included in National Policy System In March, 1999, Premier Zhu Rongji definitely indicate “stimulation of CP” in his government report during the Second Session of the Ninth NPC. In May, 1999,SETC issued
the document of"the Notice on implementation of CP demonstration projects, and decided to select 10 cities(Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Taiyuan, Jinan, Kunming, Lanzhou and Fuyang)as demonstration cities and 5 sectors( Chemical Industry, Light Industry, Metallurgy, Petrochemical and Ship Building)as demonstration sectors for CP. That marks a new stage of CP--vigorous promotion period. Since then, CP demonstration had changed from enterprise level to regional and industrial level. And governments focus had shifted from policy study to policy making. In 1999 accord ing to the leg islation principles of the gth NPC Stand ing Committee. NPC Environment and Resource Committee drafted out Cleaner Production Act"and planned to issue in 2003, which indicates CP in China is advancing to a new phase-the period of legalization, standard ization and full-scale promotion of CP 2.2 Implement CP demonstration site program on urban and regional level CP Working Group of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development( CPWG for short)promoted CP practice at Taiyuan, as demonstration city Especially, the issue of " Taiyuan Cleaner Production Ordinance"had made a sufficient preparation for the enactment of"Cleaner Production Act". After comparatively general thorough investigation and study, CPWG pointed that the key of the CP promotion in Chi was the establishment of tightly assoc iative effective mechanism at such aspects as policy and law, construction of organization, education and training, the technology innovation and so on Hence, the research on policy and the suggestion of policy became the work emphasis of CPWG, and then working aim and plan were made out. Simultaneously, CPWG, in order to provide experience for the enactment of CP policy at national level, determined to primarily seek the mechanism of CP Promotion at local government level. In March, 1999, CP demonstration work at Taiyan launched out, whose core content were instituting CP local laws rawing the short-term, medium-term and long-term CP planning and constituting the indicator system of CP assessment. Subsequently in April, 2000, the first local CP law in China, Taiyuan Cleaner Production Ordinance", came into effect 2.3 Promote CP at level of government departments'technology and administration Surround ing the stra promoting CP at governments administration level, China focuses on the enhancement of education training, enterprise management, technology innovation, economic encouragement, environmental policy and execution. And at the aspects of current regulation of environmental policy, publicizing and education, construction of organization and demonstration projects, eleven sorts of countermeasure on promotion of CP were proposed 2.4 Explore the tools and methods of measuring CP Impact assessment By thoroughly discussing and evaluating various promotion methods, CPWG indicated that CP should not only be looked at environment and technology angle, but also be analyzed by economic ways. And CP should be translated into the acceptable conception for economists and interest them, then the investment mechanism of Cp will be set up. To establish rules and regulations of the demonstration cities and enterprises, working group organized the cooperation of Shanxi University, Qinghua University and Radioprotection
2 the document of “the Notice on implementation of CP demonstration projects”, and decided to select 10 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Taiyuan, Jinan, Kunming, Lanzhou and Fuyang) as demonstration cities and 5 sectors (Chemical Industry, Light Industry, Metallurgy, Petrochemical and Ship Building) as demonstration sectors for CP. That marks a new stage of CP—vigorous promotion period. Since then, CP demonstration had changed from enterprise level to regional and industrial level. And government’s focus had shifted from policy study to policy making. In 1999 according to the legislation principles of the 9th NPC Standing Committee, NPC Environment and Resource Committee drafted out “Cleaner Production Act” and planned to issue in 2003, which indicates CP in China is advancing to a new phase—the period of legalization, standardization and full-scale promotion of CP. 2.2 Implement CP demonstration site program on urban and regional level CP Working Group of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CPWG for short) promoted CP practice at Taiyuan, as demonstration city. Especially, the issue of “Taiyuan Cleaner Production Ordinance” had made a sufficient preparation for the enactment of “Cleaner Production Act”. After comparatively general thorough investigation and study, CPWG pointed that the key of the CP promotion in China was the establishment of tightly associative effective mechanism at such aspects as policy and law, construction of organization, education and training, the technology innovation and so on. Hence, the research on policy and the suggestion of policy became the work emphasis of CPWG, and then working aim and plan were made out. Simultaneously, CPWG, in order to provide experience for the enactment of CP policy at national level, determined to primarily seek the mechanism of CP Promotion at local government level. In March, 1999, CP demonstration work at Taiyan launched out, whose core content were instituting CP local laws, drawing the short-term, medium-term and long-term CP planning and constituting the indicator system of CP assessment. Subsequently in April, 2000, the first local CP law in China, “Taiyuan Cleaner Production Ordinance”, came into effect. 2.3 Promote CP at level of government departments’ technology and administration Surrounding the strategy of promoting CP at governments’ technology and administration level, China focuses on the enhancement of education training, enterprise management, technology innovation, economic encouragement, environmental policy and execution. And at the aspects of current regulation of environmental policy, publicizing and education, construction of organization and demonstration projects, eleven sorts of countermeasure on promotion of CP were proposed. 2.4 Explore the tools and methods of measuring CP Impact assessment By thoroughly discussing and evaluating various promotion methods, CPWG indicated that CP should not only be looked at environment and technology angle, but also be analyzed by economic ways. And CP should be translated into the acceptable conception for economists and interest them, then the investment mechanism of CP will be set up. To establish rules and regulations of the demonstration cities and enterprises, working group organized the cooperation of Shanxi University, Qinghua University and Radioprotection
Institute of Chinese Academy of Science to research on assessment indicator system of CP demonstration cities and enterprises. Lots of ducky achievements have been made, which will help to evaluate urban CP process, develop weak sector, confirm planning goals, and th exped ite the promotion of CP. 2.5 CPeducation training and information communicating During the past 4 years, working group have held many report meetings, train ing courses, and seminars about CP. Those actions educated and trained government officials, factory managers, technicians and the general public, and enhanced their awareness and skills of cleaner production 2. 6 Publication and dissemination of the achievement To impart more CP conception and extend the impact of CPWG, they make a plan to compile and publish what they had achieved in the past four years, includ ing study reports, olicy suggestion and technic reports. By March of 2002, a collected edition in Chinese, from which some dissertations will be translated into English and published in international issues. will have been issued 3. China's CP development in future Emphasizes creativity of mechanism. China is universally accepted as one of the developing countries that have done best in CP. In the April of 1997, State EPA issued"Several advice on implementation of CP". In the May of 1999, State Economics and Trade Committee issued the notice on implementation of CP demonstration projects. In October, 1999, UNEP in Seoul held the Sixth International Senic Workshop of CP and produced"Announcement of International CP". Wang Xinfang, Vice director general of CEPA, as the representative of Chinese government, solemnly signed on the announcement, which showed Chinese government decided to actively implement CP Many Provinces(e. g. Shanxi, Jiang su)and cities(e. g Benxi, Taiyuan, Shenyang) had worked out and issued policies and regulations on CP at local level According to an incomplete statistic, about 400 enterprises from more than twenty industries in over 20 prov inces, have carried out CP Audit, As a result which, 20 industrial or local CP centers have been set up, and more than 10,000 person-times have been provided by different kinds of CP training workshops CP development in future Emphasizes is creativ ity of mechanism. In the past, all countries'governments mainly adopted" supply-Side"mode, however, this mode didt produce an effective and wide promotion of CP. On the background of the facts that China about to be a member of WTO, entrepreneurs have quickly improved their understandings and experience about market competition. If government or its departments guide effectively and set up a promotive system based on market operation, China will probably have an attractive perspective China decides to bring CP into its Social-Economical Development Program: CP is a " win-win"strategy that produces both economical and environmental benefits. Hence, government should see CP implementation and harmonious development between conomics and environment as the key context and target of its macro-economic readjustment
3 Institute of Chinese Academy of Science to research on assessment indicator system of CP demonstration cities and enterprises. Lots of ducky achievements have been made, which will help to evaluate urban CP process, develop weak sector, confirm planning goals, and then expedite the promotion of CP. 2.5 CP education training and information communicating During the past 4 years, working group have held many report meetings, training courses, and seminars about CP. Those actions educated and trained government officials, factory managers, technicians and the general public, and enhanced their awareness and skills of cleaner production. 2.6 Publication and dissemination of the Achievement To impart more CP conception and extend the impact of CPWG, they make a plan to compile and publish what they had achieved in the past four years, including study reports, policy suggestion and technic reports. By March of 2002, a collected edition in Chinese, from which some dissertations will be translated into English and published in international issues, will have been issued . 3. China’s CP development in future Emphasizes creativity of mechanism. China is universally accepted as one of the developing countries that have done best in CP. In the April of 1997, State EPA issued “ Several advice on implementation of CP”. In the May of 1999, State Economics and Trade Committee issued “the Notice on implementation of CP demonstration projects”. In October,1999, UNEP in Seoul held the Sixth International Senior Workshop of CP and produced “Announcement of International CP”. Wang Xinfang, Vice director general of CEPA, as the representative of Chinese government, solemnly signed on the Announcement, which showed Chinese government decided to actively implement CP. Many Provinces (e.g. Shanxi, Jiangsu) and cities (e.g. Benxi, Taiyuan, Shenyang) had worked out and issued policies and regulations on CP at local level. According to an incomplete statistic, about 400 enterprises from more than twenty industries in over 20 provinces, have carried out CP Audit, As a result which, 20 industrial or local CP centers have been set up, and more than 10,000 person-times have been provided by different kinds of CP training workshops. CP development in future Emphasizes is creativity of mechanism. In the past, all countries’ governments mainly adopted “supply-side” mode, however, this mode did’t produce an effective and wide promotion of CP. On the background of the facts that China is about to be a member of WTO, entrepreneurs have quickly improved their understandings and experience about market competition. If government or its departments guide effectively and set up a promotive system based on market operation, China will probably have an attractive perspective. China decides to bring CP into its Social-Economical Development Program: CP is a “win-win” strategy that produces both economical and environmental benefits. Hence, government should see CP implementation and harmonious development between economics and environment as the key context and target of its macro-economic readjustment
and control policies, and fasten CP implementation on structural readjustment of industries, improvement of energy efficiency, technical renovation and innovation, pollution prevention and control and environmental management. Therefore, we suggest related department includ ing State Economic and Trade Committee, State EPA, etc, to readjust current CP policies, reinforce env ironmental management and economic stimulation on enterprise pollution, and further cooperation between different departments to promote CP development together China should encourage local governments to promote CP: The practices of Promotion of CP Demonstration Cities Project indicated that local governments play an important role in improv ing local environment and promoting CP. So relative national departments should establish stated system that local governments bring the promotion of CP into development planning, and promoting CP is the examination contents of departments. Thus, local government enthusiasm of promoting CP will be mobil ized and the implementation of CP will be dited China also should encourage her departments to support CP: with continuous melioration of market economic system, it becomes increasingly important to employ economic means to promote CP. It is suggested to enhance the study on mechanisms of market and investment, and make CP concepts acceptable to economic experts so that CP can be include into economic model and forecast. It is well recommended that cp should be introduced to financial circle, such as banking, and make financiers realize that investing CP will be rewarded with gener ofits. Thus the implementation of CP will gain stronger financial funding, and fall into virtuous circle step by step From 1 January 2003, "The Promoting Act of Cleaner Production in People's Republic of China will be enforced in China. This is the first act to promote Cp in the world. It use the legislative experience of China and other countries for reference in pollution prevention, the comprehensive utilization of resources, the recovery and utilization of waste material circulatory economy etc. In connection with the existing situation of CP's promotion, a series of measures were provided, which include the explicitness of the government's responsibility in promotion of CP, to require enterprises to carry out CP, to support and encourage the Cps action of enterprises. The enforcement of the act signs a historic progress of China in promoting CP, which will exert a vigorous influence for the further healthy development of Chinese economy and society Reference documents [1] CP Working Group of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. Cleanner Production World Environment. No 4 2002: 20-22 [2 Monitoring Industry Emissions And Wastes UNIDo UNEP 1996
4 and control policies, and fasten CP implementation on structural readjustment of industries, improvement of energy efficiency, technical renovation and innovation, pollution prevention and control and environmental management. Therefore, we suggest related departments, including State Economic and Trade Committee, State EPA, etc, to readjust current CP policies, reinforce environmental management and economic stimulation on enterprise pollution, and further cooperation between different departments to promote CP development together. China should encourage local governments to promote CP: The practices of Promotion of CP Demonstration Cities Project indicated that local governments play an important role in improving local environment and promoting CP. So relative national departments should establish stated system that local governments bring the promotion of CP into development planning, and promoting CP is the examination contents of relative departments. Thus, local government enthusiasm of promoting CP will be mobilized and the implementation of CP will be expedited. China also should encourage her departments to support CP: with continuous melioration of market economic system, it becomes increasingly important to employ economic means to promote CP. It is suggested to enhance the study on mechanisms of market and investment, and make CP concepts acceptable to economic experts so that CP can be include into economic model and forecast. It is well recommended that CP should be introduced to financial circle, such as banking, and make financiers realize that investing CP will be rewarded with generous profits. Thus the implementation of CP will gain stronger financial funding, and fall into virtuous circle step by step. From 1 January 2003, “The Promoting Act of Cleaner Production in People’s Republic of China” will be enforced in China. This is the first act to promote CP in the world. It use the legislative experience of China and other countries for reference in pollution prevention, the comprehensive utilization of resources, the recovery and utilization of waste material, circulatory economy etc. In connection with the existing situation of CP’s promotion, a series of measures were provided, which include the explicitness of the government’s responsibility in promotion of CP, to require enterprises to carry out CP, to support and encourage the CP’s action of enterprises. The enforcement of the act signs a historic progress of China in promoting CP, which will exert a vigorous influence for the further healthy development of Chinese economy and society. Reference Documents [1] CP Working Group of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. Cleanner Production. World Environment. No.4 2002: 20-22 [2] Monitoring Industry Emissions And Wastes. UNIDO & UNEP. 1996