On 12 September, China’s Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued a guideline to realize long-term ecological compensation goals. Concerned parties should develop solutions to evaluate and supervise the implementation of policies designated to protect the environment.
By 2025, an ecological compensation mechanism is supposed to be in place. The classified compensation system will target ecological capital such as rivers, natural forests and wetlands. Furthermore, the compensation system that features fiscal support will be improved. By 2035, the country will have formed an ecological compensation mechanism that meets the requirements of the ecological civilization.
The compensation system will take into account the economic and social development of the ecological protection areas, as well as the additional costs coming from the protection of the environment. While focusing on national ecological security, China will enhance the comprehensive compensation system with policies that conform to the financial capacity of the country and promote equal access to basic public services. Efforts will be made to give full play to the role of market mechanisms to promote diversified compensation and help regions that conduct ecological protection measures to obtain benefits.
Supporting policies regarding the rule of law, ecological environment monitoring, and fiscal and taxation measures will also be introduced to deepen reform of the country’s ecological compensation mechanism.
