December 2022 - You are accessing an archived version of our website. This website is no longer maintained or updated. The Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform has been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/
December 2022 - You are accessing an archived version of our website. This website is no longer maintained or updated. The Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform has been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/
Watch video of panel where the VNR was presented
Main Message
Over the past five years, under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has put people’s well-being front and center, followed a new vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, and taken comprehensive measures to implement the 2030 Agenda according to its national implementation plan that was among the first of the kind in the world, and through an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism made up of 45 ministries and agencies, integrating its implementation efforts with the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan and other medium-to-long-term development strategies. China has also actively participated in international development cooperation to promote global implementation endeavors. All these efforts have yielded remarkable results.
China has eradicated extreme poverty, and ensured food security. At the end of 2020, China won its fight against poverty as scheduled, ending poverty for the 98.99 million rural residents living below the current poverty line, and meeting the targets of SDG 1 ten years ahead of schedule. Building on these achievements, China is prioritizing the development of agriculture and rural areas, and implementing the rural revitalization strategy in a comprehensive manner. In 2020, China reaped bumper harvest in grain production for the 17th year in a row. The “rice bowl” of the Chinese people is tightly held in the hands of the Chinese themselves.
China has actively taken climate actions, and contributed to global green development. Following the philosophy that lucid water and lush mountain are invaluable assets, China has accelerated the transition towards green development. China has won the three critical battles to keep its sky blue, water clear, and soil pollution-free and made remarkable headway in holistic protection and treatment of its mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grassland and deserts. China has firmly implemented the Paris Agreement and actively participated in global climate governance. Carbon intensity in China has accumulatively dropped by 18.8%. Clean energy now accounts for 23.4% of China’s energy mix. China leads the world in installed capacity and output of photovoltaic and wind power generation. China has scaled up its nationally determined contributions and aims to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, injecting strong impetus into global climate actions as well as green and low-carbon development worldwide.
China has met the challenge of the pandemic with success and improved public health governance. Putting people and their lives above everything else, China has scored major strategic achievements in fighting COVID-19 and protected people’s rights to life and health. China has increased investment in public health infrastructure and woven the world’s largest social safety net with basic medical insurance covering more than 1.3 billion people.With upgraded public health services, Chinese people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness and security is steadily increased.
China has registered steady economic growth and enhanced development resilience. China’s GDP has increased from less than 70 trillion yuan to over 100 trillion yuan. Steady progress has been made in infrastructure connectivity and sustainable transportation. Pandemic control goes hand in hand with economic and social development. A new development paradigm is forming with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. In 2020, China’s GDP grew by 2.3%, making China the only major world economy to grow.
China has shouldered its responsibilities as a major country and advanced international development cooperation. China champions mankind’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and strives to build a community of shared future for mankind. It has stepped up efforts to promote synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda, promoted the green BRI, deepened South-South cooperation, and helped other developing countries implement the 2030 Agenda to the best of its capability. China has provided assistance to more than 160 countries and international organizations in combating COVID-19, and donated and exported pandemic response supplies to over 200 countries and regions. China has joined the COVAX, provided or is providing vaccine assistance to more than 80 developing countries most in need, and exported vaccines to more than 40 countries, making its due contribution to the global fight against the pandemic.
China’s remarkable achievements in implementing the 2030 Agenda are attributable to the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, to the advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, to China’s comprehensive drive to deepen reforms and expand opening-up, and to the joint efforts of the people of all ethnic groups in China.
Likewise, the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda calls for strong political leadership, effective institutional guarantees, scientific and technological innovation, extensive social mobilization and pragmatic global partnership. The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda. China stands ready to work with other countries to consolidate political will, put development first, strengthen the means of implementation, take joint actions and address special difficulties of developing countries to leave no one and no country behind.
Report | Topics covered | Process |
Full Report | CSD-16; CSD-17; | |
Foreword | CSD-12; CSD-13; | |
Freshwater | CSD-12; CSD-13; | |
Sanitation | CSD-12; CSD-13; | |
Human Settlements | CSD-12; CSD-13; | |
Country Profile 2002 | ||
Pre-WSSD National Report |
Report | Topics covered | Process |
Link to Country's NSDS |
A city of one million people about 100 miles southwest of Beijing, Baoding has ascended rapidly as a working urban model of China's transition to a clean energy economy. The city is considered to be the first "carbon positive" city in the world, largely due to local efforts along with additional national and international support. Source: Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century (2010) Baoding has undergone a transformation from a traditionally dirty textile and automobile manufacturing city to a central hub for renewable energy production and deployme...[more]
The 2008 Olympics represented a major way for China to signal the country's opening up policy. Alongside this important effort in public diplomacy, the Games catalyzed a major project of urban transformation and new infrastructure development in the capitol city. Most of the capital invested in the 2008 Olympics was in fact spent on infrastructure, which has helped shape and foster a greater environmental awareness among the public and was an opportunity to showcase China?s commitment to growing in an environmentally sustainable manner. Source: Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban D...[more]
The China Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) aims to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity caused by preventable conditions, such as birth asphyxia, through ensuring at least one trained and skilled health worker is present at every hospital delivery. Objectives include:• Develop and implement nationwide cascade training: providing training to individuals who in turn provide the same training to others • Improve the quality of NRP training through cascade supervisions • Implement policy strategies that ensure sustainable NRP in 90% of delivery facilities• Evaluate and document NRP ...[more]
National Climate Change Programme issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in 2007 is the country's first global warming policy initiative. Source: According to China's National Climate Change Programme issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's first global warming policy initiative, the government will swiftly adopt measures ranging from laws, economy, administration and technology which will combine to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and imbue the country with a flexible approach to climate change. The Program focuses on energy pro...[more]
To further improve comprehensive strengthen and quality and benefits of Chinas ocean economy, make marine industry structure and layout more scientific, and further improve ability to regulate and control ocean economy and public service ability by 2020, we would like to take the following measures: promote transformation and upgrading of marine traditional industries like marine fishery and offshore oil and gas industry; fasten the development of newly emerging marine industry like marine equipment manufacture industry and marine renewable energy resources; improve the scale and level of mari...[more]
To continue participate in the cooperation in blue economy, marine spatial planning and marine debris in Asia and Pacific region, we would like to take the following measures: compile the APEC Sustainable Development Report (the 2nd edition)based on the current work, encourage more countries and regions to participate in the blue economy demonstration projects, stock blue economy in Asia-Pacific region, host blue economy forum, strengthen capacity building in marine spatial planning and aquaculture, and encourage to propel relevant progress on marine debris.
In 2004 the Chinese government issued first-ever national fuel economy standards for passenger cars. Source: UNEP, 2008, Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world The Chinese government issued its first compulsory standards for controlling vehicle consumption, the Limits of Fuel Consumption for Passenger Cars, in 2004, and the policy became effective in 2005. For each of 16 vehicle weight classes, it establishes fuel consumption limits (ranging from 7.2 liters per 100 kilometers (km) for the lightest passenger cars to 15.5 liters per 100 km for the heaviest). In 2008, ...[more]
The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism is an organizational network of tourism stakeholders of the public and private sectors, non-profits, UN agencies and programmes, international organizations and academic institutions. Partner organizations share the common vision and understanding of the goal of "sustainable tourism" and collaborate internationally, regionally or nationally to transform tourism globally. The mission is to transform the way tourism is done worldwide by building partnerships to support the implementation of sustainable tourism practices at destinations through adop...[more]
The principal objective of the green jobs programme in China is to assist the country in realizing its potential for green jobs. Source: UNCSD Secretariat (2010) Questionnaire for the Member States on Experiences, Success Factors, Risks and Challenges with Regard to Objective and Themes of UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) The Green Jobs Initiative is a partnership established in 2007 between the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Trade Union Confederation. The International Organization of Employers joined in 2008...[more]
At the UN meeting on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, China’s Premier Wen Jiabao announced that China will contribute US$6 million to a UNEP trust fund for projects and activities that help developing countries raise their capacity for environmental protection. (Statement made by Chinese Prime Minister Wen JIabao at the Rio + 20, UN meeting on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For more information, please click the lick: Premier Wen: China to contribute $6mln to UN Environmental trust fund).
At the UN meeting on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, China’s Premier Wen Jiabao announced that China will contribute US$6 million to a UNEP trust fund for projects and activities that help developing countries raise their capacity for environmental protection. He also promised that China will make available 200 million yuan ( US$31.7 million) for a three-year international project to help small island countries, least developed countries and African countries tackle climate change.(Statement made by Chinese Prime Minister Wen JIabao at the Rio + 20 Speech at t...[more]
The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]
To effectively improve marine disaster prevention capacities of China, we would like to take the following measures: build, upgrade and remould overseas observation stations (sites), build a series of ground wave radar and buoys; advance comprehensive assessment of regional marine forecast ability and application of pilot work of marine risk investigation on large coastal projects; conduct monitoring, research and impact assessment on sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and climate change; evaluate impacts of climate change and human activities on economy, society, environment and resources, ...[more]
To promote marine scientific cooperation with relevant government departments of small island developing countries and other state holders in the fields of marine environment and biodiversity protection, marine disaster prevention and mitigation, blue economy and other fields of common interests; To promote the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States by providing personnel training, technical assistant etc.
To improve marine scientific and technical innovation ability, strengthen international cooperation and transfer of marine scientific and technical achievements, we would like to take the following measures: organize China Maritime Renewable Energy Annual Meeting, undertake the 5th Asian Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (AWTEC), and promote maritime energy innovation ability in Asia Pacific region; compile Catalogue of Chinas Marine Scientific and Technical Achievements and its Transfer, so as to guide and fasten international cooperation and transfer of maritime scientific and technical achie...[more]
To preliminary control marine environmental pollution and gradually improve water quality in offshore areas, we would like to take the following measures: strictly control sea reclamation, strengthen supervision and enforcement, and reduce adverse impacts on marine ecosystem from pollution; fully control the discharge of pollutants and fasten the construction and reconstruction of sewage treatment facilities in urban areas, fully eliminate illegal sewage outlets; classify domestic waste and take effective actions to prevent the discharge of waste into sea; select more marine protected areas, e...[more]
UNESCO Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] is responsible to the national authority, i.e., UNESCO CN. In China, UNESCO matter is assigned by the State to its Ministry of Education (MoE) whereas the Peking University is appointed an Academic Adviser. A UNESCO Category 2 Institute called HIESD is established for the purpose of Education on Sustainable Development (ESD). In Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] UNESCO Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] was registered as a Charity. In 2017, UNESCO HK [Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of...[more]
Between May 1st and October 31st 2010 the city of Shanghai hosted the World Expo 2010. This event became one of the most successful Expos for a number of reasons: the timing, the place, the contents and the ability to foster models for future urban development. From a purely quantitative perspective, Expo 2010 featured the largest site, a record number of participants and visitors and an unprecedented events and forums programme. The 5.28 square kilometres site, located at the heart of the city and stretching along the banks of the Huangpu River, was a massive urban regeneration project aimed...[more]
China's Twelfth Five Year Plan (2011-2015) is China's first national plan to shift the development agenda decisively toward a pattern of green growth. Source: China's Twelfth Five-Year Plan period is crucial for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and for deepening reform and opening up and speeding up the transformation of the pattern of economic development. The key targets of the Plan are the following: Economic targets: GDP to grow by 7 percent annually on average; More than 45 million jobs to be created in urban areas; Urban registered unemployment to be kept no...[more]
Traditional agriculture practices in Timor-Leste result in poor soil and water management and low productivity. This Trilateral partnership trains farmers both on modern cultivation methods and cultivation of crops that reduce erosion and increase replenishment of nutrients in the soil. In addition, the crops selected help farmers diversify their sources of income.This partnership will contribute to the sustainable development of SIDS by demonstrating opportunities for increasing farmer incomes while improving natural resource management through cultivation of cash and staple crops. The model ...[more]