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Project launch ceremony China environmental awareness programme
Khalid Malik
United Nations Resident Coordinator/
UNDP Resident Representative in China
18 Dec 2006
Distinguished Government Officials, Friends and Participants,
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN family in China, I am pleased to be here today to mark the launch of the UNDP/SEPA China Environmental Awareness Programme (CEAP). Let me begin by congratulating the State Environmental Protection Administration, the China International Centre for Economic & Technical Exchanges (CICETE) and the Center for Environmental Education and Communications (CEEC) for their excellent partnership and coordination in the development of this very important project.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The environment is edging closer than ever to a condition of crisis.
China’s rapid growth over the past decades, while drastically reducing levels of extreme poverty, has had a critical impact on the country’s natural resources. Official reports indicate that over half of the rivers are severely polluted and a third of the country is already damaged by acid rain. Over 340 million people in rural China lack access to water considered clean enough to drink, and one-third of the urban population is breathing polluted air. Furthermore, the country is the home to 16 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities. China is the world’s leaders in sulfur emissions, but with only a fraction of the vehicles of most countries. Solid-waste production is expected to more than double over the next decade, making China the world’s largest producer. The cost of environmental repairs necessary to reverse more than two decades of destruction is estimated to range in the tens of billions of US dollars. All of this has not only contributed to placing enormous pressure on China’s ecosystem, but have reached a point where it is now impacting human heath and social stability. The negative health effects of China’s air pollution and water contamination annually cost China over 400,000 lives and 9% of GDP.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I repeat, China’s environment is edging closer than ever to a condition of crisis.
The Government of China has placed a great deal of effort to address the environmental concerns now threatening the country. These commitments have been clearly articulated in the new 11th Five-Year Program with goals to cut per energy capita consumption by 20%, curb major pollutants by 20% and increase the forest coverage of the country by 2010. The new policy also calls for stricter accountability which mandates the local government to release information on energy consumption and pollutant emissions every 6-months in an effort to foster a culture of environmental accountability.
At the National Conference on Environmental Protection in April 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao stated that China had not met 8 of the 20 goals set forth in the previous 5 year plan for environmental protection for example, in air and water pollution. The Premier attributed the failure to “lack of awareness, insufficient planning, and a weak legal framework” towards environmental protection. The objectives of the China Environmental Awareness Programme (CEAP), being launched here today address this issue by raising the awareness of decision makers and the general public on environmental matters, and to convert that knowledge into a change in behavior, attitudes and practice towards environmental protection.
In order to accomplish this, UNDP will support various activities with SEPA. To this effect CEAP will launch a high-profile national campaign in Spring of 2007 to raise awareness on such critical issues as water, air pollution, climate change, sustainable energy use, and sustainable consumption. This will be supported by a series of targeted local campaigns with special attention placed on urban environmental issues in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, and vulnerable areas in Western China where the links between development and environment are especially acute.
We are also pleased to announce here today a new partnership with the Beijing Olympics Committee to support activities for the “Green” Olympics. The Olympics serve as a tremendous platform to raise environmental awareness across China and UNDP is proud to be collaborating with the Beijing Olympic Committee and partners to this end.
The environment is the responsibility of all of us. To this end I am encouraged to see so many representatives from every part of society here today. We all have a role to play, and through our collective action, we can make a difference in protecting China’s environment for future generations. I challenge all of you, as a call for action towards environmental sustainability, to join us. We need your support by linking your efforts to the CEAP environmental campaign, by providing critical financial assistance, and sharing information and best practices.
Together, we can make a difference. I look forward to walking with you on the path towards greater environmental awareness and environmental sustainability.
I wish the launch of this programme a great success. Thank you.
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