This Day, That Year

ItemfromNov30,1999, inChinaDaily:Children callforcleanair:Elementaryschoolpupilsfromthe children’sorganization Hand-in-HandGlobalVillagereadaletterexpressing theirconcernoverozone layerdepletion....

Theyreaditduringthe openingceremonyofyesterday’sozoneconvention.

China has phased out 250,000 metric tons of ozone-depleting substances, or ODS, in the past five years, accounting for more than a half of the total amount phased out by all developing countries, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

During a meeting commemorating this year’s International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on Sept 16, Vice-Minister Zhao Yingmin said more than 1 million tons of ODS had been phased out globally.

He added that China will encourage and support research into substitutes for ODS.

In the past few decades, China has made great efforts to meet its obligations under major environmental agreements such as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Joint projects between China and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization have also played a significant role in promoting the country’s transition to green industry.

In addition, China has signaled its strong support for the UN’s Sustainable Devel- opment Goals, which is reflected in the 13th FiveYear Plan (2016-20).

Five ideas contained in the plan — innovation, greening, opening, sharing and coordination — will provide momentum for the implementation of key SDGs in China.

34, doctor in Fujian province

“The government should give more support to hospitals and clinics. Strict regulation as well as supervision are also necessary.”

owner of a private clinic in Shanghai NOV 30 - DEC 1