Funding of environment protection clarified

The division of fiscal duties related to environmental protection between the central government and local governments has been outlined in a reform plan published by the General Office of the State Council.

The plan, published on June 12, said central finance will be responsible for the funding of ecological and environmental protection plans at the national and cross-regional levels and in key regions, as well as the national plan on coping with climate change.

Local authorities must assume their responsibilities to fund environmental and ecological protection plans in their own regions, it said.

The central government will also fund the construction and maintenance of environment and ecology monitoring networks at the national level and the conducting of supervision and inspection campaigns focused on law enforcement and the implementation of related policies.

The plan said central finance will also cover expenditure on the evaluation and assessment of work on reducing emissions of key pollutants and projects to improve environmental quality. It will also fund the management of sewage outlets to rivers and seas, the oversight of trading of carbon emission rights, and the management and oversight of nuclear and radiation safety.

Central finance will also cover pollution prevention in international water bodies.

The plan said central and local financing will both contribute to pollution control and prevention related to radioactive materials, the containment of air pollution in key areas and water pollution treatment in key river basins, such as those of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers.

Local authorities must cover expenditure on pollution control and prevention with regard to soil, the agricultural sector and rural areas, solid waste, chemicals and groundwater, the plan said.