On the morning of March 5, 2024, the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress held its opening ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Premier Li Qiang, on behalf of the State Council, presented a government work report to the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress.
Li Qiang pointed out that in the past year, the quality of the ecological environment has steadily improved. The battle against pollution prevention and control is deepening, and the discharge of major pollutants continues to decrease. The water quality of surface water and nearshore waters continues to improve. The battle against the "Three North" project has been fully launched. The installed capacity of renewable energy generation has historically exceeded that of thermal power, with over half of the world's new installed capacity added throughout the year.
Over the past year, we have strengthened ecological and environmental protection and governance, and accelerated the green transformation of our development model. Deepen the construction of a beautiful China. Continuously fight for the defense of blue sky, clear water, and pure land. Accelerate the implementation of major projects for the protection and restoration of important ecosystems. Efforts should be made to comprehensively prevent and control soil erosion and desertification. Strengthen supervision of ecological environment protection. Develop policies to support the development of green and low-carbon industries. Promote the ultra-low emission transformation of key industries. Initiate the construction of the first batch of carbon peak pilot cities and parks. Actively participate in and promote global climate governance.
Li Qiang introduced the government's work tasks for 2024, proposing to strengthen ecological civilization construction and promote green and low-carbon development. Deeply implementing the concept that green mountains and clear waters are invaluable assets, we will work together to promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth, and build a beautiful China where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.
Promote comprehensive management of the ecological environment. Deeply implement the action plan for continuous improvement of air quality, coordinate water resources, water environment, and water ecology management, strengthen the prevention and control of soil pollution sources, and strengthen the treatment of solid waste, new pollutants, and plastic pollution. Adhere to the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sands, and strengthen the zoning and control of the ecological environment. Organize the three iconic battles of the "Three North" project and promote the construction of national parks. Strengthen the ecological protection and management of important rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Continuously promote the ten-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River. Implement major projects for biodiversity conservation. Improve the mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products, establish a sound ecological protection compensation system, and fully mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties to protect and improve the ecological environment.
Vigorously develop a green and low-carbon economy. Promote the green transformation of industrial structure, energy structure, transportation structure, and urban-rural construction development. Implement a comprehensive energy-saving strategy and accelerate energy-saving and water-saving transformation in key areas. Improve financial, taxation, investment, pricing policies, and related market-oriented mechanisms to support green development, promote the development of waste recycling industry, promote the research and application of advanced technologies for energy conservation and carbon reduction, and accelerate the formation of a green and low-carbon supply chain. Build a leading area for beautiful China and create a highland for green and low-carbon development.
Actively and prudently promote carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Solidly carry out the "Top Ten Actions to Peak Carbon Emissions". Enhance the capability of carbon emission statistical accounting and verification, establish a carbon footprint management system, and expand the coverage of the national carbon market industry. Deepen the energy revolution, control fossil energy consumption, and accelerate the construction of a new energy system. Strengthen the construction of large-scale wind and photovoltaic bases and external transmission channels, promote the development and utilization of distributed energy, develop new types of energy storage, promote the use of green electricity and international mutual recognition, play the role of coal and coal-fired power as a backup, and ensure the energy demand for economic and social development.