Continuously Improving Eco-Environment and Comprehensively Advancing the Beautiful China Initiative

Continuously Improving Eco-Environment and Comprehensively Advancing the Beautiful China Initiative

—Series Report VII on Achievements in Economic and Social Development during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

The National Bureau of Statistics, June 3, 2026

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core remained committed to eco-environmental conservation, put forward a series of major plans, and made great strides in comprehensively advancing the Beautiful China Initiative. Over the past five years, China has kept improving its ecological conservation systems, solidly advanced eco-environmental conservation and restoration, significantly improved the state of natural ecosystems, made new achievements in the battle against pollution, accelerated green and low-carbon development, notably enhanced the living environment, and achieved historic accomplishments in eco-environmental conservation.

I. Increasingly Improved Institutional System and Legal Regulatory Framework

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China continued to strengthen the development of top-level design and a system of institutions for an ecological civilization, with the fundamental pillars of ecological civilization taking shape. The 20th CPC National Congress emphasized the imperative to unwaveringly uphold the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and put it into concrete action, and to work to maintain harmony between humanity and nature in its development. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee systematically deployed key tasks and major measures for deepening institutional reform to build a sound ecological environment, emphasizing the improvement of ecological conservation systems, the coordinated advancement of carbon reduction, pollution control, ecological expansion, and green growth, actively responding to climate change, and accelerating the improvement of institutions and mechanisms for implementing the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. In 2025, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee explicitly identified “major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative” as one of the major objectives for economic and social development for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Over the past five years, the framework system for building a Beautiful China has been gradually refined, and the “1+1+N” implementation system for Beautiful China has been largely established. In 2023, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on Comprehensively Advancing the Beautiful China Initiative, which serves as a programmatic document for comprehensively advancing the Beautiful China Initiative. In 2025, the top-level design for the Beautiful China Initiative continued to be refined. Documents such as the Implementation Opinions of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Building Pilot Zones for the Beautiful China Initiative, the Implementation Plan for the Development of Beautiful Cities, and the Implementation Plan for the Development of Beautiful Countryside were successively issued and implemented. The implementation system and promotion mechanism for the Beautiful China Initiative were accelerated, driving the grand blueprint under the intiative to become a beautiful reality.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China deeply advanced the building of eco-environment management and responsibility systems. Implementing the system of zoning control for ecological environment is a major decision by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to reform and improve the foundational systems for ecological civilization. In 2024, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the Opinions on Strengthening Zone-based Eco-environmental Control. Reforms in the “full-chain” of eco-environmental zoning control, environmental impact assessment, and pollutant discharge permits were deepened and solidified; meanwhile, the responsibility system for eco-environmental conservation was further improved. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, a total of nine batches of central eco-environmental protection inspections were organized and conducted. In 2025, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the Regulations on Eco-environmental Protection Inspections and the Regulations on the Accountability System for Local Party and Government Leaders Regarding Ecological Environmental Protection (Trial), constructing a comprehensive, consistent in power and responsibility, clear in rewards and punishments, and interlinked responsibility system, further solidifying the political responsibility for building a Beautiful China.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period is a critical period and window for achieving the carbon peak. China has established a “1+N” policy framework for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, clarifying the timetable and roadmap for carbon emissions reduction. It also issued implementation plans for key industries and sectors, as well as supporting and safeguarding plans for technological support, statistical accounting, and fiscal support, driving the continuous decline of carbon emission intensity during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. To date, China has established the world’s largest carbon emissions trading market covering greenhouse gas emissions, launched a national voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading market, and initially built a carbon market institutional system with Chinese characteristics.

In 2023, China initiated the codification of an ecological environment code. On March 12, 2026, the Ecological and Environmental Code of the People’s Republic of China was adopted through voting at the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress. This is the world’s first comprehensive code named “Ecological Environment” and China’s second law named “Code” following the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China. Its promulgation holds significant and far-reaching importance, further solidifying the legal foundation of China’s ecological civilization systems.

II. Solid Progress in Ecol-environmental Conservation and Restoration, with Notable Improvement in the State of Natural Ecosystems

(I) The Overall Eco-environment Showing Trends of Steady Improvement

In 2024, China’s Ecological Quality Index (EQI) ^[1] was 59.95, an increase of 0.18 points compared to 2021, and the comprehensive evaluation of ecological quality remained at the “Class II” good level. Among the 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) nationwide, areas with “Class I” ecological quality accounted for 29% of the land area, and areas with “Class II” ecological quality accounted for 45%. Compared to 2021, these proportions increased by 1.4 percentage points and 12.9 percentage points, respectively. In 2025, China’s public satisfaction with the ecological environment reached 91.37%, exceeding 90% for five consecutive years.

(II) Significant Achievements in National Land Greening

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China initiated and implemented major projects for the protection and restoration of important ecosystems, continuously strengthening the ecological security barrier of the Three Eco-zones and Four Shelterbelts – Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Eco-zone, Yellow River Eco-zone, Yangtze River Eco-zone, Northeast Shelterbelt, North Shelterbelt, South Shelterbelt, and Coastal Shelterbelt. Over the five years, a cumulative total of 549 million mu of land was greened, including 185 million mu of afforestation. 4.344 million mu of wetlands were scientifically restored. Degraded grasslands were restored by an average of over 46 million mu annually, the area of degraded grasslands was reduced by nearly 280 million mu, the comprehensive vegetation coverage of grasslands remained stable above 50%, and healthy and sub-healthy grasslands reached 2.7 billion mu, accounting for over 70%. In 2025, the national forest coverage reached 3.614 billion mu, with a rate of 25.09%. 3.563 million hectares of afforestation were completed, contributing a quarter of the world’s new greening area. Forest stock reached 20.988 billion cubic meters, maintaining growth in both forest coverage and forest stock for 40 consecutive years, making China the country with the most and fastest “greening increase” globally.

(III) New Progress in Eco-environmental Conservation and Restoration

The expected targets for eco-environmental conservation and restoration were achieved. Since the implementation of integrated projects for the conservation and restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, and deserts in 2016, central fiscal funds totaling RMB 103 billion have been allocated in six batches to support relevant regions in carrying out such projects. As of August 2025, China had implemented a total of 52 integrated projects for the conservation and restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, with the conservation and restoration area exceeding 100 million mu, as well as 49 demonstration projects for eco-environmental restoration of historically abandoned mines and 195 marine eco-environmental conservation and restoration projects, and achieved ahead of schedule the expected targets of the 14th Five-Year Plan.

The system of protected natural areas continued to improve, and notable results were made in the building of national parks. In 2021, China officially established its first batch of national parks, namely the Sanjiangyuan (Three-River-Source National Park), Giant Panda National Park, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest, and Wuyishan. In 2025, regulations such as the Law of the People’s Republic of China on National Parks were successively issued. Wetland and wildlife protection achieved a historic leap, and the building of a system of national botanical gardens were steadily and orderly advanced. In 2022, the state issued the Wetlands Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China and revised the Wild Animal Conservation Law. Also in 2022, the National Wetland Conservation Plan (2021-2030) was formulated and implemented, and wetlands conservation and restoration projects were fully implemented. Two national botanical gardens were established in Beijing and Guangzhou. 48 critically endangered wildlife species and 50 plant species with extremely small populations were effectively protected. China has established 789 important terrestrial wildlife habitats and over 300 in-situ conservation sites for rare and endangered wild plants.

Desertification control yielded remarkable results. China continuously intensified efforts to carry out comprehensive desertification prevention and control, and advanced key ecological projects such as the shelterbelt forest program in northeast, north, and northwest China at an accelerated pace. Its desertified and sandified areas were both shrinking, and it became the first country to realize zero net land degradation. In 2025, 3.289 million hectares of desertified and rocky desertified land were treated, and the area of sandy land decreased by 1.5275 million hectares compared to the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. From 2021 to 2025, China completed the treatment of 152 million mu of desertified land and established enclosed protection areas covering 27.936 million mu.

Positive progress was made in soil and water conservation. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the area of soil erosion newly treated nationwide exceeded 340,000 square kilometers, with a net reduction of approximately 116,000 square kilometers in soil erosion area. The national soil and water conservation rate reached over 73%. Soil erosion in key areas was effectively controlled. Focusing on the upper and middle reaches of major rivers and basins, the black soil region in Northeast China, the karst region in Southwest China, the water source areas of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, and the Three Gorges Reservoir region, the central government’s investment supported comprehensive small watershed management, treating a soil erosion area of 67,000 square kilometers. The soil erosion intensity in project implementation areas decreased by 15 to 20 percentage points.

III. Significant Results Achieved in Pollution Control and Overall Improvement in Environmental Quality

(I) Sustained Improvement in Air Quality

Urban air quality was improved significantly. Heavy pollution days decreased by 25% during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. In 2025, among monitored cities, the average proportion of days with good air quality was 89.3% (excluding the impact of sand and dust), achieving the best level since monitoring records began; the proportion of days with heavy pollution or worse dropped to 0.9%, reaching a historical optimum. The proportion of cities meeting air quality standards increased significantly. In 2025, among 339 cities at prefecture level and above nationwide, 246 cities met ambient air quality standards, accounting for 72.6%, an increase of about 12 percentage points compared to 2020.

Concentrations of major air pollutants were at historically low levels. Over the past five years, six pollutants—sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, PM2.5, and PM10—achieved “five decreases and one stabilization.” Compared with 2020, the concentrations of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, PM2.5, and PM10 in 2025 decreased by approximately 15%-20%, all reaching historically optimal levels. The trend of consecutive annual increases in ozone concentration was curbed, with ozone concentration remaining basically stable compared to the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

(II) Continuous Improvement Shown in the Quality of the Water Environment

The environmental quality of surface water continued to improve. In 2025, among nationwide surface water quality monitoring sections (points), the proportion of good quality water bodies (Class I~III) reached 91.4%, an increase of 8.0 percentage points from 2020; the proportion of sections with inferior Class V water quality was 0.6%.

River water quality continued to improve steadily. In 2025, the proportion of sections with good water quality (Class I~III) in the seven major river basins—Yangtze River, Yellow River, Pearl River, Songhua River, Huai River, Hai River, and Liao River—as well as rivers in the northwest, southwest, and Zhejiang-Fujian regions was 93.0%, an increase of 5.6 percentage points from 2020.

Lake and reservoir water quality generally improved. In 2025, among key lakes and reservoirs monitored nationwide, the proportion with Class I~III water quality was 78.5%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from 2020; the proportion with inferior Class V water quality was 3.3%, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points from 2020.

Coastal water quality was stable with a positive trend. In 2025, the proportion of coastal sea areas nationwide with good (Classes I and II) water quality was 84.9%, an increase of 7.5 percentage points from 2020; the proportion with Class IV and inferior Class IV water quality was 10.5%, a decrease of 4.4 percentage points from 2020.

(III) Effective Measures Taken to Bring under Control the Risks Associated with Worsening Soil Qualities

Fundamental changes occurred in soil environmental quality. Classified management of agricultural land was carried out, and risk control over soil pollution on construction land was strengthened. From 2021 to 2025, the safe utilization rate of contaminated farmland exceeded 90% for five consecutive years. Risks of soil pollution on agricultural land achieved “three reductions”: the cumulative risk of atmospheric heavy metal deposition on soil was significantly reduced; the risk of water pollution to farmland from historical waste residues and heavy metal-containing waste residues and sediment was significantly reduced; and the cadmium content in soil at national key monitoring points was significantly reduced.

(IV) Notable Progress in Noise Pollution Control

In December 2021, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution was adopted at the 32nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress. Through sustained efforts, in 2024, the daytime and nighttime compliance rates of acoustic environment functional zones in cities at prefecture level and above nationwide reached 95.8% and 88.2%, respectively, representing increases of 1.2 and 8.1 percentage points compared to 2020.

IV. Actively Tackling Climate Change and Accelerating the Green Transition Across the Board

(I) Green and Low-Carbon Transition at an Accelerated Pace

Carbon dioxide emission intensity continued to decline. According to preliminary estimates, in 2025, the nationwide carbon dioxide emissions per RMB 10,000 of GDP decreased by 5.0% compared to the previous year. The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption steadily increased. In 2025, non-fossil energy accounted for 21.7% of total energy consumption, an increase of 5.7 percentage points from 2020, surpassing oil to become China’s second-largest energy consumption category and the main contributor to energy increment.

(II) Carbon Market at a New Stage of Rapid Development

The state actively promoted top-level design related to the carbon market, and carbon emissions trading became more active, serving as a powerful measure to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. By the end of 2025, the nationwide carbon emissions trading market operated smoothly and orderly, with cumulative trading volume reaching 865 million tons and cumulative trading value reaching RMB 57.663 billion.

(III) Sustained Rapid Development of Renewables

The proportion of installed renewable energy capacity in China steadily increased. In 2025, China’s installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power generation exceeded installed thermal power capacity for the first time. New-type energy storage maintained rapid development, with installed capacity exceeding 100 million kilowatts, accounting for over 40% of the global total installed capacity, firmly ranking first in the world. The proportion of clean energy supply continued to rise. In 2025, the clean energy power generation from industrial enterprises above designated size, including hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, and solar power, reached 3.4 trillion kWh, an increase of 8.8% over the previous year, accounting for 35.2% of the total power generation from industrial enterprises above designated size, up 2.1 percentage points from the previous year.

(IV) Active Promotion of Global Climate Governance

China is an active participant, important contributor, and key leader in global climate governance. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China honored its solemn commitment to carbon peak and carbon neutrality and continued to play a significant leading role at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Deepening South-South cooperation and advancing green development under BRI, China contributes to building a clean and beautiful world. In September 2025, President Xi Jinping announced China’s new round of nationally determined contribution targets at the United Nations Climate Summit, drawing widespread international attention and holding significant importance for the global climate governance process, highlighting China’s leadership in global climate governance.

V. The Steady Improvement of Rural and Urban Living Environments, Making Green Lifestyles Popular Among the Public

(I) Consolidation and Strengthening of Urban Environmental Development

Investment in urban environmental infrastructure construction ^[2] grew significantly. Environmental infrastructure construction continued to strengthen, while social capital was encouraged to invest in environmental infrastructure. In 2024, investment in the prevention and control of pollution from traditional industries reached RMB 47.98 billion, a 43.1% increase from 2021. Specifically, investments in wastewater treatment, waste gas treatment, and solid waste treatment were RMB 7.45 billion, RMB 32.32 billion, and RMB 1.95 billion, respectively, representing increases of 106.4%, 45.5%, and 146.8% compared to 2021.

Steady progress was made in the construction of environmental infrastructure. In urban areas in 2024, the sewage treatment rate reached 98.9%, up 1.4 percentage points from 2020; the harmless treatment rate of domestic waste reached 100%; and the gas penetration rate reached 98.6%, up 0.7 percentage points from 2020. In county towns, the sewage treatment rate reached 98%, up 4.4 percentage points from 2020; the harmless treatment rate of domestic waste approached 100%; and the gas penetration rate reached 93.7%, up 7.2 percentage points from 2020.

The living environment continued to improve. In urban areas in 2024, the green coverage rate in built-up areas reached 43.5%, up 1.4 percentage points from 2020, and the per capita park green space area reached 15.9 square meters, up 7.4%. In county towns, the green coverage rate in built-up areas reached 40.6%, up 7.0 percentage points from 2020, and the per capita park green space area reached 15.6 square meters, up 16.1%.

The development of “Zero-Waste Cities” accelerated. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, solid waste generation intensity continued to decline, and efforts were made to actively promote the comprehensive utilization of industrial solid waste. In 2025, China organized and implemented a three-year special campaign targeting illegal dumping and disposal of solid waste. By the end of 2025, a total of 34.6 million tons of various solid wastes were treated, and the comprehensive utilization rate of bulk industrial solid waste reached 57%.

(II) Steady Progress in Rural Environmental Construction

Significant improvements were made in rural drinking water. Over the past five years, China has fully implemented the “3+1” standardized construction and management model for rural water supply, establishing the world’s largest centralized rural water supply system serving the largest population, making it the country that has made the greatest progress in improving rural drinking water conditions. In 2025, the penetration rate of tap water in rural areas reached 96%, an increase of 13.0 percentage points from 2020.

Remarkable results were achieved in the improvement of the rural living environment. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, environmental remediation was newly completed in 110,000 administrative villages. Rural domestic sewage and waste treatment were strengthened. In 2025, the rural domestic sewage treatment rate reached 55%, doubling from 2020. The rural toilet revolution continued to advance. In 2025, the sanitary toilet penetration rate reached approximately 77%.

The agricultural production environment continued to improve. In 2025, China’s application of chemical fertilizers in agriculture totaled 49.71 million tons, down 5.3% from 2020. In 2024, China’s pesticide use in crop farming was 244,000 tons, maintaining a downward trend for eight consecutive years. Green prevention and control area for crop diseases and pests was 1.38 billion mu-times, with a green prevention and control coverage rate of 57.7%. The comprehensive utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure was about 80%, with county-wide promotion of manure resource utilization, and the substitution rate of manure for chemical fertilizers exceeded 30%. In 2025, the fertilizer utilization rate for the three major grain crops—rice, wheat, and corn—reached 43.3% nationwide, an increase of 3.1 percentage points from 2020.

(III) Accelerated Formation of Green Lifestyles

Green travel has become a prevailing trend. The “14th Five-Year Plan” targets, including the share of public transport in motorized travel in central cities, the number of cities where the proportion of green travel exceeds 70%, and the proportion of new energy vehicles in the urban public transport sector, have been overfulfilled. The number of new energy vehicles in use grew rapidly. By the end of 2025, the number of new energy vehicles in use reached 43.97 million, a 7.9-fold increase from 2020, accounting for 12.0% of all vehicles, up 10.2 percentage points from the end of 2020. By the end of 2025, the operational mileage of urban rail transit in China reached 11,710 kilometers, ranking first in the world, a 1.6-fold increase from the end of 2020.

Garbage sorting efforts continued to advance. Through accelerated advancement during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, garbage sorting in Chinese cities has transitioned from pilot exploration to system-wide improvement, with cities such as Suzhou and Shanghai having established world-class garbage-sorting systems. The coverage rate of garbage sorting in residential communities in cities at prefecture level and above nationwide has exceeded 90%.

With the deepening of ecological civilization development in the new era, China’s economic and social development has entered a stage of accelerated greening, low-carbon transformation, and high-quality development. Looking ahead, we must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and promote new major progress in pursuing the Beautiful China Intitative during the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Note:

[1] Since 2021, the national ecological quality status has been evaluated using this index in accordance with the Regional Ecological Quality Evaluation Measures (Trial). China’s Ecological Quality Index (EQI) classifies ecological quality into five categories: Category I (EQI ≥ 70) indicates excellent ecological quality. Category II (55 ≤ EQI < 70) indicates good ecological quality. Category III (40 ≤ EQI < 55) indicates moderate ecological quality. Category IV (30 ≤ EQI < 40) indicates relatively poor ecological quality. Category V (EQI < 30) indicates poor ecological quality. This index is released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

[2] Investment in urban environmental infrastructure includes investment in environmental infrastructure for cities and county towns.

Translate from: Website of the National Bureau of Statistics, June 3, 2026