Special Reports · 2017-02-16
Chen Jining, then Minister of Environmental Protection, interpreted the three major pollution battles — in air, water and soil — with data. He emphasized that environmental governance must be driven by measurable indicators rather than vague statements.
On the air front, progress under the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan was reflected in indicators such as the decline in PM2.5 concentration in key regions, particularly Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and surrounding areas.
On the water front, the implementation of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan focused on treating black and odorous urban water bodies and protecting drinking water sources, with clear tasks assigned to local governments.
On the soil front, the Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan was launched, starting with a nationwide survey of soil pollution and the establishment of a supervision system for contaminated land.
The use of data reflects a shift toward data-driven environmental management and enforcement. Indicators make governance targets concrete, allow periodic assessment, and hold local governments and enterprises accountable.
For enterprises, the data-driven approach means that environmental compliance will be measured precisely. Those engaged in ship coating, welding and other emission-related operations should prepare for stricter emission monitoring and accelerate green transformation.