China has unveiled an ambitious action plan to transform its rivers and lakes by 2027, aiming to restore aquatic ecosystems, enhance water quality, and promote harmonious coexistence between people and water.
The plan, released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and other government agencies, sets a roadmap to make significant progress by 2030 and to complete the initiative by 2035. The focus is on improving the quality of aquatic ecosystems and achieving “beautiful rivers and lakes.”
“Beautiful rivers and lakes need to meet several criteria,” explained Liu Jing, deputy director of the department of water ecology and environment at the ministry. According to Liu, these bodies of water should have a stable source of replenishment and adequate ecological water use, ensuring they are “rivers with flowing water.”
In terms of water ecology, the plan emphasizes maintaining or restoring ecological functions, effectively protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the return of native species, achieving “rivers with fish and aquatic plants.”
The initiative also focuses on controlling pollutant discharge within basins, significantly improving water quality, and meeting public needs for waterfront landscapes and recreational spaces. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve “harmonious coexistence between people and water.”
The plan outlines 19 specific measures, including promoting targeted pollution control, coordinating management of water resources and ecosystems, and building an integrated ecological governance system across key river basins.
A total of 2,573 water bodies are included in the initiative, covering major river trunks like the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, key tributaries, and important lakes and reservoirs with critical ecological functions.
By 2027, the index of aquatic biological integrity in the Yangtze River Basin is expected to improve, and the decline in aquatic biodiversity in the Yellow River Basin will be initially curbed. Ecological protection compensation mechanisms will also be established in major river basins.
The plan calls for strengthening scientific and technological support by advancing innovation, enhancing research on key technologies, and promoting the application of research outcomes.
Funding will be supported by central finance, with encouragement for local governments and private capital to increase investment. “Efforts will be made to encourage social capital to actively participate,” said Liu, highlighting approaches like government procurement of services and third-party environmental pollution treatment.
