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Report Submitted by China to the Fourth International Workshop on the CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development
Hosted by the Government of the Czech Republic in Prague
19-21 January 1998

1. Testing of Indicators of Sustainable Development (ISD) in China:

  • A leading group established, consisting of the National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) and the State Statistics Bureau (SSB);
  • An expert working group established, involving the experts from different research and educational institutions;
  • Steps and content for Phase I of the testing have been identified, including a summary of the past studies and endeavour in this field, selection of indicators for testing and a national workshop;
  • The methodology sheets of DPCSD are being assessed;
  • The extended calculation approach of genuine saving proposed by the World Bank is being developed.

2. While preparation is being made for testing of ISD, studies on ISD began a few years ago, as indicated by the following selected research activities in this field:

  • A set of urban development indicators developed by the Policy Research Center under NEPA;
  • Concept of "Green GNP" studied and proposed;
  • A joint research program on ISD being undertaken by the Research Institute under SSB and the Administrative Center of China's Agenda 21;
  • A set of urban environmental, social, economic and institutional indicators being used in the assessment of the environmental quality and sustainable development of selected cities in China;
  • Some local case studies;
  • Studies on accounting of some natural resources have been done.

3. Problems encountered in the studies and use of ISD:

  • Methodological adaptation is needed considering the practical situation in China;
  • Applicability of indicators is an issue due to the difficulty in aggregating them, high cost of testing and regional difference in applying them;
  • Data availability and quality;
  • Financial constraint for studies and testing of ISD;
  • Coordination mechanism for testing of ISD needs to be strengthened;
  • Lack of public awareness and participation.

4. Future Needs:

  • Awareness building among the Government official and the public;
  • Capacity-building for promoting studies and testing of ISD, including training of researchers as well as the Government official at the national and local levels, monitoring and information capacity-building and more case studies;
  • Financial resources and expertise needed for undertaking and promoting studies and testing of ISD in China;
  • International exchange and cooperation needed to promote the testing in China;
  • More studies are needed for development and application of SDI;
  • Economic development will be assessed by using selected indicators.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Guo Xiaomin
Deputy Director General
Department of Planning and Finance
State Environment Protection Administration
Xizhimennei Nanxiaojie
Beijing 100035, The People's Republic of China
Fax no.: (86-10) 6615-1762

Mr. Cai Lijie
Assistant Consultant
Department of International Cooperation
State Environment Protection Administration
Xizhimennei Nanxiaojie
Beijing 100035, The People's Republic of China
Tel. no.: (86-10) 6615-1933
Fax no.: (86-10) 6615-1762

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