China: Promote green substitution of POPs for pesticides and industrial uses

Huang Runqiu, Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, pointed out that as one of the first signatories to the Convention instrument, China has resolutely declared war on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pollution, vigorously promoted POPs control actions, effectively reduced POPs environmental emissions, and contributed China's strength to global environmental governance and global sustainable development.

China has formulated the national implementation Plan and its updated version, issued the Action Plan for the Treatment of New Pollutants, established a coordination mechanism for implementing the convention, and constantly improved the POPs control system. Strict environmental access to construction projects, promote the green substitution of POPs for pesticides and industrial uses, strengthen the collaborative emission reduction process in key industries, and further promote the green development of the industry. Strengthen the construction of the rule of law for POPs control, deepen waste management and disposal, strengthen scientific and technological support, and continuously improve the ability to control POPs. Strictly fulfill the obligations of the Convention, deeply participate in the convention negotiations, and carry out extensive international exchanges on POPs control technology.

Huang Runqiu stressed that maintaining ecological environment security and human health is the common responsibility of all countries in the world. China will join hands with the international community to create a better future free of POPs, build a clean and beautiful world, and promote stronger, green and healthy global development.

The meeting was chaired by Guo Fang, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment. Li Qiang, Vice Governor of Liaoning Province, Zhou Liwei, Vice governor of Shandong Province and Pan Wenbo, chief agronomist of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs attended the meeting and made speeches.

The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and other relevant officials attended the meeting and made exchanges and speeches through online and offline forms, reviewed the course of working with China to control POPs in the past 20 years, and fully affirmed China's significant progress in implementing the convention, as well as its key role and important contribution in global compliance and sound management of chemicals.

Representatives of the expert Committee of the National Coordination Group for the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention, industry associations and other relevant parties to the implementation of the Convention exchanged speeches on the spot. 

Implementing the concept of "no waste conference", the conference electronically released the "China's Persistent Organic Pollutants Control (2004-2024)".

Representatives of relevant departments and media attended the event. More than 800 people from provincial ecological and environmental departments and representatives of the forum participated in the online conference.