In 2023, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-Civilization and by implementing the new development philosophy comprehensively, Jiangsu has waged a critical battle against pollution with solid progress made in building a Beautiful Jiangsu. The concentration of PM2.5 in Jiangsu was 33 μg/m3, meeting the Grade Ⅱ national air quality standard for three consecutive years. The proportion of water sections under national monitoring at and above Grade III (excellent) standards reached 92.9% in water quality. The eco-environment of Taihu Lake has been maintained safe during summer for 16 consecutive years, and its water quality reached the best level in nearly 16 years with algae under good control. The water quality was excellent or good in 92.7% of the nearshore sea areas, the best record since monitoring began. The water quality of the Jiangsu section of the mainstream of the Yangtze River has been kept at Grade II for six consecutive years, and 100% of the water sections of the major tributaries to the Yangtze River were at or above Grade III (excellent). About 93% of the public were satisfied with the ecological environment.
Green and low-carbon development has seen solid progress. Efforts were made to advance clean and efficient use of coal, and the proportion of installed renewable energy reached 36.4%. Carbon reviews were completed for key emitting companies from eight major industries. Yancheng, Suzhou Industrial Park, and Nanjing Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Zone were selected for the first batch of national pilot project for carbon peaking. Five cities (or industrial parks) were shortlisted for the first batch of the national pilot project of collaborative innovation for pollution and carbon reduction. Mandatory clean production examinations were conducted on 1,400 key companies, and 134 companies were selected as the second batch of green development leaders. The environmental monitoring and control system was basically established in 168 industrial and chemical parks at provincial level or above.
Pollution prevention and control efforts continued to deepen. A higher standard was set to win the battle for blue skies, clear waters, and clean land, with more than 16,000 key air and water treatment projects completed in 2023. The ultra-low emission transformation for the entire steel production process, covering more than 100 million tons of capacity across the province, has been basically completed, reducing emissions from large emitters such as thermal power generation, steel production, and waste incineration power generation. Three rivers were selected as national excellent cases of beautiful rivers and lakes, and Yancheng Dafeng Chuandonggang was selected as a national excellent case of beautiful bays. In 2023, hidden soil pollution risks were identified and reviewed in 1,459 key companies under soil pollution surveillance, and seven national projects of soil pollution source control were implemented. Efforts were made to build 34 sub-projects within the national Mountain and Water Project and the pilot project of the first batch of eight Ecological Islands, 67 ecological security buffer zones were established, and four cities were selected as national demonstration cities for sponge city construction and nine for national ecological garden cities. The number of national demonstration areas for ecological progress was increased to 37, and bases for the practice and innovation of the concept “Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains are Invaluable Assets” to ten.
Significant achievements have been made in the treatment of the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake. The Action Plan of Jiangsu Province for Making Decisive Efforts in Protection and Restoration of the Yangtze River was rolled out, focusing on comprehensive protection of the Yangtze River, coordinating the “4+1” pollution control project, industrial transformation and upgrading along the Yangtze River, and shoreline improvement and ecological restoration. The Action Plan for Promoting a New Round of Comprehensive Treatment of Taihu Lake was introduced to promote source pollution control, phosphorus and nitrogen reduction in the Taihu Lake basin, build an intelligent equipment platform for ecological dredging, and chart a precise pollutant tracing “heatmap” for the Taihu Lake basin.
Governance of the ecological environment has improved to a higher level. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government have renewed the agreement for joint construction, entitled Support High-quality Development with a High-quality Ecological Environment and Accelerate Modernization Featuring Man and Nature in Harmony. Efforts have been intensified to improve environmental infrastructure. The province pioneered in the country to formulate a plan for construction of ecological environment infrastructure during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, ensuring sewage and garbage treatment is available across the province. A high-standard intelligent monitoring platform for ecological environment based on zonal management and control has been established, and a network of “1+1+13” super atmospheric monitoring stations across the province has taken shape.
