The preparation of the "14th Five-Year Plan" ecological and environmental monitoring plan has always attracted much attention. Recently, the preparation work has made new progress. The basic ideas and objectives and tasks of the "14th Five-Year Plan" ecological and environmental monitoring plan have been reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

On April 13 , 2021 , the Ministry of Ecology and Environment held a leading group meeting for the compilation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Ecological and Environmental Monitoring, listened to reports on the progress of the plan compilation and opinions and suggestions from various departments and units, and studied and deployed the next steps. Ye Min, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech.

The meeting reviewed and approved in principle the basic ideas and objectives of the "14th Five-Year Plan" ecological and environmental monitoring plan. According to the plan, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, ecological and environmental monitoring will focus on breakthroughs and improvements in three aspects.

First, improve the overall quality and build a "big monitoring" pattern. Adhere to the government-led, departmental coordination, corporate responsibility, social participation, and public supervision. Actively perform the functions of the responsible departments, give full play to the advantages of relevant departments, coordinate and promote the connection layout of monitoring stations and networks, the integration and unification of technical methods, and the interconnection and sharing of data and information. Clarify the powers of the central and local governments, strengthen the main responsibility of self-monitoring of pollutant discharge units, and orderly guide and regulate the participation of social forces in monitoring services.

Second, we will improve the system and make up for the shortcomings in "ecology". We will adhere to the systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and sands, focus on "improving air quality, reducing carbon emissions, strengthening ecology, increasing water, consolidating soil and preventing risks", and coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of environmental quality, ecological quality and pollution sources. We will focus on improving the ecological quality indicator system and evaluation methods, accelerate the formation of integrated ecological quality monitoring capabilities between heaven and earth, and fully support ecological protection supervision.

The third is to enhance coordination and accelerate the "high-quality" transformation. Focusing on the general requirements of "reducing pollution and carbon emissions", we will speed up the research and establishment of a carbon monitoring and evaluation system , and coordinate the layout in combination with the conventional monitoring network. We will adhere to precise, scientific, and legal pollution control, and promote the investigation, monitoring, early warning, and pilot demonstration of new pollutant monitoring of volatile organic compounds, groundwater, and water ecology . We will enhance the integrated monitoring capabilities of key river basins such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River to ensure that the monitoring data is "true, accurate, and complete."

Relevant leaders of departments and bureaus of the leading group member units such as the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the China Meteorological Administration, leaders of relevant departments and bureaus within the ministry and relevant subordinate units, as well as members of the planning drafting group attended the meeting.

In fact, this work has been carried out for some time and has received attention many times.

On May 22 , 2019 , in order to promote the orderly development of the "14th Five-Year Plan" in the field of ecological and environmental monitoring, the China National Environmental Monitoring Center held a seminar on the preparation of the monitoring plan in Chongqing. The theme of this meeting was to exchange and discuss the development direction of environmental monitoring in the current and future period and the problems that need to be solved around the overall ideas for the preparation of the "14th Five-Year Plan" Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Plan, as well as topics such as atmospheric monitoring, surface water monitoring, standard system, and remote sensing monitoring.

The Monitoring Management Office of the General Station first introduced the overall idea of compiling the "14th Five-Year Plan" ecological environment monitoring plan. The Atmospheric Office, Water Office, and Science and Technology Department of the General Station respectively introduced the "14th Five-Year Plan" development ideas for atmospheric environment monitoring ( including the "14th Five-Year Plan" monitoring network point planning ) , water environment monitoring, and standard and specification system. Leaders of the Satellite Environment Application Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment attended and introduced the "14th Five-Year Plan" development ideas for comprehensive three-dimensional remote sensing monitoring of the ecological environment.

On April 28 , 2020 , the Department of Ecological Environment Monitoring held a kick-off meeting for the compilation of the "14th Five-Year Plan" ecological environment monitoring plan. Nearly 200 people from 12 directly affiliated units such as the Monitoring Center and the Planning Institute, 7 river basin bureaus and provincial monitoring offices attended the kick-off meeting. The meeting was held using the ministry's video system and was chaired by Deputy Director Jiang Huohua of the Monitoring Department.

The meeting began with Director Xing He of the Monitoring Department introducing the overall arrangements for planning preparation, Director Chen Chuanzhong of the Monitoring Center introducing the requirements for planning report writing, and Researcher Cheng Liang of the Planning Institute introducing the progress of effectiveness evaluation and demand assessment. Afterwards, responsible comrades from participating units exchanged their views, and finally, Director Bai Qiuyong made a summary speech. He emphasized that first, we must do a good job in the "three threes" and deeply understand the importance of planning preparation. Second, we must pay attention to foresight, system and pertinence, and accurately grasp the various requirements for planning preparation. Third, we must strengthen close cooperation between leaders and make solid progress to ensure that relevant work is completed on time.