China adopts 15‑Year “Beautiful China” plan with 18 key environmental targets

The State Council approved the “Beautiful China Construction 15‑5 Plan”, outlining 18 quantitative indicators for the period up to 2035. Core targets include limits on fine particulate matter in cities, the proportion of high‑quality water bodies, a reduction in CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP, a rise in the share of non‑fossil energy, cuts in major pollutant outputs and an increase in forest coverage. Implementation will be coordinated through a central‑local mechanism, annual monitoring, fiscal incentives, green finance and carbon‑market tools to lower transition costs.

Premier Li Qiang chaired the State Council executive meeting that adopted the plan, also reviewing audit‑remediation measures, the national technology agenda, the 15‑5 education development plan and a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law. Officials stressed alignment of the “Beautiful China” assessment with the dual‑carbon (carbon‑peak and carbon‑neutral) targets, using joint evaluation metrics and market‑based incentives to achieve both ecological security and economic development.