I. BACKGROUND
The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development is a non-government body established by the Chinese State Council in 1991. It is a high-level advisory body which makes proposals for consideration by the Chinese Government on the integration of environment and development. It assists in developing integrated, coherent policies which recognize the critical linkages between environmental sustainability and economic and social development. It also seeks to promote cooperation between China and the word community on environmental issues.
In December 1991, CIDA approved a project which provides a contribution of $ 5 million to support the efforts of the Council. Other donors supporting the Council include: United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Norway, the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.
The first meeting of the Council took place in 1992. A five year mandate (1992-1997) was established for the Council, which is composed of 27 Chinese members and 25 international members. The Chairman is State Councillor Dr. Song Jian who is joined by three Vice-Chairmen, two Chinese and one International. The Council is supported by seven working groups, jointly staffed by Chinese and international experts, focusing on a series of environmental issues. A Secretariat operating under the National Environmental Protection Agency
(NEPA) takes care of the day-to-day administrative functions of the Council.
The Council has held four very successful meetings making recommendations on environmental policy options to the Chinese Government. China now more fully recognizes the links between environment and development. This is reflected by the recent progress that China has made in environmental legislation and by the fact that environmental protection has been incorporated into the national and local plans of economic and social development.
The Chinese government and the membership of the Council have been encouraged by the Council's successful and positive performance and as a result, have proposed to extend the Council's mandate for another five year (1997-2002).
In Phase II, the Council will be faced with several issues:
a) a need to introduce practical elements to the policy advice provided by the Council;
b)a need to connect policy advice more directly with the work of Chinese decision makers who are directly responsible for effecting environment policy change in China;
c) a need to disseminate information on activities of the Council and the Work in g Groups in China as well as the international community;
d) a need to name new members to the Council. Some International Members will be retiring and some new Chinese Members will be appointed once the Ninth People's Congress convenes in 1997;
e) a need to create some new Working Groups to replace the ones completing their tasks; and
f) a need to find more international donor support to finance the ever in creasing costs of the Council's activities;
II. GOAL AND PURPOSES
The Goal of the China Council is to assist China in developing integrated, coherent policies that recognize the critical linkages between environmental sustainability, and economic and social development.
The specific purposes of the China Council are:
a) to advise the Government of China in the definition and implementation of long-term, integrated, environmental strategies and policies;
b) to encourage interaction and cooperation as effective means to address environment and development issues in China;
c) to advise the Government of China on ways to apply the policies recommended by the China Council; and
d) to advise and assist the Government of China in its efforts to encourage a better public understanding and awareness of environmental issues in China.
III. DESCRIPTION
The China Council Phase II consists of the Council which is supported by the Bur eau, the Working Groups, and a Secretariat.
The Council meets annually in China during a two to three day period. Location and date for the following meeting is finalized shortly after each meeting.
The Council
The Council is established by the invitation of the Government of China to assist in environmental policy development.
Membership
The Council consists of approximately fifty people divided equally between Chine se and international members. The Chinese members include Ministerial and Vice-ministerial rank together with several eminent Chinese experts. The international members are of comparable stature and renown for their knowledge and experience in different areas of expertise. Nominations for membership for a fixed term come from the Secretariat and are confirmed by the Bureau.
Responsibilities
Council members act as experts in their field. They receive information about environmental issues in China and international environmental conferences involving China from various sources, including quarterly newsletters and notices from the Secretariat.
Council members approve the terms of reference for the Working Groups and review their reports, and discuss the findings in the annual council meetings. They provide guidance and advice to the working Groups and prepare policy recommendations to the Chinese Government based on the studies carried out by the working groups. They Government based to the council and allocate time for the council meetings. In addition, some members will be asked to participate in provincial and local level conferences and workshops will be asked to participate in provincial and local level conferences and workshops on special issue study groups.
The Council members assist in the dissemination of information on council activities, policy advice and their implementation, including to the Quar-terly Newsletters (see Annex -A)
The Bureau
The Bureau is the executive committee of the council, consisting of a chair-person(currently Dr.song Jian)and two Chinese and two Chinese and one international Vice-Chairpersons.
The Bureau meetings may take place throughout the year as deemed necessary. However, one meeting will be held each year in conjunction with the annual council meeting
Working Groups
The Working Groups are established by the Council and their activities are guide d a council member.
Membership
Working Groups are composed of approximately an equal of Chinese and international technical experts. They carry out research activities throughout the year and examine, in detail, environmental issues of critical concern to china, as defined and prioritized by the council, They prepare reports on the research findings which form the basis for reporting and policy recommendations to the Government of China, The CO-chaired by a Chinese and an international member, The exact number of members will be determined by practical requirements.
Responsibilities
The Working Group members provide expertise in subject matters of their particular working Groups. They Carry out research activities throughout the year and examine, and prioritized by the Council. They prepare reports on the research findings which form the basis for reporting and policy recommendations to the Government of China. The CO-chairs present the findings at the annual council meetings and provide clarification to the questions by the council members.
The working Groups identify pilot to test policy recommendations and prepare work plans which the local Chinese governments will implement with the assistance of external funding. They monitor the progress and report the results to the council for further refinement of policy recommendations. As illustrations of these more practical efforts, the working Groups will:
·aim to interact closely with central and local decision-makers involved in developing and implementing environmental policies ,
·organize workshops and conferences to discuss recommended policies and their implications .Develop links with end -users and help them recognize the critical role which the can play in meeting China's environmental challenges.
·illustrate to Chinese people that the council is dealing with is-sues which directly affect them and impact on their economic, social and physical well-being .
Working Groups will be created to examine and assist in the dissemination of information through council meetings and Quarterly Newsletters(see Annex A)on activities and progress on issues ,such as:
·pollution control
·Energy strategies
·Resource Accounting
．Biodiversity
．Trade and sustainable Development
．Sustainable Agriculture
Meetings
The working Group meetings are scheduled when required. However, the findings are presented by the CO-chairs at the annual council meeting.
Ⅳ.PROJECT MANAGEMENT
China council phase Ⅱ will be managed by a secretariat with Head Office in Beijing and Canadian Office in Vancouver .
Secretariat, Head Office
To expand the scope and to strengthen administrative capabilities and the effectiveness of the Council, NEPA will provide senior full -time Chinese Project Director and an administrative assistant to manage the china council activities in China.
The secretariat, Head Office Provides support and financial services to the council and its working groups in china and also prepares the agenda for council meetings in consultation with the bureau and the council members.
The secretariat, Head office also provides inputs to the Quarterly Newsletter an d prepares the Chinese version and in cooperation with the Canadian Office develops a strategy for seeking out new donors to ensure continued functioning of the council.
secretariat Canadian office
The secretariat, Canadian office contracted by CIDA, will be staffed by a Canadian project Director and a program Assistant.
The secretariat, Canadian office also prepares and publishes a Quarterly Newsletter with increased in put, Head Office.
The secretariat, Canadian office also prepares and publishes a Quarterly Newsletter, with increased input from the Chinese side, there is a potential for the Newsletters to become an informative means of exchanging information between the entire council membership and others interested in china's environmental situation . It also offers a viable channel of communication which can keep the council in t he forefront of people's minds throughout the life of the china council.
ｖ．BUDGET
The china council phase Ⅱrequires approximately us $9-10million (c$12-14million) over the next five years to achieve its objectives.
CIDA will provide between c $6-7million to support the activities of the council; some Working Groups; Council meetings and the secretariat Head Office and Canadian office; and supporting consultants.
The Chinese Government will provide between us $1-2million to support the council, all working Groups, Council meetings and the Secretariat, Head Office.
Financial assistance in the amount of us $3-4million is sought from the International Donor community to support the activities of the council and the working Groups. This support would reinforce the international character of the council.
Annex A
The Quarterly Newsletters could include the following features related to environmental issues in china:
．updates on current environmental issues facing China;
．official state of the environment reports issued by the government of China;
．current activities related to china council undertaken by council members i.e. speeches ,published articles, conferences attended, etc.;
．announcements of new policies or regulations passed by the central or local Chinese Governments which are linked to the policy recommendations of the china council;
．progress reports on council activities;
．progress reports on the activities of the working groups;
．selected features on local support activities :conferences and work-shops held in the provinces and counties ;progress reports on pilot projects ;visits to local areas by working Group members;
．selected success stories of the impact of council activities on policy development in china including reviews of laws and regulations concerning environmental protection ,and examples where local communities have acted in their own interests to promote environmental sustainability; and
．letters from readers concerning the contents of the Quarterly Newsletters or more generally on environment and development issues.