1. The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) is a high level, non-profit international advisory body established upon the approval of the Chinese Government in 1992. State Environmental Protection Administration of China is the host agency of the Council. After 15 years of effective work during its first, second and third phases, CCICED has successfully fulfilled its expected objectives, fostered cooperation between China and the international community in the field of environment and development, and created extensive and far-reaching impact both nationally and internationally.

　　2. In the past 15 years, the Council and its Working Groups and Task Forces have made a number of valuable recommendations to the Chinese Government in light of China's practical situation. These recommendations attracted high attention from the Chinese Government. They were seriously considered, and some were adopted. This is a significant contribution to China's environment and development.

　　3. China has experienced dramatic economic and social changes since 1992. Rapid economic growth brought about increasing pressure on the environment and resources.  In the past 15 years, with the acceleration of the globalization process, China has rapidly reinforced its interaction with the world in the fields of the economy, trade, development and environment. China, together with the whole world, is facing issues such as global climate change, degradation of biodiversity as well as a number of other problems.  The global implications of the environment and development in China are increasingly relevant.

　　4. The State leaders of the Chinese Government are fully aware that China has entered a crucial stage of development and thus they are promoting scientific development towards a well-off society in 2020. The Chinese Government is determined to build a resource-saving and environmentally-friendly society and to promote sustainable development so as to achieve a harmonious society, through speeding up the historical transformations on environment and development.

　　5. At the conclusion of the Third Phase of CCICED, parties from various sides have recognized unanimously the value and important role of CCICED, and agreed to continue their support for another phase of CCICED. The Chinese State Leaders has clearly stated that, since its establishment, CCICED has provided strong support for scientific decision-making by China in the field of environment and development and the Chinese Government has approved the establishment of the Fourth Phase of CCICED (2007-2011). The Chinese Government has committed to continue its support to the Council.

　　6. Given the magnificent change of the socio-economic development in China as well as the increasing interaction between China and the world on environment and development, and on the basis of the lessons learned during previous three phases, CCICED (Phase IV) should be established with necessary reforms and innovation with regard to adjustment of the Chinese and International membership, policy study work, organization and procedures. At the same time, the capacity of the Secretariat to improve coordination will be further enhanced. In order to improve the impact and extend the influence of its recommendations, the Council should promote multi-channel mechanisms for the dissemination of its policy recommendations.

　　7. Based on Phase I, II and III, Phase IV of CCICED will continue to serve as an effective high level international policy consultative institution, to provide the Chinese leadership and policy makers in different levels of government with proactive, strategic, pre-warning policy recommendations on key environment and development issues. The Council will make its recommendations more practical, feasible and suitable not only for China's situation, but also relevant to the global implications. Necessary policy demonstrations and project demonstrations should be carried out in key areas. In light of the changing situation in the field of environment and development, recommendations should also be made to the Chinese Government on how to adjust the existing strategy and on what counter-measures to take.

　　8. This Terms of Reference is based on those of the previous three phases and revised to reflect new developments as well as the needs of the Chinese Government.

　　I. Objectives and Tasks 

　　9. While continuing to pursue the overall objectives identified by the previous three phases, CCICED Phase IV will support China's bid to build a harmonious and a well-off society by 2020 and will relate its work to the Five-Year plans for socio-economic development for this period. CCICED will offer practical policy recommendations, technical support, demonstration experiences and early policy warnings; promote the further implementation of the sustainable development strategy of the Chinese Government. CCICED will support the Chinese government in building a resource-saving and environmentally-friendly society, achieving sustained growth of the national economy and the betterment of environmental quality, and continuing to assume the obligations of a responsible power in a bid to create a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future for both China and the world.

　　10.  The specific objectives of CCICED Phase IV are to:

　　1) Provide strategic advice, policy recommendations and early policy warnings to the Chinese Government, in terms of ensuring the sustainable growth of China's national economy, protecting and preserving China's environment, ensuring the long-term supply and safety of energy and natural resources and promoting harmonious development between people and nature.

　　2) Foster international cooperation between China and the international community on critical issues of environment and development, such as relevant planning, programs, scientific development, technology transfer, trainings, etc.

　　3) Provide advisory service to the Chinese Government on important decision making in the fields of environment and development and assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of such decision-making.

　　4) Provide the Chinese Government with international experience in the fields of environment and development in the context of globalization, information society and S&T innovations, and at the same time assist China in introducing its accomplishments and experience to other countries.

　　5) Help to enhance China's capacity to accede to or implement international programs and to negotiate in international conventions aiming to alleviate global environmental problems.

　　6) Play an advisory and assisting role in promoting public awareness and public participation in environmental protection and in training programs for officials at central and local government departments in order to enhance their awareness of policy-making on sustainable development.

　　11.  While basing itself on the accomplishments and policy recommendations of the previous three phases, CCICED (Phase IV) will make the policy recommendations of the Council more practical, carry out more in-depth and more extensive demonstrations, and propose new recommendations for strategy adjustment in light of the changing situation. Phase IV should concentrate on further improving the quality of its advisory services in terms of the Council's operation and policy study work. Meanwhile, the Council will provide its advice while taking into account the interaction between China's long-term development and global environmental issues. Priority areas for research at the starting period of Phase IV could include, but are by no means limited to, the following: long-term strategic options for energy and environment including the response to climate change; environment and public health; long-term national eco-safety strategy and ecological service and management system; technical innovation for an environmentally friendly society; sustainable trade policies, consumption and investment policy; sustainable marine environment; regional development including the policy to balance environment and development in the western development drive; environmental issues related to the new rural development strategy; long-term strategy for China to implement international environmental conventions; public participation; the implication on the global environment and development imposed by China's development; and the social implications of policy decisions on issues such as gender equality and poverty alleviation.

　　II. Organization of the Council (Phase Ⅳ) 

　　12.  The duration of CCICED (Phase Ⅳ) will be five years from 2007 to 2011.

　　13.  The Council will consist of about 40 high-level Chinese and international members. Chinese members will be ministers, vice-ministers, renowned experts and eminent scientists from related area or sectors. International members will be of comparable status. The Council Chair will be held by a leader of the State Council of China. The Vice-Chairpersons will be nominated and invited by the Chinese government, with agreement by the Council Meeting.

　　14.  The operational components of the Council (Phase IV) include:

　　1) The Bureau and Bureau Meeting

　　2) The Executive Vice Chairpersons

　　3) The Secretary General, and Deputy Secretary Generals

　　4) The Secretariat and the Secretariat International Support Office

　　5) The Chinese and International Chief Advisors

　　15.  Normally the term of Council membership is five years. However, a Council member who is absent from Council activities for two consecutive years forfeits his or her membership automatically. Under special circumstances, appropriate adjustments could be made to the Council membership according to the approval procedure defined in the Rules of Procedure of the Council.

　　16.  The Council Members shall possess influence and engage in the Council's affairs in their personal capacity. The members shall be ready to contribute their time and wisdom to the Council's work, including:

　　1) Participating in the Annual General Meeting every year;

　　2) Joining the debate on policy issues during the Annual General Meeting;

　　3) Offering their guidance and thinking to policy studies organized by the Council;

　　4) Reviewing the policy study outputs when requested;

　　5) Chairing Task Forces or Special Policy Studies when requested;

　　6) Promoting the Council to other international institutions and to the public.

　　17.  In principle, the Council Annual General Meeting will be held once every year. A theme will be selected for each annual meeting of the Council to discuss. If necessary, the Council Chairperson could call special meetings of the Council after consultation with other vice chairpersons.

　　18.  A Round Table Meeting between the periods of two Annual General Meetings will be held in Phase IV to promote the dissemination and exchange of the Council's policy research outcomes with a broader group of stakeholders. The Council shall invite central and local government policy makers, representatives of the private sector, as well as experts and scholars to participate.

　　19.  The Council shall invite representatives of private sector companies with a commitment to the environment and development to participate in a private sector forum.  The forum will provide an opportunity to share information on the Council's policy studies and to seek private sector input on the Council's policy recommendations.　

　　20.  The Council shall hold other public event such as policy seminars or forums to further extend the Council's influence.

　　21.  Special Observer status will be granted to international organizations, institutions or companies that demonstrate a strong interest in the environment and development in both China and the world, and that are willing to contribute to the Council's work.  Special Observers will be invited to send representatives to participate in the Annul General Meeting and other events.

　　22.  Governmental officials at Chinese central and local levels, experts, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and representatives of international institutions, who are associated with the work of the policy study or the theme of the year, may be invited as special guests or observers to attend the Annual General Meeting or other meetings.

　　23.  The policy recommendations and other outputs of the Council should be submitted to the Chinese Government and disseminated to a wider audience through various channels, so as to foster further research, encourage their adoption and implementation, and thereby extend the influence of the Council. Such channels should include, but not be limited to, the following:

　　1)　 The Chairperson of the Council submits them to the State Council and to relevant government departments;

　　2)　 The State Environmental Protection Administration submits them to other relevant government departments;

　　3)　 The Secretariat of the Council forwards the recommendations of the Task Forces to relevant departments;

　　4)　 Other channels, such as the media, news conferences, workshops, website, and publications should be utilized to disseminate the Council's activities and outputs to a wider audience.

　　III. Arrangements for Advisory Work 

　　24.  The policy study work of the Council, including Task Forces and Special Study Projects, shall serve as the basis for the Council's advisory function. The mandates of the policy studies will be defined according to the objectives and tasks of the Council. Decisions to establish policy studies, including Task Forces and Special Study Projects, should be based on careful assessment and coordination according to the Rules of Procedure of the Council.

　　25.  In order to meet the needs of phase Ⅳ, the Secretariat should further enhance its capacity to carry out relevant tasks, such as: identifying and selecting themes for the annual Council Meeting; coordinating activities of policy study work; organizing relevant assessment meetings; preparing for the establishment of new Task Forces and Special Policy Studies; assessing the accomplishments of policy study work; monitoring the effectiveness of the Council's recommendations etc.  The Secretariat will work with the support and assistance of the Council's Chief Advisors on scientific issues.

　　26.  In order to ensure the effectiveness of research and demonstrations, the establishment of any policy study program should be based on careful assessment, and is contingent on the availability of appropriate expertise and sufficient funding support.  Topics will be selected that will clearly benefit from a combination of international and Chinese expertise and experience.

　　27.  Policy study projects, including Task Force and Special Policy Study, shall each be co-chaired by one Chinese and one international expert. The members of the study team shall include both Chinese and international experts. 

　　28.  A policy study project should have clear objectives, tasks, a work plan and work schedule.  It should submit annual reports to the Council at the Annual General Meeting.

　　IV. Support and Service System 

　　29.  The Secretariat of the Council will be established based on support from the State Environmental Protection Administration of China. Its responsibility is to provide operational support for the Council's activities.

　　30.  The Chinese Government will continue to ensure effective arrangements at the working level to encourage full and active participation and support from relevant government departments, research institutions and non-governmental organizations.

　　31.  The State Environmental Protection Administration will be responsible for inter-ministerial coordination and for supporting the activities of the Council.　　

　　32.  The Council will set up support offices or designate liaison persons in the primary donor's country to assist and take part in the work of the Secretariat, and to provide support and assistance in the international cooperation activities of the Council when necessary.

　　33.  The Secretariat should carry out relevant activities to disseminate the research results of the Council to the public, so as to extend the influence of the Council and to encourage active public participation.

　　V. Financial Arrangements 

　　34.  Financial assistance from Chinese and international sources will be pledged for the activities of CCICED (Phase Ⅳ).

　　35.  The Council should continuously ensure that its activities are properly related to other international activities in the fields of environment and development, scientific research and investment, so that extensive contacts will be established, and more international support will be mobilized to meet the needs of the Council and its policy studies.

　　36.  The Council should work actively to obtain contributions and support from private foundations, multilateral financial institutions and other donors. Additional contributions from public and private sources and wider participation will be sought in support of specific activities and necessary studies as required.

　　The Council welcomes interested international organizations – such as scientific, technical, academic, financial and business organizations – to assist in China's efforts to achieve economic development in harmony with the protection of the environment, and to make special efforts to support the work of the Council.