The major activities and outputs of the Council in 2007 are summarized below.

I. Further Enhancement of Chinese and International Support to CCICED

When meeting with International Members during the 2006 CCICED AGM , Premier Wen Jiabao said that he would like to see the CCICED continue in existence for a long time until the international community was satisfied with the steps China was taking on environmental protection. He asked that CCICED pay closer attention to the impact of China’s economic structure and growth mode on sustainable development, and carry out assessments to examine results.

CCICED’s Chairman, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan, asked CCICED to carry out in-depth studies on environment and development policies; to further enhance its role as a multilateral advisory mechanism; and to organize Chinese and international experts for further study of key issues concerning sustainable development, while taking into consideration a wide range of international experience and incorporating a scientific perspective of development to build a harmonious society. He also asked the CCICED to submit forward-looking, strategic, and workable policy recommendations to the Chinese Government.

As the host agency of CCICED, SEPA has further strengthened its leadership of and support to the CCICED’s Secretariat. Other ministries and government departments such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NDRC, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Commerce have attached great importance to the work of CCICED and provided stronger support. The Chinese government has increased its financial support to the new phase of the Council by a relatively large margin.

As the primary donor country, Canada has continued its support to CCICED Phase IV through a bilateral cooperation mechanism. Other donors, such as Norway, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Environmental Defense, and the Shell Company have also strengthened their financial support to the Council. Furthermore, Australia, France, Denmark, UNDP and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund have become new donors to the Council, and Great Britain, EU, UNEP, WWF, and others have made commitments to continue their support of CCICED activities. Thus, CCICED is now supported by a wider network of partners, reflecting growing support from and influence with the international community.

II. Establishment of new Council

(I) Chinese and International Membership of CCICED

One important activity in establishing the new phase of CCICED was the nomination of Chinese and International Council Members. In the first half of 2007, the Chinese side invited relevant departments of the Chinese government to nominate Chinese Members, and the nomination of International Members was accomplished after consultation with major donor countries. According to CCICED procedures, Chinese and International Council Members were officially invited by the Chinese government. The Membership of CCICED Phase IV was approved by the State Council in June of 2007.

There are 47 Members in the new phase of CCICED. Many members are veterans who have been involved with the Council for many years. Others are new members. Members come from different government departments, international organizations, research institutions and universities, and from different countries, all with broad experience in environment and development.

(II) Amendment on CCICED Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure

CCICED Terms of Reference is the basic guiding document that defines the objective and procedures of the work of the Council. Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure of CCICED have been amended based on the proposals of Chinese and International Members and the experience of past years. After intensive consultations among stakeholders, they are submitted to the 2007 Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.

The amended Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure reflect important improvements, with a sharper focus on work objectives, decision making mechanisms for the Bureau, enhancement of the functions of the Secretary General, Secretariat and Chief Advisors, identification and implementation of policy studies, Annual General Meeting, other meeting mechanisms including Roundtables, as well as the dissemination of CCICED achievements. The improvements will make the operation of the Council more efficient and transparent in the future, and will be useful in promoting the Council work at home and abroad.

III. Policy Studies in 2007

The execution of CCICED Policy studies faced a number of challenges and difficulties in 2007, and placed pressure on the Secretariat and the Chief Advisors, as a result of the transition between Phases III and IV. The Secretariat and its International Support Office at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, worked together closely with the Chief Advisors and task force experts, both Chinese and international, to ensure that new Task Forces and Special Policy Study teams were established in a timely fashion and that their work ran smoothly. The cooperation of donors ensured that all of these studies received sufficient funding.

The Task Forces/Special Policy Studies that were established in 2007 and that will report to th2 2007 AGM include the followings:

 Task Force :Policy mechanism towards successful achievement of the 11th Five-Year Plan environment target

 Special Policy Study: Strategic transformation on environment and development: Global experience and China’s Solution;

 Special Policy Study: Environmentally sound and strategic management of chemicals in China

Task Forces established in 2007 that will report their findings to the 2008 AGM include the following: Task Force on Innovation and Environmentally-friendly Society, and Task Force on Environment and Health. The Task Force on Innovation and Environmentally-friendly Society will submit a Background Report to the 2007 AGM.

The Chinese and international experts on these Task Force/Special Policy Study worked well and in close cooperation. They held 22 Task Force meetings, 4 international workshops, and conducted numerous domestic investigations. Each Task Force/Special Policy Study team completed their tasks, working with under tight schedules.

In addition, an overall plan for CCICED policy studies on energy and the environment has been developed, based on a proposal submitted by the Chief Advisors. Recommendations to establish new Task Forces on energy and environment during 2008-2010 have been submitted for approval by the Council Bureau.

IV. Work of CCICED Chief Advisor

During the transitional period, improvements were made in procedures for securing scientific advice for the Council. Working mechanisms were formulated for the Chinese and International Advisors and their supporting team. The Council’s Chief Advisors are responsible, inter alia, for presenting scientific recommendations with respect policy studies. Under the leadership of both the Chinese Chief Advisor and International Chief Advisor, this working mechanism has operated smoothly over the past year and has played a key role in ensuring the implementation of the Council’s policy research.

Four joint meetings Secretariat and Chief Advisors have been held to date at which participants discussed and assisted in the establishment of policy study projects; put forward suggestions on Chinese and international members for each Task Force /Special Policy Study team; provided guidance for policy studies and developed general plans for the Council’s policy study activities..

The Chinese Chief Advisor and International Chief Advisor have taken the initiative to participate in research activities of relevant policy studies and provided direct assistant and support. The Chief Advisors and their support team are also responsible for preparing draft Policy Recommendations and the Issues Report for the AGM. Based on the comprehensive findings of each research project, they have finished the preparation of these basic documents for this AGM.

V. Work of the Secretariat

With the stronger support of SEPA, the CCICED Secretariat has overcome many challenges in fulfilling its duties during the transition period in 2007. Working closely with the Chief Advisors and donors and partners, and with the support of International Support Office, the improved and strengthened Secretariat has laid a sound foundation for implementation of the new phase of CCICED. The principal elements of the work carried out by the Secretariat in 2007 were, but were not limited to, the following.

 The Secretariat completed the preparation and establishment of CCICED Phase IV. In close consultation with Chinese and international stakeholders, and in particular main donors, a new membership of the Council was established and the CCICED’s Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure were amended.

 The Secretariat strengthened working relations with relevant ministries and departments of the Chinese government. It promoted CCICED activities and its growing influence, and developed close partnerships with relevant Chinese institutions.

 The Secretariat made significant progress in fund-raising for the Council. More countries and international institutions are willing to providing support to the Council. With strong support from all stakeholders, CCICED operational funds have been put in place, and the amount of matching funds from the Chinese Government has also been increased.

 The Secretariat worked closely with the Chief Advisors, provided necessary support and worked hard at coordinating the various policy studies. It has maintained regular communications with each policy study project as well as with their Chinese and international experts, and provided assistance to them, and been instrumental in helping them complete their work.

 The Secretariat has greatly strengthened the partnership with each donor, and improved the transparency of the Council’s operation.

 Focusing on the long-term development of the Council, the Secretariat has developed a phased work plan and strategy with the assistance of its International Support Office. In doing so, it has made the Council’s activities and implementations more effective.

 The Secretariat has maintained close communications with Chinese and International members to ensure the effective sharing of information and to provide services to Council Members.

 The Secretariat has organized the Annual General Meeting, learning from past experience and applying international standards. The Council’s AGM has now become one of the most influential forums on environment and development in China.

VI. Promoting the Influence of CCICED

One of the most important aspects of the Council’s work is to gradually promote and enhance the influence of the Council both in China and internationally. In 2007, the Secretariat initiated and organized a series of activities with the support of relevant donors and partners.

1. The seminar on low carbon economy

In April 2007, the Council held a Seminar on Low Carbon Economy and China’s Energy and Environment Policy. A large number of high-level Chinese and international delegates were invited for a dialogue on energy, environment and climate change. It was very successful. Among the participants were representatives from Norway, Great Britain, Sweden, the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, India, EU, ADB, WB, IPCC, UNDP and WWF, as well as high-level officials from relevant Chinese government departments and experts. The key issues discussed at the meeting and the policy recommendations formulated by the participants were submitted to the leaders of the Chinese government and relevant departments for reference.

2. Strengthening exchanges and developing partnerships

Through various workshops and other events, the Council has established close working relations with and promoted its influence to relevant ministries and departments of the Chinese Government. By maintaining closer communications and consultation with donors, a new cooperative partnership has been developed. The Secretariat paid higher attention to developing wide contacts with other international institutions in order to enhance its partnerships and broaden cooperation.

3. Disseminations of the Council’s policy outputs

Over the past year, the Secretariat has invested greater effort in disseminating the Council’s policy recommendations and related information among stakeholders at home and abroad.

 The policy recommendations and findings flowing from the Council’s policy studies were reported to State leaders in a timely fashion and forwarded to relevant government departments and local governments. The Council’s outputs have served as reference for government policy makers at many different levels.

 The Secretariat’s electronic publication of the CCICED Update in both Chinese and English enabled both Chinese and international readers to gain a better understanding of the progress of the Council’s activities.

 Council publications have been improved. The CCICED’s Annual Policy Report (2006) in Chinese was published and circulated to the public in order to disseminate information on the Council achievements to a wider audience.