An official from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered questions from reporters regarding the “14th Five-Year Plan for Soil, Groundwater, and Rural Ecological Environmental Protection.”

　Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in collaboration with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other departments, jointly issued the “14th Five-Year Plan for Soil, Groundwater, and Rural Ecological Environmental Protection” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”). An official from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered reporters’ questions regarding the background of the Plan’s formulation, its overall objectives, and its key contents.
　　Q: Could you please provide an overview of the background behind the preparation of the Plan?
　　Answer: Soil, groundwater, and the ecological environment in agriculture and rural areas are vital to ensuring food security, household food supplies, and water safety, and they are integral to building a Beautiful China. Since the 13th Five-Year Plan period, all regions and relevant departments have thoroughly implemented Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization, earnestly carried out the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and achieved significant progress in protecting soil, groundwater, and the agricultural and rural ecological environment.
　　However, the structural, root‑cause, and trend‑driving pressures on China’s ecological and environmental protection have yet to be fundamentally alleviated; the industrial structure, dominated by heavy and chemical industries, remains largely unchanged; and the total emissions of certain pollutants remain at high levels. Moreover, there is still a considerable gap between current efforts to prevent and control soil, groundwater, and agricultural and rural pollution and the requirements of the Beautiful China initiative. Achieving the goal of steadily improving soil and groundwater quality by 2035 will be an exceptionally daunting task.
　　The 14th Five-Year Plan period marks the first five-year span in embarking on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country and advancing toward the second centenary goal. To implement the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Winning the Tough Battle Against Pollution, and in accordance with the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives for 2035, the Action Plan for Soil Pollution Prevention and Control, and the Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control, this plan has been formulated by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in collaboration with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other relevant departments, on the basis of summarizing the achievements and lessons learned during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.
　　Q: What is the overall guiding principle behind the preparation of the Plan?
　　Answer: The preparation of the Plan adheres to a coordinated approach that balances comprehensive planning with prioritization, systematically outlining the objectives, key tasks, and supporting measures for soil, groundwater, and rural ecological environmental protection over the coming period. It places particular emphasis on four key areas:
　　First, we will emphasize systemic governance by addressing a number of pressing issues—such as water, air, and solid-waste pollution—that adversely affect soil and groundwater quality. We will coordinate efforts to prevent and control agricultural non-point source pollution and to improve the rural environment, thereby promoting ecological revitalization in rural areas.
　　Second, focus on pollution reduction and carbon mitigation. Strictly regulate pollutant emissions from heavy-metal‑related industries, encourage enterprises to undertake green upgrades, and advance… Fertilizer Pesticide Reduce emissions and enhance efficiency by cutting pollutants from rural production and daily life. Promote green, low-carbon remediation to lower energy consumption.
　　Third, we will implement the “Three‑Pronged Approach to Pollution Control.” We will conduct precise investigations to identify the sources of soil and groundwater contamination and explore the development of assessments for agricultural nonpoint‑source pollution loads. Based on local conditions, we will scientifically determine appropriate approaches for treating rural domestic wastewater and addressing black, malodorous water bodies. We will also enforce pollution control in strict accordance with the law.
　　Fourth, emphasis is placed on the application of modern technologies. A regulatory information platform has been established for soil, groundwater, and the agricultural and rural ecological environment. Efforts are being made to leverage satellite remote sensing and other advanced tools to strengthen environmental oversight.
　　Q: What specific target indicators are outlined in the Plan?
　　Answer: The Plan sets out objectives in two phases. By 2025, the overall quality of soil and groundwater nationwide will remain stable, with the safe use of contaminated farmland and key construction land further consolidated and enhanced; agricultural non-point source pollution will be brought under preliminary control, rural environmental infrastructure will continue to advance steadily, and the rural ecological environment will keep improving. By 2035, the quality of soil and groundwater nationwide will show steady improvement; soil environmental safety on agricultural land and at key construction sites will be effectively ensured, and soil environmental risks will be comprehensively managed; agricultural non-point source pollution will be curbed, rural environmental infrastructure will be further improved, and the rural ecological environment will have fundamentally improved.
　　The Plan sets out eight specific indicators across three key areas: soil, groundwater, and agriculture and rural development. By 2025, the safe utilization rate of contaminated farmland will reach approximately 93%, the safe use of priority construction land will be effectively ensured, the proportion of Class V water at nationally monitored groundwater sites will remain around 25%, and the water quality at “dual-source” monitoring points will generally remain stable, with respect to major crops… Fertilizer 、 Pesticide Water consumption has decreased, the number of villages undergoing rural environmental improvement has increased by 80,000, and the treatment rate for rural domestic wastewater has reached 40%, among other achievements.
　　Q: To achieve the aforementioned objectives, what key tasks does the Plan set forth?
　　Answer: The Plan outlines and deploys specific tasks for the 14th Five-Year Plan period across four key areas: soil pollution prevention and control, groundwater protection, pollution prevention and control in agriculture and rural areas, and enhancement of regulatory capacity. First, it advances soil pollution prevention and control by strengthening source‑level management of farmland contamination, preventing new soil pollution from industrial and mining enterprises, implementing comprehensive classified management of cultivated land, strictly regulating land use for construction purposes, systematically promoting risk management and remediation of contaminated construction sites, and conducting pilot and demonstration projects on soil pollution control. Second, it reinforces groundwater pollution prevention and control by establishing a groundwater pollution management system, bolstering source‑level prevention, risk management, and remediation, and strengthening protection of groundwater‑based drinking water sources. Third, it deepens environmental governance in agriculture and rural areas by enhancing pollution prevention in crop production, vigorously advancing pollution control in animal husbandry, promoting the management and oversight of non‑point source agricultural pollution, addressing black and malodorous water bodies in rural areas, managing rural domestic wastewater and solid waste, and strengthening environmental protection of rural drinking water sources. Fourth, it elevates ecological and environmental regulatory capacity by improving the standards framework, refining the monitoring network, intensifying ecological and environmental law enforcement, and reinforcing scientific and technological support.
　　To support the implementation of key tasks, the Plan outlines four major projects: source‑control measures for soil and groundwater pollution; risk management and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination; prevention and control of nonpoint‑source agricultural pollution; and rural environmental improvement.
　　Q: How will the goals and tasks set forth in the Plan be effectively implemented?
　　Answer: To achieve the established goals and tasks, the Plan sets forth four categories of supporting measures. First, strengthen organizational leadership. People’s governments at all local levels are the primary entities responsible for implementing this Plan, while relevant central departments will collaborate closely in accordance with their respective duties to create synergistic momentum. Second, refine economic policies. Improve the government investment framework—primarily driven by local authorities with supplementary central subsidies—enhance fiscal funding for soil, groundwater, and agricultural and rural pollution prevention and control, and explore the establishment of diversified financing mechanisms. Third, intensify publicity and guidance. Raise public awareness of ecological and environmental issues and foster a favorable societal climate for protecting soil, groundwater, and the ecological environment in agriculture and rural areas. Fourth, conduct performance evaluation. Implement a target‑responsibility system and an assessment‑evaluation mechanism, breaking down and assigning specific goals and tasks. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with relevant departments, will carry out monitoring and evaluation of progress on the Plan’s targets, key tasks, and major projects.

Source: Ministry of Ecology and Environment Author: Ministry of Ecology and Environment