Earlier this month, the General Office of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the General Office of the Provincial Government issued the "Measures on Promoting Hebei’s Urban & Rural Green Development” and proposed the green transformation of the construction industry, stipulating that the province's urban and rural construction green development regulations are established by 2025. “The measures” suggest that the province's forest coverage rate should reach 36.5%, with 12 sqm of the urban green area per capita by 2025.

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“The measures” promote the strengthening of the environmental management and low-carbon construction, and restoration of the ecological corridors in Beijing, Tianjin, central, southern, northwestern Hebei, and Bohai sea areas, as well as creating a green zone in Xiong’an, and ecological restoration of Baiyangdian areas through afforestation and water system dredging. It is expected that the city of Xiong’an would achieve 40% forest cover through afforestation by 2025. Ideally, by 2035 Xiong’an will transform into a green, low-carbon, smart “sponge” city with 70% of green urban space.

“The measures” mention the construction of two new districts in Zhangjiakou Zone, and establishment of water conservation guidelines, as well as ecological restoration projects of Yongding, Yanghe, Sanggan, Qingshui, and Baihe River. Furthermore, efforts will be made to protect forests in northern Beijing, while implementing key ecological projects such as ecological restoration of degraded grasslands, construction of grassland protection systems, control of the source of wind and sand in Beijing and Tianjin, and conversion of farmland to wetlands. The transformation of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Green Development Zone should be completed by 2035.

“The measures” further promote the construction of green and “sponge” cities, the preservation of forests, and the reduction of urban waste. By 2025, 50% of urban areas should meet the requirements of “sponge cities”.

“The Measures” stipulate the main responsibilities of the local government regarding rural environmental protection and governance, green agriculture, tourism, and leisure. The responsibilities include the management of rural water systems, comprehensive management of soil erosion, and treatment of black and odorous water bodies.

Moreover, establishing clean heating practices in rural areas is of paramount importance, as well as replacing coal with renewable energy sources. "The measures" touch on rural wastewater treatment as well, with the goal of 100% of rural areas having wastewater treatment facilities in function by 2023.

Green Transformation of urban and rural construction practices

It is estimated that by 2025 the newly-built green buildings in the province will account for more than 50% of the newly built area. To reach this goal, the local governments have encouraged green development pilot projects in more than 10 counties.

The low-carbon measures target cities such as Xiong’an, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, and Tangshan, and industrial clusters in Dacheng, Renqiu, Guangping, and Shahe, to create an infrastructure system that supports green development and includes smart environmental monitoring and new and emerging technologies that allow smart transportation.

It is further estimated that by 2025, newly built prefabricated buildings and steel-structure prefabricated houses will account for more than 30% of the newly built area, which will be preceded by a series of pilot civil engineering projects in Xiong’an's New District. Embracing “greener” lifestyle practices such as waste sorting and reduction, and renewable energy and water-saving technologies is the key to achieving this goal.