5 th world water forum 5 th world water forum challenges facing china and the way ahead chen lei...

5th World Water Forum

Challenges Facing China and the Way Ahead

CHEN Lei

Minister of Water Resources

People’s Republic of China

March 20， 2009

Ensuring Adequate Infrastructure to Meet Agricultural, Energy and Urban and Rural needs

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Water: The Origin of Life

WATERBasic Natural

Resource

StrategicEconomicResource

Important Control Factor of Ecological Environment

More…

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Water Storage Facilities

flows

randomly

with uneven temporal and spatial distribution

WATER Construction of water storage facilities: necessary

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International Cooperation: Important

Ensuring Adequate Infrastructure to Meet

Agricultural, Energy and Urban and Rural needs

WWF

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Uneven Water Distribution in China

• mm

• 800

• 400

• 200

• 200• 400• 800

Uneven: in space

Uneven: in time

NorthSouth

…Jan…May…Aug…Oct…Nov…

Annual Rainfall in China

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Storage Facilities: Multi-Functional

WaterStorageFacilities

Water Supply

Flood Control Irrigation

Power GenerationMore…

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Hydro Projects: Being Built and Functioning…

Three Gorges Project

Xiaolangdi Project

Longtan RCC Dam

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Hydro Projects: Being Built and Functioning…Completed Dams: 85,400Storage Capacity: 634.5 billion m3

Annual Water Supply: 659.1 billion m3

= Dams

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Dangerous Dams: Repaired & Reinforced

Dams repaired and reinforced:

3,733

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Small and Mini Rain Collection Projects

4.2 million: for drinking

Water Storage Facilities

7 million: for irrigation

for 5 million ha woodland and grassland

22 million: benefited population

43 million ha: irrigated area

Pools

Water Cellars

Small Reservoirs

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Hydropower: Environmental Benefits

Coal Use Reduced:326 million tons

CO2 Emission Reduced:820 million tonsSO2 Emission Reduced: 570,000 tons

Hydropower Installed Capacity in China (GW)

Energy Portfolio:

Optimized

Environment:

Improved

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Small Hydro in Rural Areas

Installed Capacity: 59.69 GW

Benefited Population: 300 million

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China Miracle

Freshwater Farmland Population0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

6% 9%21%

Rest of the WorldChina

With 6% of globe’s freshwater and 9% of farmland, China feeds 21% of world’s population.

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Challenges Facing China

Weak Water Infrastructures

Lagging IWRM

Intensifying Global WarmingUneven Water Distribution

…

More Water Storage Facilities

Needed!

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The To-Do List

Reinforce ill-conditioned reservoirsConstruct major water conservancy projectsBuild medium, small and mini water facilities

Develop hydro power

Energy Securit

y

Environment

Protection

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Human Orientation

Man-Nature Harmonious CoexistenceSustainable Development

1

2

3

Rational development Efficient utilization Comprehensive Control Optimum distribution Effective protection Scientific management

Philosophies of Water Management

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Actions and Aims

To coordinate dams of various sizes

To conserve & protect water

To protect ecology and environment

To protect interests of reservoir immigrants

To emphasize project development & management

To focus on innovation and application

Water-saving and pollution-controlling

Ecological civilization

Sustainable socioeconomic development in reservoir area

Quality, safety and efficiency

Maximum overall benefits

Technological progress and

application

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World Hand in Hand

Sharing Experience & Lessons

Promoting Exchange & Cooperation

Meeting Challenges Jointly

CHINA

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