Co-released by Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and Ministry of Environmental Protection of China, “National Urban Eco Protection and Building Plan (2015-2020)” (Plan) proposes the clear requirements on eco environment construction, urban pollution control and “sponge city”, and points out that the urban environment investment should account for over 3.5% of GDP.

According to the Plan, by 2020, the built green space ratio will reach 38.9%, the built green coverage ratio will reach 43.0%, the garden green area per capita will reach 14.6 m², harmless treatment ratio of urban solid waste will reach 95% and the water quality of the urban centralized drinking water source above level III accounts for over 93%.

For the urban pollution control and environmental infrastructure, the Plan requires that by 2020, the average concentration of PM2.5 will decrease by 18% and the emission reduction of SO₂, NO_x and VOCs will meet the related supervision requirements, old rain and waste water pipes network retrofitting will be finished, the water emission from waste water treatment plants will meet the environmental requirements or the standard of surface water level IV.  The harmless treatment of solid waste in municipalities will reach 100% and over 95% in other cities.