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China Ecological Zones Focus on Green Credentials, not GDP

China has tabled a plan calling for the establishment of 100 ecological development zones in an effort to bring about more systematic ecological development as outlined in a reform package which came out of last month's key policy meeting, according to a report in the China Securities Journal.

Unlike previous efforts, the choice of locations for the 100 ecozones will be based on ecology instead of geology and administrative demarcations, the report said. As a result, some of the zones will be shared between regions and overlap with areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Aside from preferential policies and fiscal support, new measures – including environmental tax and natural asset balance sheets – are expected and companies that do not meet the environmental standards will excludeds.

Contribution to GDP growth in some of these zones will be eased. This should help reduce local government obsession with economic output, which has been the most important factor in job promotions. Instead, the emphasis will be on green GDP, which factors in environmental consequences.

These zones will be a boon for environment protection industries, gardening and others that are carbon-efficient.