During 2019 to 2020, Energy Foundation China supported the Institution of Green Economy of the Counsellor’s Office of the State Council to carry out a research on integrated national territory spatial planning and the role of key environmental element in this process. The findings were released in this report in July.

According to the research, the main challenge of water resources security in China has essentially changed from shortage to overloading, as the water supply network gradually improves. However, the binding constraint for water resources carrying capacity remains weak, which is accompanied by inadequate awareness and enforcement of comprehensive water resources planning. As China is revamping its land and spatial planning system, the report suggests the new planning principle to stick to achieving spatial balance. The report also recommends strengthening constraints for water resources carrying capacity and improving the supporting technical guidelines for water resources management, through the reform of the planning system and integration of national strategies. The goal is to reasonably and scientifically allocate land and water resources across river basins and regions, by integrating territory spatial and water resource planning.

Building on the current planning system, the report clarifies the role of water in drawing a city or region’s blueprint, zoning plan, and population growth and industrial development pathways. It also puts forward policy recommendations regarding applying the integrated planning method to technology application and policymaking so as to support China’s high-quality development.