Strengthening Lake Water Pollution Control, The Ministry of Environmental Protection Launches Its First National Engineering Laboratory

The launch meeting and first council meeting of the National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration Technology were held in Beijing on October 13. Huang Runqiu, Vice Minister of Environmental Protection, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Huang Runqiu stated that the National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration Technology is the first national engineering laboratory established by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and is another important research platform following the National Key Laboratory of Environmental Benchmarks and Risk Assessment. The establishment of the laboratory further strengthens the advantages and characteristics of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences in the field of water environment science research, improves the chain of "basic research—applied research—technology development and industrialization," and will provide stronger scientific and technological support for lake environmental management.

Huang Runqiu pointed out that the establishment of the laboratory is timely and of great significance. Lakes are important ecological resources and an important component of aquatic ecosystems, holding a unique and important position in the "mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, and grasslands" community of life. The laboratory's research on lake pollution control and ecological restoration technologies, conducted in accordance with General Secretary Xi Jinping's systematic protection concept that "mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, and grasslands are a community of life," is an important measure to practice the concept of ecological civilization. The establishment of the laboratory also meets the urgent needs of my country's lake environmental management. my country's lakes are diverse in type, each with its own characteristics. Some lakes face prominent pollution and eutrophication problems, posing high environmental risks and causing severe ecological damage. Environmental governance faces complexity and diversity, urgently requiring breakthroughs in scientific theory and key technologies. The laboratory possesses excellent basic conditions and talent advantages. Established under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences, and with the participation of outstanding domestic research institutions, universities, and enterprises in the field of lake environmental protection, it can effectively leverage the experience and achievements of the "Major Science and Technology Project for Water Pollution Control and Treatment." The complementary strengths of all parties create synergy, laying a solid foundation for the laboratory's future construction and development.

Huang Runqiu put forward three requirements for the construction of the National Engineering Laboratory for Lakes: First, strengthen the management team. The management team should assume the primary responsibility for the laboratory's construction, strengthen unity, unite hearts and minds, and pool wisdom to focus all thoughts and actions on the laboratory's construction and development. Second, strive for excellence. It should gather and cultivate a first-class team and talent, produce first-class results, and provide technical support for the Ministry of Environmental Protection's important decisions and the formulation of standards and norms. Furthermore, the laboratory should have sufficient social visibility, achieving first-class performance both domestically and internationally, with its achievements and reputation widely recognized by society. Third, we must be bold in practice and innovation, establish and improve the laboratory's management system, and form a mechanism to stimulate capabilities and encourage innovation.

Officials from relevant departments of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, as well as members of the laboratory's board of directors and technical committee, the laboratory director and deputy director, and members of the main technical teams, attended the meeting.

Editor's Comments

It is hoped that the construction of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's first national engineering laboratory will establish an internationally influential platform for technological innovation and engineering application in lake water pollution control and ecological restoration. It should cultivate a high-level professional team with international competitiveness in the field of lake water pollution control and ecological restoration, play a leading role in technology and management standards and policy promotion, improve the level of core technologies and equipment, and promote technological progress and industrial development in my country's lake water pollution control and ecological restoration.