On [Month Day], the Ministry of Ecology and Environment held its regular monthly press conference. Li Tianwei, Director of the Department of Atmospheric Environment at the Ministry, responded to a question from a reporter at the National Business Daily by stating that the Ministry adheres to a dual approach. On one hand, it employs the strictest systems and laws to protect the atmospheric environment. On the other hand, it innovates management strategies by comprehensively utilizing policies such as finance, pricing, taxation, and differentiated environmental management to stimulate the endogenous motivation for air pollution control.

This series of measures has propelled China to establish the world's largest clean coal power system and clean steel production system, with many enterprises achieving synchronized green transformation and profit growth. Moving forward, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will refine policy support, expand the application scenarios of environmental performance, and form a robust and effective policy "combination punch" to foster excellence and eliminate inferiority, ensuring that enterprises with high environmental investment and good performance enjoy tangible policy dividends.

We will continue to improve long-term mechanisms in four aspects: First, we will strengthen technological guidance by establishing a technical policy system for air pollution prevention and control in key industries, guided by environmental performance grading. Second, we will enhance policy support by expanding the application scenarios of environmental performance to form a powerful and effective policy "combination." Third, we will highlight standards to drive the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries. Fourth, we will strengthen law enforcement and supervision to increase the cost of violations.

In addition, when responding to questions from China Youth Daily and Haibao News reporters, Li Tianwei stated that efforts will be focused on collaborative emission reductions in key sectors such as steel and in key areas like bulk cargo transportation. This includes promoting clean transportation of bulk goods in major industries such as steel, and encouraging the shift of long-distance bulk cargo transportation from road to rail and water.

A reporter from the National Business Daily asked: We noted that a responsible official from the Department of Atmospheric Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently stated at the 7th General Meeting of the 6th China Iron and Steel Association, "Please rest assured, we will never let companies with high environmental standards and significant investments suffer losses, nor will we allow companies with low environmental standards and minimal investments to benefit." Could you elaborate on the specific measures the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will take to achieve this goal? Thank you.

Li Tianwei: Thank you for your question. Personally, I believe that for any staff member, whether they are willing to do the work, truly committed to doing it, and whether they take proactive and positive action or passive and negative action makes a significant difference. This is a fundamental question that any leader must consider. The grand plan for the Blue Sky Defense campaign has long been drawn up—what truly matters is how it is executed. Achievements depend on determination plus action.

Over the years, we have been striving to enhance the performance of air pollution control from various angles and fields. For instance, in terms of pricing, we have introduced ultra-low emission electricity price policies for coal-fired power plants and guided local governments to establish differentiated electricity and water prices for ultra-low emissions in industries such as steel and cement. In the area of fiscal taxation, both central and local funds for air pollution prevention and control support renovation projects, and enterprises that complete renovations can enjoy preferential policies such as reductions in environmental taxes and purchase taxes. In terms of environmental regulation, we ensure that enterprises with ultra-low emissions and high environmental performance grades do not halt or limit production during heavy pollution weather alerts, and that environmental inspections do not disturb normal operations, thereby maximizing the utilization of green and high-quality production capacity.

It is this series of measures that have propelled China to establish the world's largest clean coal power system and clean steel production system. Many enterprises have achieved a simultaneous resonance between green transformation and profit growth. According to statistics from the China Iron and Steel Association, the profit margin of enterprises that completed ultra-low emission upgrades was several percentage points higher than those that did not. Taking Nanjing Steel as an example, in recent years, this enterprise received hundreds of millions of yuan in special central and provincial air pollution control funds for upgrades. Post-upgrade, pollutant emissions were significantly reduced, leading to an annual reduction in environmental taxes of approximately millions of yuan and differential electricity pricing savings of around hundreds of millions of yuan. Moreover, the enterprise further optimized its product structure, gaining stronger momentum for green development, achieving a transformation towards high-end, intelligent, and green production. In a certain year, the enterprise's net profit reached billions of yuan, placing its profitability among the top in the country. Those who engage in pollution control, environmental protection, and fulfill social responsibilities have truly reaped tangible benefits.

Next, we will continue to improve the long-term mechanism from four aspects: First, **strengthen technological leadership**. We will establish a technical policy system for air pollution prevention and control in key industries, guided by environmental performance ratings, and develop industry-specific feasible technology directories for air pollution control based on performance levels. These will be dynamically updated and iteratively upgraded to achieve emission reductions through technology. Second, **enhance policy support**. We will expand the application scenarios of environmental performance ratings to form a powerful and effective policy "combination punch," supporting the best and eliminating the worst. This will ensure that enterprises with high environmental investment and strong performance enjoy tangible policy benefits. Third, **highlight standards leadership**. For industries that have largely completed ultra-low emission upgrades, we will gradually transform ultra-low emission requirements into mandatory emission standards, using these standards to drive the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries. Fourth, **strengthen enforcement and supervision**. We will intensify regulatory oversight over enterprises with low environmental standards and minimal investment. Those engaging in deliberate illegal activities such as unauthorized discharges, leaks, or falsification will face severe penalties in accordance with laws and regulations, increasing the cost of violations. Thank you.