中文
Yundang Lake and its surroundings in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, January 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
By Rizwan Basir
"We shall protect ecosystems as preciously as we protect our eyes, and cherish them as dearly as we cherish our lives," Chinese President Xi Jinping said. Xi's thoughts on ecological civilization, formally introduced in 2018, have guided the green shift in China, becoming the ideological banner to push forward ecological civilization in the new era.
China's contemporary environmental strategy reflects a nuanced understanding and a multifaceted approach to addressing environmental challenges. Integral to this approach is the integration of ecological preservation across economic, political, cultural, and social domains. This integration is exemplified by the enactment of stringent environmental legislation and the establishment of robust operational frameworks, aimed at ensuring comprehensive pollution prevention and control. Noteworthy advancements include the formulation and implementation of comprehensive action plans targeting air, water, soil pollution, and desertification resulting in significant improvements in environmental quality nationwide.
China's endeavors in air pollution control have evolved from ad-hoc measures to a systematic approach, encompassing the management of individual pollutants such as soot, dust, sulfur dioxide, and chemical oxygen demand. These efforts are bolstered by overarching emission reduction strategies and the adoption of a "target responsibility system" for pollution control, which allocates specific pollution reduction targets to various regions and industries. The effectiveness of these measures has been widely acknowledged, both domestically and internationally.
Illustrating China's commitment to ecological restoration, a recent initiative in Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province, serves as a poignant case study. In this endeavor, a coalition of 6,817 officials and workers representing 118 organizations embarked on a desert control initiative within the core area of the Tengger Desert, situated at the eastern terminus of the Hexi Corridor. Utilizing agricultural waste, predominantly wheat and rice straws, they implemented innovative techniques such as "checkerboarding" to stabilize sand dunes and mitigate sand drift, effectively halting the progression of desertification.
Moreover, official data spanning from 2012 to 2022 provides insights into China's remarkable achievements in environmental restoration. Nearly 960 million mu (equivalent to 64 million hectares) were afforested, approximately 125 million mu of grassland underwent improvement, and over 12 million mu of wetlands were either restored or newly created. These efforts underscore China's comprehensive commitment to ecosystem rejuvenation and biodiversity conservation.
Volunteers plant trees in the Hunshandake Sandland, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 22, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
China's landscape transformation efforts are exemplified by the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, a monumental afforestation initiative launched in 1978 with a projected completion date of 2050. By the end of 2020, the program had designated and preserved approximately 31.74 million hectares of afforested land, serving as a vital ecological barrier against desertification expansion and contributing to regional climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.
China's proactive stance against desertification extends beyond domestic initiatives, encompassing active engagement in global environmental governance mechanisms such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and collaborative initiatives with Belt and Road Initiative partner countries. Furthermore, China has made substantial investments in research and development to advance afforestation and sand control technologies, yielding innovative solutions such as drip irrigation and sand barriers, which have been successfully deployed in regions like Minqin, Gansu Province, to enhance ecosystem resilience and combat desertification.
China's stride towards global environmental stewardship finds resonance in President Xi Jinping's declaration at the UN General Assembly in September 2020, committing to cap carbon emissions by 2030 and attain carbon neutrality by 2060. This bold stance has sparked a nationwide fervor, mobilizing efforts across governmental, corporate, academic, and research domains. Consequently, a comprehensive policy framework and roadmap for climate change mitigation and adaptation have emerged.
But what lies behind China's accomplishments, and what lies ahead?
China's shift towards a green, low-carbon economy necessitates synchronized actions across all societal realms, spanning governance, industry, academia, and civil society. This involves harmonizing economic incentives with environmental imperatives, fostering green innovation and entrepreneurship, and bolstering environmental literacy and consciousness. Moreover, integrating environmental considerations into policymaking and investment processes is crucial for embedding sustainable development principles into China's overarching development trajectory.
China's ascendancy as an environmental custodian and proponent of sustainable development mirrors its internal priorities and global environmental governance commitments. By advocating multilateralism and fostering international collaboration, China showcases its readiness to engage with other nations to tackle mutual environmental challenges and realize shared objectives. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South Cooperation, China leverages its expertise and resources to bolster sustainable development endeavors in developing nations, contributing to a global shift towards resilience and sustainability.
Looking forward, China's environmental agenda will adapt to evolving environmental dynamics, technological innovations, and societal preferences. By embracing innovation, nurturing collaboration, and upholding a far-sighted perspective, China can build upon its past strides and chart a trajectory towards a sustainable, prosperous future for its populace and the global community at large.
Rizwan Basir, a special commentator for CGTN, is a sociologist who works as a Climate Finance Specialist at the Climate Resourcing Coordination Center based in Islamabad, Pakistan.
