摘要：A view of the Sanjiangyuan area in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, China, June 18, 2023.

ByYasiru Ranaraja

A view of the Sanjiangyuan area in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, China, June 18, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

June 5 marks both World Environment Day and China's Environment Day, reflecting a unified dedication to protecting the environment. Chinese President Xi Jinping once said, "Protect the ecological environment, and it will reward you," adding that the environment is the foundation for the survival and development of human beings, and maintaining a sound environment is the common aspiration of people of all countries.

From struggling with environment concerns to leading world efforts in environmental management, China has shown its global leadership and ability to turn vision into reality.

The foundation of Chinese environmental policy is Xi's theory on ecological civilization, a complete system that integrates ecological, economic and cultural elements in addressing deeply rooted man-nature contradictions. Central to this philosophy is the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," reflecting a people-centered approach that recognizes the inherent value of nature.

At home, China has come a long way in its battle against pollution. For instance, PM2.5 levels in Beijing have been dramatically cut, while air conditions have generally improved. Efforts have also gone into managing water, soil and ocean pollution. Legislatively, China's 2014 revision of its Environmental Protection Law was a particular breakthrough, augmenting the enforcement of powers and heightening public awareness.

China's commitment to its two carbon goals, peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, is evident in its sustainable energy growth. It has constructed the world's largest and most rapidly expanding renewable energy system, with solar production capacity growing to 887 gigawatts (GW) in 2024.

China is also the global leader in electric vehicles, solar panels and lithium-ion batteries. Its introduction of a national carbon trading system in 2021 also reflects its drive to reduce carbon intensity and enhance non-fossil fuel consumption. Economically, green development is also a growth driver, and investments in green transition are not only environmentally friendly but also economically feasible.

The scenery of Xiling Gorge, one of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, in central China's Hubei Province, March 28, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's ecological policy harmoniously combines cultural heritage preservation and ecological protection. A "community of life" philosophy threads natural heritage protection together with cultural identity, as in the case of the Yangtze River National Cultural Park. Other national cultural parks, including the Great Wall, Grand Canal and Yellow River, are designed to preserve historical sites while expanding public access.

In Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi Province, the preservation of ancient craftwork further illustrates this multifaceted approach, framing environmental action as defending historical identity and fulfilling an intergenerational moral responsibility. China's strategy offers a "Chinese solution" in terms of mutual learning between civilizations that could appeal to other developing nations seeking sustainable development models.

China's leadership on the environment evolved from a reactive role emphasising "common but differentiated responsibilities" to proactive global leadership. In the Paris Agreement, China was the first major nation to ratify the agreement and commit to new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with its precise targets.

In maintaining biodiversity, China hosted the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2021, which led to the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework that seeks ambitious goals, namely that "by 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people." The Declaration of Kunming and the establishment of the Kunming Biodiversity Fund also affirm China's commitment to worldwide biodiversity.

With the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has integrated sustainable development into international cooperation. The BRI International Green Development Coalition promotes green infrastructure, innovation and investment, with over 170 international partners and support from UN agencies. China has also pledged to end funding for new overseas coal-fired power stations, aligning economic interests with ecological diplomacy.

Within South-South cooperation, China also established a 20 billion-Chinese yuan ($3.1 billion) climate change cooperation fund to assist developing countries in tackling climate change. Even though a developing country itself, China has made significant contributions to global climate finance, aimed at technology transfer, capacity building and green energy projects, particularly in Africa. This dual role provides China with the ability to give on its own terms, structuring the global order and generating solidarity in the Global South.

However, there are challenges, and one of them is China's reliance on coal, while developing more advanced new technologies such as carbon capture and other new energy innovations. Despite the advancements in renewable energy, coal production has increased to ensure energy security in China, making it a reflection of the contradiction between economic development and goals of decarbonization, which is the case for many developing nations. Although recent policy frameworks in China are effective, internal contradictions, especially continued reliance on coal, are testing its decarbonization efforts, while continuing to uplift millions of its citizens out of poverty is a challenge.

Overcoming them is crucial for enhancing China's credibility and effectiveness on the international stage and in environmental leadership. China can utilize its size and technology in the future to play a central role in climate change mitigation. By encouraging innovation, multilateralism and expanding South-South cooperation, while encouraging developing countries to achieve sustainable development needs at home and international environmental responsibilities, will need to be balanced for sustainability and good leadership.

China's transition from domestic environmental concerns to a global force is propelled by Xi's thoughts on ecological civilization. The vision for a "community of shared future for mankind" founded on environmental sustainability, captures China's interactions with the international environment. Sustained leadership, defined by the ability to make vision a reality and navigate through complexity, is key to creating a completely sustainable and shared global future.

The author isa researcher on maritime affairs and an expert on Belt and Road Initiative development.

来源：中国网一点号