Joining Hands to Build a Community of Life on Earth Green | Development | Life
The Earth is the common and only home of humanity. China regards the construction of ecological civilization as a fundamental plan related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. In the past decade, significant steps have been taken in the construction of a beautiful China, and China's ecological environment protection has undergone historic, transitional, and global changes. The practice of ecological civilization construction in China not only paints a beautiful green picture on the land of China, but also contributes Chinese wisdom and strength to the joint construction of a global community of life for all countries.
Building a modernization of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature
The prosperity of human civilization cannot be separated from the nourishment of nature.
The meandering and majestic Yellow River is the mother river of the Chinese nation. On her south bank, the Kubuqi Desert stretches across, once a "wind dried Ge Liang" with raging winds and yellow sand everywhere. Nowadays, when viewed from a high altitude, a touch of striking green, either connected into a line or a forest, forms a magnificent picture of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Satellite remote sensing monitoring shows that over the past 10 years, the ecological environment quality in the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins, as well as key areas such as the Qinling Mountains, the Three Rivers Source, the Loess Plateau, the Northeast region, the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region, and the Maowusu Sandy Land, has continued to improve. Kofi Kuaku, a senior researcher at the Africa China Research Center of Johannesburg University in South Africa who was once engaged in work related to environment and sustainable development at the World Bank, said: "This is an intuitive reflection of China's remarkable achievements in ecological protection. These achievements are attributed to the strong leadership of the CPC and the Chinese government."
The firm pursuit of ecological priority and green and low-carbon development stems from the profound thinking of the CPC on the development law of human civilization.
In December 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Guangdong, the forerunner of reform and opening up, and profoundly expounded the ecological civilization in the process of modernization from the height of promoting the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and the sustainable progress of human civilization: "We are building a modern country. It is impossible to follow the old road of the United States and Europe, and a few more earths are not enough for the Chinese to consume." "Take the old road, to consume resources, to pollute the environment, difficult to sustain!"
In May 2018, at the National Conference on Ecological Environment Protection, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the principles that must be adhered to in promoting the construction of ecological civilization in the new era: "adhere to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature", "green water and green mountains are Jinshan and Yinshan", "good ecological environment is the most inclusive people's livelihood and well-being", "landscape, forest, field, lake and grass are the community of life", "protect the ecological environment with the strictest system and" and "conspire for the construction of global ecological civilization".
In October 2022, at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping comprehensively and profoundly expounded the characteristics of Chinese-style modernization, pointing out that "Chinese-style modernization is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature" and that "respecting nature, conforming to nature and protecting nature are the inherent requirements of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way. We must firmly establish and practice the concept that green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains, and plan for development from the height of harmony between man and nature."
From incorporating the construction of ecological civilization into the overall layout of the "Five in One" socialist cause with Chinese characteristics, to making "Beautiful China" the long-term goal of ecological civilization construction; From making the "battle of pollution prevention and control" one of the three major battles to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, to promoting the construction of a Chinese path to modernization in which human beings and nature coexist in harmony... Green has increasingly become the distinctive background of high-quality economic and social development in China.
Looking at forest area - forest coverage and forest volume have maintained a "double growth" for more than 30 consecutive years. China is the country with the highest growth in forest resources and the largest artificial afforestation area in the world; Leading the world in achieving "zero growth" in land degradation and "dual reduction" in the areas of desertification and desertification; Since 2000, China has always been the main force in global greening, with about 1/4 of the world's newly added green area coming from China.
Looking at Beautiful Countryside - Relying on green ecological resources to develop rural tourism, China regards "Beautiful Countryside" as an important lever for rural revitalization, revitalizes rural economy, and strengthens rural ecological protection and restoration. Since 2021, four Chinese villages have been awarded the "Best Tourist Villages" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
Looking at Green Engineering - In December 2022, the "Chinese Landscape Engineering", which practices the concept of a community of life for mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, and grasses in China, was selected as one of the first ten "World Ecological Restoration Flagship Projects" by the United Nations. The award speech is brief and powerful: "The 'China Landscape Engineering' regards all ecosystems as a 'community of life', and has restored millions of hectares of land in China through unremitting efforts. According to the plan, from 2021 to 2025, the central government of China will continue to allocate no less than 50 billion yuan in RMB funds to support the implementation of at least 25 new landscape engineering projects.".
Looking at Enterprise Development - Entering the North China Base of FAW Volkswagen located in Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone, the green photovoltaic projects installed on the roof, ground, and carport have been put into use, providing 17 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity to the base annually. In addition, over 100 energy-saving and emission reduction projects support the high standard operation of this "green factory". In the 2022 green manufacturing list recently released by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, there are 874 such green factories in China, along with 643 green design products, 47 green industrial parks, and 112 green supply chain management enterprises.
Rongjie, Vice President of Henkel Group in Germany, stated that in recent years, China's achievements in strengthening ecological environment protection and promoting green and low-carbon development are impressive. China's focus on sustainable growth will provide more development opportunities for multinational companies such as Hangao.
"China has found a path of green development that can effectively protect the environment, and Malawi also hopes to achieve green development. In this regard, we can learn a lot from China," said Malawi President Chakovira.
In recent years, China has played an important role in adhering to sustainable development and promoting regional common prosperity. It has made positive contributions in ecological environment protection, sustainable industrial development, and research in the field of new energy, demonstrating its determination to achieve sustainable development through practical actions and fulfilling international commitments in sustainable development. As Rebecca Maria, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, said, a beautiful China with green mountains, flowing green water, and fresh air has made tremendous contributions to safeguarding a green earth home and building a cleaner and more beautiful world.
Consolidate international consensus on global ecological governance
This year's May Day holiday, Pan Chunlin, a villager from Yucun, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, was busy and fulfilling. He used to be a tractor driver in the village's mines, but now he has become a well-known farmer's entertainment operator with a considerable income over the course of a year.
From "relying on the mountains to eat the mountains" to "nurturing the mountains and enriching the mountains", millions of villagers like Pan Chunlin have explored a new path to achieve economic and ecological integration, symbiosis, and mutual promotion and progress through the flourishing new formats of rural tourism and e-commerce, and their days have become increasingly prosperous.
"What we see in Zhejiang is the future of China, and even the future of the world!" Eric Solheim, former Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, sighed. China's actions answer global challenges and issues - how to achieve a win-win situation of industrial development, environmental protection, and public health in developing countries.
The touching story of green development demonstrates China's firm determination to promote ecological civilization construction and achieve sustainable development, and sends a green invitation to the world to jointly seek global ecological civilization construction.
"We should protect the ecological environment like we protect our own eyes, treat the ecological environment like we treat life, build the foundation of ecological civilization together, and follow the path of green development!"
"Let's join hands, uphold the concept of ecological civilization, stand at the height of responsibility for future generations, jointly build a community of life on Earth, and jointly build a clean and beautiful world!"
"China is willing to work with countries around the world to put the people at the center, promote inclusiveness, innovation driven, and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, prioritize development on the international agenda, accelerate the implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and promote stronger, greener, and healthier global development."
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Standing at the height of being responsible for human civilization and for future generations, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly expounded China's concept, China's action and China's plan on strengthening ecological and environmental protection on different international occasions, emphasizing the construction of an earth home in which man and nature coexist harmoniously, economy and environment work together, and all countries in the world develop together.
Nigel Topin, a high-level advocate for climate action at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said that China's concept of ecological civilization plays a crucial role in promoting global biodiversity and environmental protection. One of the earliest scholars to propose the concept of "green GDP" and a member of the National Academy of Humanities in the United States, John Cobb Jr., believes that "China has brought hope to the construction of global ecological civilization.".
As the world's largest developing country, while vigorously promoting its own carbon reduction efforts, China actively participates in multilateral and bilateral dialogue and cooperation to promote global green transformation——
In September 2020, at the general debate of the 75th UN General Assembly, President Xi Jinping announced: "China will increase its national independent contribution, adopt more powerful policies and measures, and strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. Strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060."
From actively building a carbon peak and carbon neutrality "1+N" policy system, to forming a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system; From constructive participation in the multilateral process of climate change, promoting the achievement, entry into force, and smooth implementation of the Paris Agreement, to continuously deepening South South cooperation in addressing climate change, and training technical personnel for developing countries... China injects strong impetus into global energy and climate governance.
Ivona Rajvac, Deputy Director of the Serbian Institute of International Politics and Economics, stated that as the world's largest developing country, China is implementing the concept of green development through practical actions. The "dual carbon" goal is of great significance for China's green transformation of the economy and society, and promoting global sustainable development.
Looking around the world, green is becoming the distinctive background of high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road". China is actively expanding the "the Belt and Road" circle of friends for green development, and deepening cooperation with countries and regions along the Belt and Road in ecological protection, sustainable development and other fields——
Signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Building a Green "the Belt and Road" with the United Nations Environment Programme; Signed over 50 cooperation documents on ecological and environmental protection with relevant countries and international organizations; Jointly launched the "the Belt and Road" green development partnership initiative with 31 co construction countries; Jointly establish the "the Belt and Road" energy cooperation partnership with 32 co construction countries; 42 Chinese and foreign institutions joined the "the Belt and Road" Green Development International Alliance as the first member units; Through the implementation of the "Green Silk Road Messenger Plan", 3000 green development talents have been trained for more than 120 countries jointly building the "the Belt and Road"
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic, Blabetz, stated that China has played an important role in addressing green development such as climate change. The chairman of Pakistan's Senate National Defense Committee, Mushashid Hussain, said that China's green development model is extremely important for developing countries. Jointly building a green "the Belt and Road" can help countries and regions along the Belt and Road improve the environment and provide green development programs.
Successfully held the first phase of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands; Establish the China Climate Change South South Cooperation Fund to carry out 10 low-carbon demonstration zones, 100 climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, and 1000 climate change training quotas in developing countries; Establish Kunming Biodiversity Fund; Incorporate the Green Development Project into the "Nine Projects" jointly implemented by China and Africa; List climate change and green development as key areas of cooperation for global development initiatives; Actively participating in cooperation in energy transformation and energy efficiency improvement under the frameworks of the G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and APEC... China has always adhered to true multilateralism, actively participated in global environmental governance, conscientiously fulfilled international conventions, and jointly promoted the construction of global ecological civilization to a new level.
Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, believes that China plays a crucial role in global energy transformation and promoting sustainable development. Addressing climate change and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement require China's participation and support.
In the view of Chang Qide, the coordinator of the United Nations Development System in China, China has played an important role in addressing climate change and promoting global environmental governance. The concept and action of building a community of human and natural life provide a Chinese solution for global sustainable development.
Costantinos Berhutesfa, a professor at the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, stated that China's measures in addressing climate change and promoting common development have well demonstrated the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and have a demonstrative and driving effect.
Caring for the Common Earth Home of All Humanity
In front of me is a beautiful wetland with ever-changing light and shadow, clear water and green shores; Listen attentively to the chirping of deer and the singing of birds; Pressing the "odor box" brings in wetland scents such as calamus and lotus flowers; By reaching into the "wetland blind box", one can perceive rough tree bark and soft moss... Last year, China held the 30th anniversary achievement exhibition of fulfilling the Wetland Convention during the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention, which left a deep impression on Chinese and foreign representatives. Thai water resources expert Phipa Ruang said, "China actively protects and utilizes wetlands, setting a good example for us."
China has always been deeply involved in global environmental governance, sharing its experience in ecological and environmental protection with other countries, proposing solutions for global environmental protection and sustainable development, and promoting the construction of a better world through practical actions.
"Biodiversity brings vitality to the Earth and is also the foundation of human survival and development. Protecting biodiversity helps to maintain the Earth's home and promote sustainable human development." China actively engages in international cooperation on biodiversity conservation, demonstrating to the world China's firm determination to promote global biodiversity governance to a new level——
China and Russia carry out joint monitoring and patrols, jointly build ecological corridors, ensure the free migration of Northeast tigers along the China Russia border, and gradually restore the once rapidly shrinking population of the "King of Tigers", with more and more tigers traveling across borders; China and Uzbekistan have jointly built a global onion garden. Over the past five years, they have collected and preserved 286 introduced species and nearly 130 taxonomic units of the Allium genus, as well as 30 taxonomic units of edible and ornamental Allium plants. This has important application value for discovering new genetic resources and cultivating new excellent varieties; The China Africa Joint Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has trained nearly 300 graduate students from Africa in the field of biodiversity conservation and utilization, trained more than 1000 managers and professional technicians for 14 African countries, and established a talent team for indigenous biodiversity conservation for African countries
China continues to increase its contribution to the Global Environment Facility and has become the largest contributor to the core budget of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols. Najila Azaruni, Senior Researcher at the UAE Trends Research and Consulting Center, praised that strengthening biodiversity conservation and achieving global sustainable development requires international solidarity and collaboration. China's efforts and actions in promoting this process demonstrate the responsibility of a responsible major country.
Kamal, the director of the Arab Research Institute headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, stated that China not only actively practices the concept of green development, but also pays attention to the ecological and environmental problems faced by other developing countries, fully upholds the interests of developing countries, and has made a visible contribution to opening up a new process of global biodiversity governance.
Sharing experience in desertification control, utilizing scientific and technological achievements such as Beidou satellite navigation system and Fengyun meteorological satellite, China helps many developing countries solve the world's difficult problem of land desertification control, strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation, and adapt to climate change capabilities——
Ten years ago, a Chinese expert group first arrived in the capital of Mauritania, Nouakchott, and saw that the local climate was dry, precipitation was scarce, and the land was fragile. Over the course of 7 years, Chinese experts have engaged in numerous battles with the desert, establishing demonstration zones for rapid fixation of quicksand and water-saving irrigation in the local area, and promoting advanced concepts and technologies for sand prevention and control to the local people.
In June this year, a delegation of experts from Africa went to Xinjiang, China to study and visit. In this dialogue between Taklamakan and the Sahara, Mauritanian student Omar Diallo expressed many emotions: "In order to develop the most scientific plan, Chinese experts have flown to Mauritania no less than 10 times and finally found a solution to the problem." Marcelin Sanu, Senior Director of the Secretariat of the Pan African "Green Great Wall" Organization, said that there is broad prospects for cooperation between Africa and China in areas such as experience exchange and technology sharing in desertification prevention and control.
China and Brazil signed an agreement this year to accelerate the development of the China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 06, which will strengthen monitoring of Brazil's biological communities. This measure is crucial for curbing deforestation in the Amazon. Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology Luciana Santos stated that through cooperation, Brazil has also become the owner of remote sensing data generation technology. "Brazilian China scientific and technological cooperation is not only beneficial to both countries, but also to the world.".
Along the Mombasa Nairobi Railway in Kenya, mangroves thrive as usual, and animals such as giraffes and zebras leisurely forage and migrate under the railway bridge. During the construction of the project, Chinese builders embedded multiple water pipe culverts within the growth range of mangroves to ensure that seawater can enter the area separated by construction access roads, and set up channels for the migration of wild animals. These are the dynamic manifestations of respecting nature, conforming to nature, and protecting nature.
"China is leading the global development of renewable energy and can provide solutions for countries that also need to address environmental issues and develop renewable energy," said Marcos Freitas, head of the International Virtual Institute for Global Change at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Building a beautiful Earth home requires continuous and unremitting efforts from all parties. China is willing to continue working hand in hand with all parties to jointly open a new chapter in building a community of life on Earth, painting a beautiful picture of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and building a clean and beautiful home for future generations.
